Trone & Konfetti - Tour 2026

15 years of Kasalla: Tears. And confetti.

Cologne, 10.06.2025 – Kasalla are celebrating their anniversary – and of course, they are doing it the way everyone knows them: loud, heartfelt, emotional.

The five guys from Cologne are kicking off 2026 with a big tour and a brand new studio album – and the title of the tour says it all: “Trone & Konfetti”.

Tears and confetti – that’s what remains when you travel with this band. Between stadium moments and club sweat, between Cologne melancholy and collective euphoria. The new tour brings exactly this feeling to the stage: the vibrant life, the tears of joy, the singing along with goosebumps.

And as it befits an anniversary, Kasalla are also bringing new material: The 6th studio album is going on a school trip in the spring, with plenty of heart, energy, and stories that only Kasalla can tell.

Photo Credits: Ben Wolf

Doors: 19:00

HeXer not only brings sound but also attitude – with lyrics that oscillate between urban melancholy, political realism, and honest self-reflection. Whether in intimate clubs or at large festivals, HeXer delivers rap on stage as it should be. Pure and authentic. The past year was particularly marked by viral moments and moving themes that garnered support and attention beyond the scene. Now it's time to present this live on tour. Let it burn. HeXer BRAND 2026

Doors open: 7:00 PM

Edge of Paradise is a cinematic rock band from Los Angeles, blending industrial, symphonic, and modern metal, led by the dynamic vocals of Margarita Monet. Since 2017, the band has built a reputation for their genre-defying soundscapes, immersive visuals and high-concept storytelling.

Their evolution began with Alive (2017), introducing a darker, more industrial edge. Universe (2019), expanded their futuristic sound and brought international attention, supported by the European and Japan tours. In 2021, they released The Unknown—produced by Mike Plotnikoff, mixed by Jacob Hansen, with additional production by Howard Benson and Neil Sanderson of Three Days Grace. The album was praised for its cinematic depth and philosophical themes.

Hologram (2023) took their sound even further, combining immersive world-building with hard-hitting industrial and melodic elements. The album captured a bold, high-tech vision that resonated deeply with fans.

Most recently, the band released their Napalm Records debut, Prophecy, on March 7, 2025. The album has received rave critical reviews for its bold production, conceptual depth, and Margarita’s commanding and emotional rich vocal performance, cementing their status as one of the most exciting acts in modern rock and metal.

Edge of Paradise has toured extensively, sharing the stage with Dragonforce, Amaranthe, Lacuna Coil, Sonata Arctica, Symphony X and Delain, captivating audiences with their explosive energy and visually immersive performances.

With a growing global fanbase, a string of acclaimed releases, and a reputation for unforgettable live shows, Edge of Paradise is redefining the sound and spirit of cinematic rock.

Einlass: 19:00Uhr

No tickets available here

The HfMDK Bigband presents its current Bandbook - this consists of fresh, vibrant, and groove-courageous works by composers from the Master's Big Band program.
Works by Alana McPherson, Bianca Rantala, Magnus Bodzin, and Jordi Roviro can be heard - the latest ideas from the magical realm of jazz orchestras. Transported soundfully and energetically by excellent musicians.
Under the musical direction of Bouke Ansing.

Doors open at 19:00.

Photo: Pieranunzi & Fonnesbæk © Annett Ahrends

When the outstanding Italian pianist Enrico Pieranunzi and the renowned Danish bassist Thomas Fonnesbæk play together, listeners experience something that can be described as an explosion of energy. Pieranunzi and Fonnesbæk are two musicians who thrive in each other's company and challenge one another with a rare combination of technique and temperament. Individually, they are exceptional on their instruments, and together they are nothing less than world-class. The music of the two is inspired by the unforgettable Bill Evans and his congenial partner, bassist Scott La Faro. You can almost feel (and hear!) the mutual love and respect in the air as the two musicians tease, inspire, and quote each other in an interplay that never becomes predictable.

Throughout his career, Pieranunzi, who has been awarded as Europe's best jazz musician multiple times, has collaborated with many of the greatest names in jazz. There was the legendary trio with Marc Johnson and Joey Baron, as well as projects with Lee Konitz, Chris Potter, Chet Baker, Paul Motian, and numerous others.

Thomas Fonnesbæk creates a foundation for the songs with a dancerly, rhythmic intensity that captivates, yet with an elegance, responsiveness, and sensitivity that allows for great attention to detail. He has also played with international stars such as Monty Alexander, Christian Sands, Justin Kauflin, Aaron Parks, John Taylor, Helge Lien, Paolo Fresu, and Adam Baldych.

In collaboration with the Jazz Initiative Frankfurt.

Doors open at 6:30 PM

Unfortunately, the event has been canceled.

Jazzclub in Studio II

Axel Schlosser Double Trio
Denis Gäbel “Roots”

The “Jazzclub in Studio II” offers members of the hr-Bigband the opportunity to realize new concepts and ideas with colleagues and musician friends. It provides a playground for the creative minds of the band and the environment to try out new music in new constellations. Not infrequently, projects created in this way have continued to exist for a long time.

The sound of the Hammond organ has accompanied Denis Gäbel since his first notes on the saxophone. At the age of 12, he was inspired by his first teacher with the music of Maceo Parker, whose album “Mo’ Roots” is shaped by organist Larry Goldings. Over the years, his fascination grew for bluesy tenors like Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis and Stanley Turrentine, both of whom made legendary recordings with organist Shirley Scott. This tradition was continued by Gäbel's heroes, Michael Brecker and Donny McCaslin. For Gäbel himself, a quartet tour with the exceptional German organist Frank Chastenier was a highlight of his career so far.

For the project “Roots,” Gäbel invites, in addition to his big band colleagues Sebastian Scobel (Hammond organ) and Martin Scales (guitar), two of his closest musical partners from Cologne, Matthias Akeo Nowak (double bass) and Silvio Morger (drums), to explore these organ-shaped roots.

A completely new project will be presented by trumpeter Axel Schlosser on these evenings in Radio Studio II: Music for a “Double Trio.” One trio is a pure brass trio, consisting of trumpet, trombone, and tuba. The other is a “classical” jazz trio with piano, double bass, and drums. Drawing inspiration from a variety of musical sources, both trios will interact with each other. They will act independently from one another but will also perform together as a sextet. Some keywords to mention: double choir, brass band, chamber music. However, what will be played remains a surprise until the end of the concert.

Concert duration: about 120 minutes – including break
_________

Concert duration: about 120 minutes – including break

House opening: 7:00 PM There is no entitlement to entry after the concert begins.

Tickets may still be available at the box office.

HELL BOULEVARD ANNOUNCES “MADE IN HELL TOUR 2026” IN GERMANY

Hell Boulevard will embark on their grand “Made in Hell Tour” in 2026, presenting their new studio album Made in Hell, which is also scheduled for release in 2026. With their characteristic sound of gothic rock, opulent orchestral arrangements, and electronic facets, the band continues on their musical path – adding extra sharpness and depth to their distinctive style on this tour.

For the first time, a Hell Boulevard album has been mixed by Bengt Jaeschke at the Chameleon Studios in Hamburg, before Stefan Brown took over the mastering at the legendary Abbey Road Studios in London. This high-profile production chain marks an important step for the band towards an even more concise and powerful sound signature.

Hell Boulevard will be accompanied throughout the tour by Dust of Apollon as special guests – a strong package that promises energetic evenings and a dense, atmospheric live experience right from the start.

Doors: 19:00

"HEROES" - Alexander Scheer sings David Bowie

From spring 2026, for the first time on a major tour
With “HEROES“, Alexander Scheer, one of the country’s most prominent actors and musicians, brings a stage evening on tour that shines a new light on David Bowie's musical work with a grand show. Scheer approaches Bowie’s creative world in a special way: not just as a pure homage, but also as a personal experience that connects Bowie's music with the literature that is essential to him.

The foundation for the "HEROES" program is a list of 100 books published by Bowie himself, which have particularly influenced his life and music. From Homer’s Iliad to Dante’s Inferno, from classics of world literature or cultural studies writings about soul and funk, to the Berlin novels Berlin Alexanderplatz by Alfred Döblin and Afterthoughts on Christa T. by Christa Wolf – David Bowie’s previously lesser-known literary cosmos offers us a new perspective on his musical creation. Alexander Scheer and his band follow these traces, intertwining the texts with Bowie’s songs, opening windows and drawing unexpected connections.

The evening takes us back to West Berlin, where Bowie lived between 1976 and 1978 and created some of his most important albums – including “Heroes“. And he casually reveals the origin of the famous dolphins in this song.

"HEROES" was conceived by Steffen Sünkel, whose works have gained great attention at the Deutsches Schauspielhaus Hamburg and the Berliner Ensemble, as a musical homage to the heroes of literature. The evening quickly became a public success in the capital.

From artistic experiment to hit of the season
What began as an interdisciplinary exploration has become one of the most sought-after shows in Berlin since its premiere, with all performances sold out. Nationwide, the format encounters extraordinary resonance: As the opening of the Harbour Front Literary Festival 2025 at the Elbphilharmonie, "HEROES" sold out in no time and was celebrated with standing ovations.

From spring 2026, MSK will now be bringing "HEROES" nationwide on tour for the first time. This year marks the tenth anniversary of David Bowie’s death and the 50th anniversary of his stay in Berlin. Occasions that will once again draw global attention to the artistic brilliance of this exceptional musician.

About Alexander Scheer
Alexander Scheer is among the most versatile actors of his generation. He has performed at all the major theaters in the country and was also part of the legendary Volksbühne ensemble of Frank Castorf for 16 years. Born in East Berlin, in the same year Bowie moved to Schöneberg, Scheer has always been a wanderer between worlds, a player in film and music, a seeker of truth in transformation. In cinema, Scheer has embodied numerous iconic figures – including Keith Richards and Andy Warhol. For his portrayal of the songwriter Gundermann in the eponymous film by Andreas Dresen, he was awarded the Bavarian and the German Film Prize. At the Schauspielhaus Hamburg, he took to the stage as “the man who fell from the sky” in David Bowie’s Lazarus.

“No one in the universe of pop has blurred the boundaries between life and art more authentically than David Bowie.” — Alexander Scheer

Cast
Alexander Scheer
Fee Aviv Dubois - Electric Guitar
Steve Patuta - Keyboards
Fabian Leu - Bass
Steffen Kieslich - Drums
Conception: Steffen Sünkel
Production Management: Albrecht Leu
Sound: Silvio Naumann, Marcel Dickow
Light: Martin Mulik
Best Boy: Julian Leu

Doors open: 7:00 PM

Jazzclub in Studio II

Axel Schlosser Double Trio
Denis Gäbel “Roots”

The “Jazzclub in Studio II” offers members of the hr-Bigband the opportunity to realize new concepts and ideas with colleagues and musician friends. It provides a playground for the creative minds of the band and the environment to try out new music in new constellations. Not infrequently, projects created in this way have continued to exist for a long time.

The sound of the Hammond organ has accompanied Denis Gäbel since his first notes on the saxophone. At the age of 12, he was inspired by his first teacher with the music of Maceo Parker, whose album “Mo’ Roots” is shaped by organist Larry Goldings. Over the years, his fascination grew for bluesy tenors like Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis and Stanley Turrentine, both of whom made legendary recordings with organist Shirley Scott. This tradition was continued by Gäbel's heroes, Michael Brecker and Donny McCaslin. For Gäbel himself, a quartet tour with the exceptional German organist Frank Chastenier was a highlight of his career so far.

For the project “Roots,” Gäbel invites, in addition to his big band colleagues Sebastian Scobel (Hammond organ) and Martin Scales (guitar), two of his closest musical partners from Cologne, Matthias Akeo Nowak (double bass) and Silvio Morger (drums), to explore these organ-shaped roots.

A completely new project will be presented by trumpeter Axel Schlosser on these evenings in Radio Studio II: Music for a “Double Trio.” One trio is a pure brass trio, consisting of trumpet, trombone, and tuba. The other is a “classical” jazz trio with piano, double bass, and drums. Drawing inspiration from a variety of musical sources, both trios will interact with each other. They will act independently from one another but will also perform together as a sextet. Some keywords to mention: double choir, brass band, chamber music. However, what will be played remains a surprise until the end of the concert.

Concert duration: about 120 minutes – including break
_________

Concert duration: about 120 minutes – including break

House opening: 7:00 PM There is no entitlement to entry after the concert begins.

Tickets may still be available at the box office.

Pippo Pollina, the versatile Sicilian musician, is regarded as one of the most creative artists in the European singer-songwriter scene and has been active for over thirty years. Countless record productions, international tours, and prestigious collaborations give him a special status that he has earned through continuity and commitment both in the studio and live on stage.

Accompanied by cellist Cecile Grüebler, pianist Elisa Sandrini, percussionist Gionata Colaprisca, and clarinetist Roberto Petroli, he will bring the new project with a chamber music character to the stages of Europe.

La vita è bella cosi com´è - Life is beautiful as it is.

Photo: Filip @derkonzertfotograf

Doors open at 7 PM

ON MAY 16, 2026, IT'S FINALLY HAPPENING AGAIN:
The Eurovision Song Contest is going into its next round and we are broadcasting it LIVE!!!

Look forward to a great evening with the competition in Full HD on our 4m screen, lots of fun, and an entertaining supporting program: welcome drinks and sweets for everyone and, of course, a mandatory ESC prediction game with great prizes!

RESERVE NOW!
(Tickets always go very quickly!)

Doors open: 8:15 PM

With the monthly series "circuits", Paul Janoschka and DIE FABRIK regularly present current, modern variations of jazz - open to new line-ups, new sounds, and new ideas.
Usually on the 3rd Thursday of the month, he invites guests, and today they are: Loris Grillo, who has become a part of the Paris jazz scene.
The German saxophonist Grillo stylistically navigates between contemporary music, improvisation, and modern jazz. The young double bassist Léo Messina, from the Lyon region, is currently involved in various jazz projects at the Paris Conservatory CNSMDP after a classical and jazz education. Dylan Choisi quickly made a name for himself in the Paris area after his studies. His concerts have already taken him across Europe and the USA, most recently with the band "AMG" to the New York Winterjazz 2026, or with saxophonist Jowee Omicil across Europe.

Line-up:
Loris Grillo - sax
Paul Janoschka - piano
Léo Messina - double bass
Dylan Choisi - drums

Doors: 19:00 hrs

After the success of his first solo tour with numerous high-profile and sold-out shows, Bobby Vandamme, the "Govaneur," returns in May 2026 to even bigger stages and promises an even more impressive and wilder show!

Just a few weeks ago, Bobby Vandamme amazed his fans with his first solo tour. And it couldn’t have gone more successfully.

At the very first show, the live version of “El Capitano” became a real hit - live on-site with countless mosh pits as well as on social media. With a total of ten mostly high-profile and sold-out shows in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, he delivered a show that is unmatched - and the fans were thrilled. With unannounced appearances by high-profile rap colleagues and friends like Farid Bang, Milano, or Azet, with whom he released the joint single “Buscape” during the tour, he also had some surprises in store for his fans.

It’s no wonder that everyone is calling for more - and he wouldn’t be the Gova if he didn’t raise the stakes again...

So, he returns in May 2026 as “Der Govaneur” to even bigger stages and already promises an even more impressive and wilder show. Not much will be revealed yet, but one thing is certain: Fans can expect an energy-filled show and new songs and will experience an unforgettable evening full of fun, surprises, and goosebump moments!

Doors open: 18:30 Uhr

Photo: The Horst Sessions © private

Curated by Fabian Habicht and Frederich Helbing, a freshly assembled ensemble will also perform the opener set for Edition #84. Here, people come together who have probably never played together before. The first set is intended to resonate entirely in the spirit of the Horst Sessions. Collective improvisation, new connections, exchange, risk. The exact lineup will remain a surprise until shortly before the start.

The idea of the Horst Sessions is to provide a platform for the diversity, creativity, and experimental spirit of the Rhine/Main music scene and present it live to an audience. A place for musicians, for music lovers, for music enthusiasts, for open ears and dry mouths. A place of exchange, of getting to know each other, and of inspiration. After a short set by the opener band, the jam session will be opened, and fellow musicians with their own instruments are warmly welcome. On-site, there are guitar and bass amplifiers, keys, mics, and a drum kit.

Entrance from 7:00 PM

Entry: 7:00 PM

Remaining tickets possibly available at all known advance booking locations and at the box office.

Support: LUNA

Wilhelmine is one of the most impressive voices in German-speaking pop.
Growing up in an occupied house in Berlin-Kreuzberg, she embodies an openness and honesty that is reflected in all her songs. Her music combines organic pop sounds with emotional depth – sometimes delicate, sometimes powerful, always authentic. Themes such as healing, female rage, empowerment, and solidarity run like a red thread through her work.
After her Top 10 debut album Wind and the celebrated follow-up Meere, she has performed as a support act for Coldplay and Maggie Rogers, and has played sold-out headliner tours. With her approachable manner, Wilhelmine manages to silence entire halls or make them sing along, always building a deep connection with her audience.
After a year-long break, she is back with her current single "nächsten Sommer" – one of the most personal songs of her career. Dedicated to her mother, who lost her battle against cancer earlier this year. Between pain and hope, the song combines closeness and comfort, allowing space for lightness despite loss.

Doors: 19:00