On October 19th, Cologne s Stadtgarten presents another Night of Surprise in collaborati- on with Berlin-Cologne music platform ZAM. The fifth edition of this unique and free entry one-night-festival offers a wild variety of experimental music, ranging from contemporary folk interpretations by Sam Amidon in a premiere with a string quartet from Cologne, Tuni- sian producer Sofyann Ben Youssef ́s pan-Mahgreb live project Ammar 808 blending anci- ent and modern styles or bagpipe innovator Erwan Keravec ́ traditional pipe quartet Son- neurs with a program of 21st century compositions written for this very ensemble. Wild- style-DJ Marcelle, Slovenian pianist Kaja Draksler ́s new project Czajka & Puchacz with percussionist Szymon Gasiiorek, Kuduro-gem Nidia, feminist songwriter Mary Ocher, Ja- miacan Dancehall-futurists Equiknoxx feat. Shanique Marie and an exquisite handful of inspiring local heroes like cellist Elisabeth Fügemann add up to a mind-boggling night. Entry is free.
Background
Opened in 1986, Cologne ́s Stadtgarten quickly became one of Europe ́s outstanding jazz places, featuring concerts of emiment musicians like Cecil Taylor, Sun Ra, Gil Evans, Steve Lacy, Anthony Braxton, Evan Parker, Jack DeJohnette, Ornette Coleman or Paul Bley while keeping a keen ear for exciting young improvisers from Cologne, New York City and around the world.
Well under way into the 21st century, the venue has recently stepped up its commitment to experimental and adventurous musics and has since won steady communal and state support. Keeping jazz and improvised music at its programmatic core, a team of fresh cu- rators has brought in musicians like Current 93, Keiji Haino, Death Grips, Joan La Barbara, Shackleton, Sam Amidon, Kevin Drumm, Arto Lindsay, Jagwa Music, Animal Collective, Mo- ritz von Oswald Trio, Ashtray Navigations, Dirty Projectors, Sudden Infant, Aisha Devi, Ex- cepter, Liturgy, Group Doueh, Lula Pena, Audrey Chen and the Master Musicians of Jajouka in recent years.
Night of Surprise / Profile
"Night of Surprise" is a free-entry, highly open-minded music one-nighter offering a wild mix of non-mainstream music. The annual event has quickly established itself as Cologne ́s most progressive music festival: In its first four editions it featured musicians like contem- porary soprano Donatienne Michel-Dansac, Peter Evans ́ Pulverize the Sound, Zs, Felix Ku- bin, Baby Dee, synth-extremist Thomas Ankersmit, Sofia Jernberg and Hail Mergia as well as edgy club acts like Hieroglyphic Being, DJ Nigga Fox, Rabih Beaini or Mutamassik with little known musicians and bands from Cologne or different subcultures. It brought out some 1000+ people last year. Here is some footage. Video Night of Surprise 2015
NIGHT OF SURPRISE 2018
19 Oct 2018,
Stadtgarten / Studio 672 / Café
start 7pm open end free entry
- Ammar 808 (Tunisia)
- Blood Stereo (Brighton / UK)
- Czajka & Puchacz (Amsterdam / Copenhagen)
- DJ Marcelle / Another Nice Mess (Amsterdam)
- Emißatett & Surprise Guest (Cologne & N.N.)
- Equiknoxx feat. Shanique Marie (Kingston / Jamaica)
- Erwan Keravec & Sonneurs (Bretagne)
- ER & WE (Cologne)
- Mary Ocher (Berlin)
- Nidia (Lisbon)
- Sam Amidon & Strings (London / Cologne)
- Sacred Harp Demonstration Singing (Cologne / Bremen / Berlin / u.a.)
- more tba
Promoter Initiative Kölner Jazz Haus e.V. in collaboration with ZAM Zentrum für Aktuelle Musik e.V.
Artistic Director Thomas Gläßer (supported by Magnus von Welck)
Graphic Design Christian Schäfer
Sponsors Department of Culture of the City of Cologne, Ministry of Culture and Science of the State of Northrhine -Westphalia, Musikfonds
Medie Partners Wire Magazine, Stadtrevue, WDR COSMO
www.stadtgarten.de
