Fantastic start into the concert season of 2016!

Right now I should do lots of things instead of typing, but my thoughts are still filled with memories of Saturday and the annual concert of "my" band Dunkelschoen.

At about 2:30 pm I arrived at the old church in Schonungen. It's not used for church services any longer but for concerts (as it has a wonderful acoustic) and exhibitions etc. As it's my job to sell the merchandise for Dunkelschoen, I spent the next 2 hours to decorate my stuff at leisure.

 When I was happy with the display I enjoyed the practising on the stage, the music and the friendly banter while I could enjoy the view from different parts in the church.

After some food and change of clothes it was time to get ready at the door. I assisted in selling the tickets and collected plenty of hugs from regular visitors who have become friends.

During the first songs I stayed on duty, but then I went to my seat in the first row to enjoy the concert - and take some photos. Shorty before the break I went back and got ready for the customers who needed not only CDs, but also garments, jewelry and button.

 During these winter concerts in church, Dunkelschoen play far more ballads and slower pieces than usually - and the audience feels the magic and listenes closely. Even the many children are quiet and enjoy the magic feeling. On top there are some old songs which never made it onto a CD - and this year there were also 2 brand new songs that will be on the next CD. Of course there are also dance songs, but here the audience rather stays seated and claps their hands along. It's always a very special atmosphere and everyone is full of gratitude to have been there.

Here you can listen to two songs.

After the bonus songs the audience is invited to sing along a farewell song. It starts with all instruments and then the musicians come together to sing with their fans. That's the moment when I'm expected on stage as well and it's a fantastic feeling!

It was well past midnight by the time all visitors had left and all my stuff was back in it's boxes. Still, the band hardly wanted to leave but rather talked about the wonderful concert. At about 1 am I was taken back to my hotel - where I felt still far too excited to go to sleep.

Do you want to listen to the farewell song? Click here

A different start into the new year 2016

Usually we spend New Years Eve at home, meeting neighbours outside at midnight. When I went to the special Christmas Market in Dortmund with Dunkelschön I started thinking of spending New Years Eve 2015 there. As the weather was fair enough (cold but dry) it took little convincing to get my husband to agree. 

We travelled to Dortmund by train and stayed in the Youthhostel which isn't far from the main station. As I had been there 5 weeks before I knew the way by Underground and we arrived just after opening in the park. The first band, Corvus Corax, was already on stage:

Then we explored the huge market area - I had not seen everything during my stay with Dunkelschön! There were many craft stalls, different food and drinks and big tents with sofas to relax. Before we went in front of the stage again to enjoy Omnia from the Netherlands, we sat down at one of the big fires. It was like an adventure in a different world.

After the concert we got some coffee to accompany our home made traditional cakes we had brought from home.

Our daughters had taken plenty of the cakes to their parties as well!

After getting some sparking honey wine (never had that before) to drink at midnight, we marvelled at the lake which was illuminated wonderfully and as there was no wind, the lake looked like a mirror where the trees seemed to grow into the ground.

While Corvus Corax played again, we were lucky to get a seat at a fire again. The place was getting crowded and it was just more comfortable beside the flames. 

It was there we welcomed the new year while the next band started to play on stage. There were no fireworks allowed in the park, but we could see some of the fireworks over Dortmund.

The moon was looking down on us when we left the party at about 2:30 am listening to the last music on our way through the park. We even found the bus stop, where the night line collects people even in New Years Night and managed to get onto the bus. It saved us a 30 minutes walk in a strange city.

After breakfast we left the next day, travelling savely home by train. And yes, the trains were all on time!

Extended Christmas

As our children had both spent much time abroad in 2015 and we also had our holiday in Ireland - I invited our whole family for Boxing Day, so we could show photos and tell about our adventures. As we had just an extended breakfast, there wasn't too much work and it was a wonderful relaxed day! Mind you - all food except honey and milk was vegan!!

Because of this unusual Boxing day we had our anual Christmas Dinner on the 27th of December - it still felt like Christmas. Afterwards my family had to accompany me on a 3 hour drive through wonderful country side to Peine where the Christmas market was still open - and John Kelly and his wife Maite Itoiz were giving a very special concert of Old Music, just the 2 of them. Some people had expected John's sister Maite Kelly who often is on TV and were disappointed. But the fans of John and Elfenthal enjoyed a very special evening.

The concert was interrupted when some chimes at the town hall played Christmas songs. Maite & John invited the audience to sing along and joined in themselves - although Maite doesn't really know the lyrics of German songs as she grew up in Spain. Still it was fun - have a look here.

This is one of their more famous songs, click here.

After the concert most of the audience stayed for autographs and photos together with Maite and John. I already have my pics with them, but had brought some home made cookies for Maite. She was delighted! 

Leaving Peine we made a little detour as we had our daughter's bulky Xmas presents in the car and took the stuff to her besitter in Hannover. So it was a very full day with plenty of lovely memories.

A very special Christmas Market

 Plenty of space in front of the stage.

Dortmund in Germany has a very special Christmas market. As part of the Fredenbaumpark with a lake and wonderful old trees it looks like a place from fairy tales, where Haensel and Gretel might get lost. 

Beside plenty of food and drink stalls with an unbelieving number of hot drinks, many craft people are selling their exceptional creations. Like hand painted leather goodies or decorations or hand made jewelry. 4 years ago I bought a wonderful wooden coat at this event, that still pulls all the looks of other visitors on my back. As such crafts are often unique, most owners don't like cameras capturing their ideas - so you have to go to Dortmund yourself to find out!

As I was working there in my own little tent selling CDs, Shirts and Elventears for Dunkelschoen, I had little time to take in everything. But I did take a few pictures.

If you like to travel or live near Dortmund you really should visit this Phantasy Lights Christmas Market. It's open from Thursday till Sunday for the next 3 weekends, on 26th and 27th of December and for New Year's Eve until 3rd of January. Of course there are always live bands playing. Find out more here.

 Pottery and much more for sale.

 Plenty of fires to feel warm and comfortable

 ....or rest in one of the huge tents.

 If there are no Xmas trees left, this sheep ate them all

 Santa was there already.

 My working place.

Dunkelschoen on stage.

You find more photos here

Or watch this Video
  

Incredible madness - for the fun of others

When have you been to a live concert? Local band or big stars? Whatever you paid - it wasn't just for the musicians! The big stars have plenty of staff and can concentrate on their performance, but if only the stars would be on stage, there would be few concerts....

The band of my heart will be at a huge festival for Halloween. I don't want to know what it takes to organise a festival with 40 bands! But I can tell you what it takes for one of the bands to play twice for 75 minutes together.

The workload of the band starts the evening before, when the rented transporter has to be collected and packed with hundreds of important small and big things: not just instruments, but technical equipment, plugs, decoration, costumes......it takes about an hour to pack.

The next morning the musicians meet, some coming several hundred km/miles. Together they set off with the transporter and one other car, at least. The technican usually takes the train - so do I, except next time when I could walk if it wasn't for all the stuff I'm taking along. 

After 300 km more they hopefully arrive after 3 hours or more on the motor way. Again it takes an hour to unpack and prepare the instruments, so it won't take more than an hour to get everything on stage and working.

I'm spending this time preparing the merchandise for sale. Unpacking takes under an hour - when tables and electricity are waiting for me. Often I have to look for the people in charge to find tables and cables first.

After these 5 - 7 hours the band finally will be on stage - for 30 minutes! Then they have to hurry to get everything down again as the next band is waiting to get onto stage. Everything back into the van, three hours of waiting and the whole equipment onto a boat!

There won't be any space for merchandise on the ship, so I'll get a stall in a tent on shore. This time the band will play 45 minutes. And pack again. 

Hopefully there'll be some energy left for a little party at the hotel. Next morning the musicians have to travel home again, 3 - 4 hours and some more to their homes. The transporter has to be unpacked and returned. By the time everything and everyone is where it belongs, it'll be Saturday evening. 

This is the story of just one band - not counting all the hands, staff, catering etc. 

Do you think, it's worth to pay 65 € for enjoying 40 bands on two days? How much should the musicians get?