Music, Piknik, and Sunshine in Neuwied
Our summer season ended on a perfect note in Neuwied!
Fresh back from August spent in Finland, Laura and Mikko were picked up by Moritz at Frankfurt airport on Saturday evening. From there, we drove straight to Neuwied, where we met up with Jari Matti, checked in at the hotel, and enjoyed a late dinner outside. The warm evening air was a wonderful surprise after the rather chilly and wet end of August up north.
The next morning began leisurely with breakfast before heading to the Goethe-Anlagen park for soundcheck. Our backstage was tucked away among the canoes and kayaks of the Neuwieder Wassersportverein — an atmospheric and slightly quirky spot to prepare for the show!
Despite the overcast skies, the park soon filled with people. This time, they didn’t need to bring their own supplies — we served up a musical Piknik (see what we did there?). We were also lucky to have Jari Matti’s friend Erik with us, who not only travelled from Brussels but also documented the day beautifully with his camera. Kiitos for the photos and the company Erik!
This concert was particularly special because of our lineup: with Norbert unable to join, Moritz stepped in on accordion (brilliantly, as always!) alongside Jari Matti on double bass. Playing our Vintage Sounds of Finland with these two fine musicians was a real pleasure. Judging by the smiles (laughter also!), claps, and dancing feet in the audience, the feeling was mutual.
We’re especially grateful to Pascal Stoltze and his team for the flawless organisation: excellent sound and lights, warm hospitality, great catering — everything was just right. We felt very well looked after and truly enjoyed being part of Creole Sommer. It is beginning to be a rarity in Europe to have festivals like this organised by the cities for their people so if your local council offers something like this (for free even!), do take them up on their offer!
This was our final concert of the summer season, and it couldn’t have been a better way to close it. September will be a little quieter for us as we recharge, recuperate, and make plans for the future behind the scenes — now also together with our new booking agent Björn Reinemer and Dynamite Konzerte. But don’t worry: we’ll be back on stage in October, and the months ahead are filled with exciting concerts.
Curious where we’ll be playing next? Have a look at our concert calendar — maybe we’ll be somewhere near you in the coming months. We’d love to see you at a show!