IMMIGRANT SONG
compiled by Olaf Karnik and Felix Klopotek

“Immigrant Song” musically presents two cities greatly marked by migration, Marseilles and London, whose pop culture reflects people of various origins living together.
The concerts were conceived by Olaf Karnik (DJ, freelance journalist for the Neue Zürcher Zeitung, Intro, WDR, Deutschlandfunk, StadtRevue, Riddim etc.) and Felix Klopotek (Musical Director of the StadtRevue, works as a freelance journalist for Intro, WDR, Jungle World, Konkret etc.).

MARSEILLE RÉVEILLÉE

In Marseilles, the music initiative GRIM has been active for almost 30 years, its roots stemming from improvised music and the French Folklore Imaginaire (a type of freely-invented folk music). For many years, there has been intensive contact with the musical subcultures of north and west African immigrants. The music created as a result is neither improvised music nor African pop but is working, step-by-step, into creating its own language.

Sat, 11. 6., 8 pm

LONDON IS THE PLACE FOR ME

People who moved to London in the 50’s and 60’s from the Caribbean brought their music (Calypso, Reggae) with them. In the next generation, this music mixed with other styles and redeveloped itself. Honest Jon’s record shop and label on the Portobello Road has made it it’s task to present London as a focus of black and other immigrant cultures, and follows these musical migration flows via Calypso, Reggae, Dancehall, Soca, Kwela and Highlife, to the electronic amalgamations of the present day.
Bitty McLean, former engineer and backing singer for UB 40, has brought out the album “On Bond Street” on the associated label Peckings, which he will be presenting live this evening.

Fr, 15. 7., 8 pm

Project Migration – an initiative project of the Kulturstiftung des Bundes

<< back