Midsummer Magic in Plauen and Nehren
Our midsummer adventures continued on Fronleichnam — a public holiday in Baden-Württemberg, but not in Saxony, where we were heading — as we piled into the tour bus and drove towards Plauen.
It felt special to return. The last time we visited Plauen was in late 2022, when Karuselli was still brand new and we performed our nominee’s concert for the Eiserner Eversteiner, the European Folk Music Prize awarded annually as part of the FolkHerbst festival. Back then, it was cold (despite the symbolic warmth radiating from the golden elephant in our hotel lobby), so we were especially looking forward to seeing Vogtland again in full summer bloom.
And what a summer evening it was!
How many stages have that kind of a backdrop?!
At the legendary Malzhaus cultural centre and concert venue, everything was superbly organised — the team there truly looks after their artists! The garden stage offered a stunning view over Plauen, with fairy lights twinkling above a jam-packed beer garden full of smiling faces — a perfect concert setting for us. The wind tried to stir up some mischief during our set, but thanks to Malzhaus’s expert sound crew (and alert audience members who caught flying sheet music and rescued a toppling instrument stand), everything held firm.
After the concert with Malzhaus boss Christian Dressel.
After a good night’s sleep (yes, we greeted the golden elephant again) and an excellent breakfast, we headed back down to Swabia for our Midsummer Eve concert in Nehren.
Tucked inside an otherwise ordinary industrial estate lies a real gem: Eisvogel Vintage. Stepping through its doors is like time-traveling into a dreamy, parallel vintage universe (the cocktails and the “rum runners” are to die for!). It’s also the very location where we filmed the music video for Sä kaunehin oot, the first single from our new album Piknik, featuring the wonderful Milana Misic.
The vintage Renault is standing in guard.
Already back then — on a crisp autumn filming day — we made a pact with Olaf and Sandra Hellmuth, the owners of Eisvogel: we’d return in the summer.
And what better moment than Juhannusaatto — Finnish Midsummer Eve?
It was hot. But the cocktails were cold, the vibe was cool, and the crowd was wonderful. Olaf and Sandra had even designed a special Finnish-themed drink for the evening (yes, blueberry-based, and yes, it was perfect). There’s a unique kind of magic in playing live music in a place filled with vintage lampshades, mid-century furniture, and kind souls. The audience swayed, clapped, and celebrated midsummer in true style.
What a Midsummer Eve it was!
At the end of the night, Eisvogel’s vintage Renault was rolled back in and we packed up under a glowing sky. It’s been a long time since we’ve had a midsummer evening like that. Maybe never.
We’ll be releasing live videos from both Plauen and Nehren in the coming days and weeks — so stay tuned!
The Road Ahead
Next stops on our Midsummer Piknik Tour are the beautifully atmospheric inner courtyard of Kronberger Bücherstube in Kronberg im Taunus near Frankfurt, and the countryside haven of Zachersmühle in Adelberg, nestled in the heart of the Swabian Jura (Schwäbische Alb).
See you there?
For all details, check the concert listings on our website, and for all up-to-date news, behind-the-scenes stories, new music, concert updates, and midsummer moments, follow us:
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See you at the next stop — picnic baskets optional, good spirits required. 💃 🌿 🧺 ✨