Sönke Meinen

An international rising star on the acoustic guitar from East Frisia? Here he is: Sönke Meinen. One single guitar and a barstool, this fundamentally likable guy needs nothing more to break expectations of the classical guitar concert genre and to inspire audiences all around the world. With his captivating performances, he makes acoustic guitar music accessible to all those in search of something new, handcrafted, and extraordinary or simply the best in musical entertainment.

Sönke Meinen incorporates all influences from folk, pop, classical, jazz, world music to film music. He sounds like an entire band on his own and explores all possibilities of the instrument: While he sets off a guitaristic fireworks display with "Sparklemuffin," "Perpetuum Mobile," or a furious mashup of Michael Jackson's "Bad," in the next moment, moving ballads with beautiful, catchy melodies take center stage. Despite all the variety, his guitar playing is uncompromisingly unique and always at world-class level – virtuosic, delicate, and groovy.

The concerts of this award-winning musician appeal not only to guitar fans. Always with a twinkle in his eye, he has incredible and incredibly humorous stories to tell about his compositions, leading the audience through a high-class concert evening in an empathic and relaxed manner.

Sönke Meinen has earned an outstanding reputation in the national and international guitar scene with his playing. A must-see and must-hear!

“One of the most creative guitarists in the scene today” - Tommy Emmanuel
“Amazing performance!” - Steve Lukather (guitarist of Toto)
“Deep musicality and enviable virtuosity to create music of stunning beauty.” - Martin Taylor

http://www.soenkemeinen.com/de

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Jule Malischke AKA Jule Malischke & Don Ross

Julie Malia, known as Jule Malischke, is an incredibly talented guitarist, singer, and composer who has made a name for herself in recent years with her fantastic compositions and outstanding festival performances. Originally from Baden-Württemberg, she studied at the Leopold Mozart Center in Augsburg and at the Carl Maria von Weber College of Music in Dresden up to the masterclass level and is also active as a lecturer in guitar.

She is now one of the most sought-after solo artists of her genre across Europe. Her repertoire includes a wide range of original songs, sensitive cover versions, arrangements of classical guitar music, and pieces from the realm of fingerstyle. Like hardly anyone else, she combines “the best of both worlds” and crowns her playing with delicately floating vocalizations.

Julie Malia (AKA Jule Malischke) is also known for her winning personality, exuberant humor, wonderful voice, and incredible technical skills on the guitar. She has taken audiences across Europe by storm and has performed at almost all major festivals.

In April 2024, she released her new solo album “Seagull” featuring her own compositions, which primarily highlight her sensational technical skills and voice. Her album “Seagull” was nominated in July 2024 for the renowned German Record Critics' Award.

In 2024, she toured Canada and the USA for the first time together with Don Ross, a veteran of the acoustic guitar. She will also be performing with him in Germany in 2025. Due to her increased international concert activity, Jule Malischke will be performing under the name JULIE MALIA going forward.

Julie currently lives in Dresden.

Don Ross was born in Montreal as the son of an indigenous mother from the Mi’kmaq nation and a Scottish immigrant. He studied music at York University in Toronto and graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Music). In 1988, he won the US National Fingerpick Guitar Championship for the first time. That same year, he performed with his quartet Eye Music at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland (the concert recording is still a revelation today!).

In the 1990s, he was mainly heard in Canada and the USA. In 1996, he won the US National Fingerpick Guitar Championship for the second time (which no other guitarist has achieved). Record deals with Sony Music/Columbia Records (Canada) and Narada Records, along with extensive concert tours (Japan, China, Taiwan, India, Russia, Central Europe – several hundred gigs alone in Germany) made him world-renowned. Over the past 30 years, he has provided vision and perspective to an entire generation of musicians. For countless guitarists, he is one of the “All Time Favorites.”

On stage, one experiences a musician who builds complex rhythmic structures and soundscapes on an unshakeable groove. Technically of an unheard brilliance, he truly sets off a fireworks display of the most demanding fingerstyle guitar. But even with soft tones, delicate as dew drops, airy harmonics, and lyrical melody lines, he enchants his audiences. Personally and musically, he is a likable individual who wins the hearts of his listeners.

Don currently lives in Windsor, Nova Scotia, Canada.

Now, two musicians are on stage who couldn't be more different: the Canadian bear, who sometimes describes his style as “Heavy Wood,” and the German “Seagull,” who reaches for unimaginable heights with her ethereal, delicately floating vocalizations. Both are at home in the entire spectrum of demanding acoustic guitar from fingerstyle to jazz in the best sense. Julie can groove like a bear, and Don can display delicate virtuosity. Both have a distinctive singing voice, and both present an infectious joy of playing.
What one experiences on stage is not that one first takes a turn, then the other improvises (more one after the other than together) and also not the virtuosic game against sidewoman. No, one experiences an intertwining of musical ideas that takes your breath away. The audience is in for a top-class musical experience!

https://donrossandjulemalischke.com

Doors: 7 PM