Open House at Bonn International School Thursday 25 February 2010

Thursday 25 February 2010 from 8.30 – 12.00

The Bonn International School Open House is a great opportunity for visitors to come and see the school in action. Classes at all grade levels will be open for observation. Visitors are encouraged to sit in on a variety of classes and age groups to see what makes education at BIS special.

Bonn International School is an independent, full-day school offering a comprehensive English Language education and low student-teacher ratios for children aged 3 – 19 years. Located directly next to the River Rhine in a modern, well-equipped facility, BIS hosts over 570 students from more than 60 countries.

Visitors should register at admissions@bonn-is.de in advance of Open House. You will be asked to present formal identification e.g. passport or driver’s license before entering the school.

Availability of future places varies from grade to grade and the Admissions Coordinator should be consulted regarding potential enrolments. There are however a definite number of places available for international students in Early Learning, Grades 1, 4, and 10 starting August 2010.

For more information, please contact the Admissions Coordinator at 0228 30854151 or visit www.bonn-is.de

Popularity: 1% [?]

Jazz Connection

Free Jazz is all around in Bonn, Or so it seems these days. The Rheinaue Season is well underway and the Sommergarten Sunday shows in Museumsplatz are also a regular (fortnightly) attraction. In the end what to see or not to see depends very much on the weather. Friday threatened rain so I headed to Sundays show next to the KAH in Museumsplatz.  You’ve guessed it… the rain arrived on Sunday.

The musicians from Jazz Connection though were so nimble on their feet they could easily have dodged between the raindrops.

Jazz on the Roof wasn’t, as it happens  threats of a downpour meant the show was moved and the General Anzeiger ‘tent’ pitched up in front of the rather grander ‘tent’ that is the Museumsplatz Stage. Actually this turned out to be a good thing because Jazz Connection like to ‘roam around’ during their sets. During any given number a sax player or trombonist is likely to ‘take off’ for a walk round the audience, instrument in hand.

For you non-Jazz buffs out there a bit of detail and classification: Jazz Connection hail from Breda in Holland and play under the ’sub-section’ of Jump Jive. It’s a title I’m familiar with through an excellent Joe Jackson record from way back that centred around the Music of  Cab Calloway and Louis Jordan who along with Ellington and Basie was one of the prime movers of Jazz and Swing in the 1940’s.  Jordan has been dubbed the King of Rythm & Blues which is maybe why I like his Jump Jazz style so much and why I also enjoy the music of Jazz Connection.

It’s an energetic style which is a refreshing alternative to the aging face of jazz that tends to dominate the beer gardens these days.  In keeping with this the band itself is comparatively young too – with only trumpet player Jurgen Feskens sporting a full head of white hair  (okay, trombonist  Peter VanSteen has no hair at all so we’re not talking teenagers here, but young at heart and fit they all are).

There is of course a large helping of Jordan classics – ‘Jack, You dead’, a surprisingly low key version of ‘Is you is, or Is You aint my Baby?’ and of course a storming version of the Jordan classic  ‘Caldonia’.  Quirky songs like ‘Nosey Joe’ and ‘Feets too Big’, classics like ‘When You’re Smiling’ and ‘Just a Gigolo’ and even a surprise offering of Van Morrison’s ‘Moondance’ – well maybe not such a surprise since they played a set of Morrison numbers here two years ago, the project ‘A Morisson Feeling’,  is now available as a (very enjoyable) CD in it’s own right.

The band could give The Jackson Five a run for their money where synchronised instrument playing/dancing is concerned.  One trombone going left as the trumpet goes right and hell would break loose.  It’s a dangerous life playing Jump Jazz for this band!  Everything though seems, as always when it’s done well, effortless and by the shows end I’m thinking this is one of the best acts I’ve seen at a Sommergarten show – and I’ve seen plenty.  If they come down your way don’t miss Jazz Connection.  And if you don’t start tapping at least one foot after the first song then – ‘Jack, you dead!’

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Popularity: 20% [?]

The Last Curtain

Now it’s fact – The Metropol Cinema/Theatre will soon be only a footnote in the history of Bonn. Despite a petition with around 46000 signatures the Bundesverwaltungsgericht (BVerwG) Leipzig has decided that the Metropol has no protection as a Listed Building because of renovations made to it.

The Metropol is/was Germany’s last Cinema built in Art Deco Style still standing and saw in it’s long history some of the greatest german Movie Stars not just on it’s screen but also as guests – Zara Leander and Claudia Cardinale amongst them. It became a listed building in 1984 after plans had been revealed to knock it down in favour of a shopping complex. All seemed well until the owners filed for insolvence and the only ones interested in buying the building were property developers for shops.

The Local people formed an initiative ‘Rettet Des Metropol’ and gathered some 46000 signatures. Goodwill was not enough though. What was needed, but not forthcoming, was interest in using the building for Cultural use.  In the end, despite lots of talking, no one would put their money down.

Last August the High Court in Münster judged that major repairs made after 1987 to the building were so far reaching that they constituted total renovation. However true to the original the repairs were, they are no longer the original walls so to speak – and you cannot, they decided, restrain people from knocking down copies of originals.  The renovators it seems were caught between Devil and deep blue sea:  Making the Cinema safe and usable for patrons involved extensive repairs – including the addition of a lift.  These repairs in effect destroyed the one thing that could later save the building – it’s historic authenticity.

Now the dust has again settled on the old wooden Metropol Stage (or copy thereof?) and Thalia are expected to turn the inside into a bookshop. If you don’t know what one of those looks like then walk round the corner to Bouvier – there is one there already. Or take a train to Neumarkt in Cologne and you can even find a genuine  Thalia there.

Don’t go looking for an Art Deco Cinema anywhere in Germany though – there isn’t one.

Popularity: 22% [?]

Sommergarten 2009

‘Jazz on the Roof’ is underway again for 2009.  Come rain (as here by Semmels Hotshots!) or shine, the KAH roof in Bonn’s Museumsplatz is always worth a visit.  Fortnightly,  from 10:30am to 1:00pm.  Here is the schedule:

05.07.09  Rod Mason’s Hot Five

19.07.09  Jazz Connection

02.08.09  Trevor Richards British New Orleans All Stars

23.08.09  Letitia su Rumbadana (salsa)

Sommergarten Details

Popularity: 49% [?]

Intercultural Congress Day in Bonn

The ‘Tag der Interkulturellen Begegnung’ has been a feature of Summer in Bonn for some 30 years now.  This year some 41 Bonn based Comittees representing Countries from around the world showed the people of Bonn their Musical and Culinary expertise.

Recent figures suggest that the people of Bonn come here from around 170 different Lands, almost 25% of the population are actually immigrants, and  certainly the many colours of clothing and skin always catch the eye at this entertaining event each year.

It’s not just about things to see – as many different National dishes fight for attention on the stands close by each other. It’s just as much an event for the taste buds, trying out the most eye (or nose?) catching dishes on offer.

This year too saw  the award of an Integrations Prize for the first time.  Chosen from Bonn Citizens who have made a particularly strong contribution to Uniting the many different people that make up our International Community here, there were three winners to share the 1600 Euro prize-money: “Spielplatz Finkenweg” in Holzlar,  the “International Garden Bonn” project,  and the “Russian Immigrants reading German Newspapers” initiative from Michael Roginsky.

I felt rather sorry for ‘Los Manolas’ the Spanish Flamenco group who left the stage to booing after delivering a very enjoyable set.  The boos were aimed at Organisors who denied the troupe a deserved encore but no one likes to leave to such sounds and  five minutes more for a show ending at 7 pm would have been simple enough.

I recommend putting this event in your diaries for next year if you missed it this time around.  You will get a taste, literally, of what it means to be a ‘Bonner’ in 2009.  If only Countries could get on with each other as well as their people do here. My only warning in advance: Get there early before all the food scents mingle into one and there is still room to sit down!

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Popularity: 56% [?]

Jacques Stotzem at Antiquarius

Jacques Stotzem is seemingly something of a perfectionist when it comes to sound and acoustics – yet before his show at Bonns Antiquarius Bookshop in Bonner Talweg he points to a switch next to the stage which controls his small amplifier and requests that the listeners nearby turn it up or down according to taste.

Stotzen is a man of contradictions.  An excellent acoustic flamenco/fingerstyle guitarist yet he focusses his considerable abilities on electric rock compositions from the likes of  Jimi Hendrix and Rory Gallagher.  Even in his compositions there is contradiction  He recounts how a beautiful tune about Belgium  moved one of his listeners to tell Jacques later You made me want to visit Belgium. With a twinkle in his eye and a wry smile, Stotzem admitted to feeling very guilty and embarrassed about inspiring such affection about Belgium Because there is really nothing there!

There is no doubting Stotzem’s enthusiasm though, it is something that oozes from him.This is rather different he says as he takes to the stage below a bright chandelier and surveys the antique books on the shelves surrounding him on all sides. There are some eighty people here this evening, which doesnt seem like many, but then there are also several thousand books in attendance. Im told that maybe 120 people could fit in here but I can only assume that is dependant on a good week of selling books because I cant see where the other 40 or so other people would fit in other than on the top shelves.

Somehow I manage to squeeze into a place near the tiny stage though and am glad I am so close. Only from here can I truly see and hear how remarkable this musician is. His right thumb and two fingers all have picks on them which are used not just for the strings but also for acoustic effects. When he finishes Neil Young’s ‘After The Goldrush’ I find myself straining to see if there is some sort of switch where his guitar neck attaches to the body that would explain the extra sustain he summoned up. But of course there is no such cheat  it is down to vibrating the guitars soundbox to coax out every last drop of sustain. Fellow guitarist Larry Coryell once remarked that Jacques Uses the guitar, which he knows very, very well It was a quote that I didnt understand until that moment, but now I can see how insightful it actually is.

Several compositions played were from the latest CD ‘Catch The Spirit’ which is currently at number four in the Belgien Charts Outselling Helmut Lotti as Jacques, once more with that mischievous glint in his eye, is proud to announce.  A popstar who doesn’t sing? Another contradiction?  A smiling Jacques assures us that he doesn’t attempt to sing on his CD for good reason!  A delicious new serving of pop/rock classics make up the new work, but once again there is that curious dichotomy Have you ever played Hendrix ‘Voodo Child’ on an electric guitar?” I ask him during the break. Why should I want to, I am an acoustic musician is his surprised reply. Yet when he plays it (and later ‘Purple Haze’ too) I see a number of male audience members with elbows crooked on imaginary Stratocasters. The Jimi Hendrix Foundation, a very discerning organization, have apparently given their blessings to the new versions and rightly so. Much as I love Rory Gallagher his music doesnt quite seem to have the complexity to make Stotzems versions of Moonchild and Follow so memorable as the Hendrix interpretations are.  Highlights also were Radiohead’s ‘No Surprises’ and particularly the dreamy ‘Simple Pleasures’ which would seem to be an apt description of Jacques Stotzem’s seemingly easy stage manner – until you pick up your own guitar at home and discover how extraordinarily talented the man is at making the complicated seem easy.

A word of praise too for Volker Schliwa, owner of Antiquarius for his initiative in creating an interesting ‘Kulturprogram’ in amongst the bookshelves that has now finished it’s fifth year.  I recommend keeping an eye out for the next programme and booking early.

Antiquarius Bookshop

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Popularity: 62% [?]

Elli/MiaoMio CD’s and Parties

Bonn’s own all girl band MiaoMio and Cologne’s Elli both had new discs to sell and both offered a ‘CD Release Party’. Visions of making smalltalk with a plate of cocktail sausages in one hand and a champagne flute in the other made me curious, so I shaved, showered and hit the big City twice this month.

Long time readers of my concert reports here on English-network might remember my enthusiastic review of a young lady who supported Anne Haigis at the Harmonie a couple of years ago. Since then Anika Auweiler’s career has been steadily building momentum. Her first CD the largely acoustic ‘Lauf’ (‘Run’) appeared recently with top local musician Jens Filser more than ably supporting on guitar, but whilst ‘Lauf’ is a very agreeable folk/pop mix it’s The Indie Pop band MiaoMio fronted by Anika which is receiving a lot of attention and praise at present and which recently presented it’s first ever CD Release at Kult41 on the Hochstaden Ring in Bonn.

Cult41 is a bunker of a building close to the main Railway line and a main road intersection in Bonn Centre. I get off of the tram and it immediately starts raining. When I greet Anika in the aptly termed ‘winter-garden’ my hair is dripping rain on the floor and the leaking roof is dripping rain on my head. My hopes of a canape or even a small thimble of Bollinger also drip away, but as I’d promised my stomach something special this evening I help myself to a licorice black cat from the dish on the bar, order a ‘Bio Kölsch’, head inside’ and take up position beside the concrete stage, or below it to be precise since it is raised several feet above floor level (no danger of fans rushing Robbie Williams onstage here)

MiaoMio

To put it politely, IndiePop isn’t quite my area of musical expertise ( impolitely, I have NO IDEA quite what IndiePop is) Support band Kassette were bright and poppy with a somewhat whacky presentation that made them charming. Anika and band quietly took the stage and then put in a smoothe and solid performance for the evening. Since their first show at Klangstation two years ago they have grown in confidence, stage presence and musicianship, and with Anika’s voice and songs they have a head start on a good many wannabe successful bands. Add a bit of the promised ‘band coaching’ to the lot of talent they already possess and watch them fly up the IndiePop chart – although I’m not sure if there is one.

It’s clearly going to be a busy rest of year for Anika, Sarah Brasack (keyboards), Eva Marxen (Bass) and Sarah Tauscher (drums) – but having seen them a couple of times now, spoken to them and most importantly, heard their first CD, I think this could be the start of something big for the girls and hopefully for Bonn’s young music scene too. Not long after forming, the band secured a prestigious place on the live stage at the UN Biodiversity Conference in Bonn. This year they won out against fierce competition from 70 bands in the NRW wide ‘popupNRW’ band competition to be selected for advice and coaching in the music business. Just as importantly, their success guarantees them slots at some major festivals and concerts in the NRW area.

My verdict on the CD ‘MiaoMio: Intelligent songs concealed behind a pop backing. They require engaging brain and ears together but are well worth the effort. For ultimate tingling of the spine though try Anika’s solo ‘Lauf’ CD.

Final note on the evening – dress down for the next CD Presentation event, which is…

Elisabeth Erl, better known to the music Biz as Elli and best known as the winner in 2003 of DSDS (Deutschland Sucht Den Superstar). Elli’s CD Release Party is at the MTC Club near Cologne South Station, but being next to a railway station is where the similarities with Kult41 end. For a start it was SUNNY this time and students were sitting outside of pubs and clubs the length of Zülpicherstrasse. Inside MTC though there were still no canapes or champagne flutes to be found – in fact it was difficult to find anything in the pitch darkness. Do students have special optical abilities now that I didn’t have when I was propping up bars at Portsmouth Polytechnic? I recognize Elli herself in the gloom purely because of the trademark ‘pork-pie’ hat on her head. Said hat was actually stolen during a concert recently but returned to the local television station who duly filmed its eponymous return to Elli’s head the next day.

So Elli quite clearly has a bit of media spin already on her side – not least due to her appearances with Dieter Bohlen. The new CD ‘Human’ though is a result of time spent in America and away from Bohlen. Lyrics are all in English and it is clearly a very commercial platter. “The first CD that’s really me all the way through” as Elli describes it – although the booklet credits assign the music and lyrics to others with the rather mysterious additional assignation each time of ‘Elisabeth ‘Elli Erl – Manuscript’.

Both support acts are worth a mention: ‘AlexAmsterdam‘ were a quirky keyboard/guitar duo who actually came from Düsseldorf (The name ‘AlexAmsterdam’ sounded good explained their guitarist – who surprisingly is actually named Alex) later. Still more interesting was the set by Adrienne – a feisty girl with acoustic guitar and thoughtful lyrics from Los Angeles who’s band ‘The Rescues’ have made several musical appearances on episodes of ‘Greys Anatomy’. Also notable in an odd way was that it was the men (from AlexAmsterdam) who had the long hair, and the women (both Elli and Adrienne) who had short hair and tattooed arms.

And so to Elli’s performance itself. Things got off to a jerky start musically with Adi the guitarist – Elli later admitted to changing the set order without telling the poor man. When soon after a broken guitar string caused delays, her showmanship talents came to the fore and she had the audience singing acappella for a couple of minutes. In fact the most memorable aspects of the evenings show for me were the excellent power Pop songs from the new ‘Human’ CD, in particular ‘Shadows’ , but most of all Elli’s control of the audience. Anyone talks whilst she sings and she calls out ‘Schnauze!’ (’shut up’, as she explained to Adrienne who wondered what she was saying). These were fans of course and all was spoken and taken in good humour.

My verdict on the CD ‘Human’: Great vocals and well crafted pop/rock songs. maybe a bit too ‘hit formula’ structered for my taste but then I’m not the target audience. A very listenable./enjoyable disc.

On the crowded midnight train back to Bonn I found myself thinking that my very first CD Release shows were total contrasts to one another, with two up and coming acts that could each do with a mix of the others talents to add to their own. The songwriting and band atmosphere of MiaMiao and the showmanship/commercial appeal of Elli duly sprinkled onto both bands, leave to simmer and add a glass of champagne – on second thoughts, strike the champagne, it’s a myth along with the cocktail sausages on sticks. This might be called Indie/Pop but really it’s Rock n Roll.

MiaoMio

Elli

Popularity: 79% [?]

Federal Republic is 60

This year sees the 60^th Anniversary of Germany’s Federal Republic.  The BRD (or Buntes Republic Deutschland as musician Udo Lindenberg famously called it) was born in Bonn so naturally Bonn will be celebrating.   Many of our Seasonal Celebrations such as the Museums Mile and Beethoven Festivals will accordingly have Federal Republic motifs this year but the whole party kicks off this coming weekend.  The (rather frighteningly!) titled ‘Long Night of Democracy’ begins on Saturday 23 May when all Museums on the Museums Mile , Villa Hammerschmidt, the World Conference Centre and parts of the UN Campus will open their gates, doors, Portcullis’ or whatever.

So, lots to do and see is promised.  Lots of Tourists are promised too,  so for those wishing to escape the  Federal Republic my recommendation:  a visit to the Bunker Museum in Ahrweiler.  The most expensive building in the BRD was built in the 1960’s to protect 3000 people in the event of a Nuclear Strike.  I suspect  that unless you were a member of Bonns Government at the time you would not have had an invitation then – so make the most of it now.

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Popularity: 76% [?]

Bonn Marathon 2009

Around 22,000 weary legs found their way around the Rhein-Energie-Marathon circuit in Bonn on Sunday.

The 11,000 or so owners of said legs had a day of sunshine which was better suited to those watching than those actually ‘doing’.  Not surprisingly then there were no records broken.  Mens winner Joash Mutai spent most of his race alone without even a pacer for company.  John Kitui, Mutai’s likely hardest opponent and winner in 2006, had been unable to obtain a Visa in time for the Race.  His other likely challenger, Richard Ngolepus,  hobbled out with a foot injury after 25 km.   Womens’ winner, 25 year old kenyan  Rosina Kiboino,  was a surprise however, winning in only her second Marathon and first outside of Kenya.  Favourite, Moldavia’s Valentina Delion who won in 2005 and 2006 finished second and just missed out on a hat-trick of wins.

Here a gallery of images.  Some of them winners who made it onto the podium – others just winners who made it round the course!

Marathon Images

Popularity: 39% [?]

Sunny Skies Get Heavy

Due to the update of our website my review of last week’s Harmonie concert by Sunny Skies comes a little late so I had an excuse for forgetting it – only how do you ‘forget’ to report when a band you like does one of it’s best shows ever?

Speaking to a promoter before the show talk was of the credit crunch , falling attendances and plunging revenues, of people who won’t be coming back because of a lack of BOS (Bums On Seats). So how do you explain a local cover band pretty well selling out the hall? You would be forgiven for thinking it was maybe down to ‘Sunny Skies’ numerous band members each bringing sizeable chunks of their families to the show –quite simply it’s down to a reputation for good music built up over more than 35 years.

To the show: Skies’ guitarist Martin Behr confused a lot of people, including yours truly, by being support act for the band he was playing in. Since even Richie Blackmore wouldn’t sound-check on his own for half an hour and also have himself videoed doing it, I finally twigged that it was a support slot and not the longest band intro ever. I’m not sure of the point of videoing a guitarist playing to backing tapes though, it must seem odd to hear a drummer on the video but actually see a drummerless kit onstage. The ghost of Keith Moon perhaps? On a serious note though (pun intended) Behr is a seriously good guitarist and fans of guitar instrumental music should give his solo material a listen.

It sometimes seems to me as if there are two bands named Sunny Skies. One is a pop band revolving around founder member Rope Schmitz. To be found here are the established sure fire hits: ‘A Little Help from my Friends’ , ‘Summer of 69’ and ‘Angels’ for example. Then there’s the Hard Rock Band around Behr and vocalist Alex Krienke.  The two also play in a popular Iron Maiden coverband named ‘Killerz’ so they have no trouble getting rough with numbers from Whitesnake, Led Zeppelin, ACDC and the like. Being an ageing rocker myself it’s this greyer side of the sky (the ‘dark side of the moon’ doesn’t quite fit a sunny sky analogy) that I love most. For this reason I always ask Rope beforehand if Nadine is in the show. Nadine Weyer is a rocker too you see – and on this particular night she is absolute dynamite. There’s a break mid show and I have the chance to ask her how her voice is standing up to the workout she is giving it. Misunderstanding me, she is worried that she hasn’t sounded good so far – maybe that’s why second half her soaring version of the Melissa Etheridge classic ‘Like the way I Do’ is one of the best performances I’ve heard from any singer anywhere, anytime in my life?!.

Not that Axel has been a slouch with his singing duties. A rocking version of Deep Purple’s ‘Perfect Strangers’ got part two of the set off to a flyer and hats off to him for taking on such a classic of Hard Rock history as ‘Stairway to Heaven’. It seems a bit hit and miss at times but when it hits it’s another highlight of the show and when the notes jangle a bit well, a few smiles onstage show it’s all just Rock n Roll.

By shows end I took refuge from the crowd by watching from the small Harmonie Balcony. It looked as crowded down there as it had seemed when I was actually down there too.

The cries for an encore were as loud as I’ve heard from bands with far bigger names, but even the biggest would have to follow the Harmonies 10.30pm finish. As if that wasn’t tragic enough I heard from Axel later that a new Deep Purple cover version was on the wrong side of that 10.30 curfew.

Maybe that can be put right on 9 July when the band make whats sure to be a historic performance supporting former Beach Boy Brian Wilson. Sunny Skies and Surfing… Museumsplatz here we come.

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Popularity: 54% [?]

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