Rose City Band

In the organizer's words:

The music of the Rose City Band is sun-drenched, timeless country rock. Their catchy, laid-back dynamic reflects the joy of making music without blocking out the darker tones of our minds. Led by guitarist and vocalist Ripley Johnson, the band's sound takes its cues from the private record releases of the late '70s that Johnson loves. He is joined in the band by pedal steel guitarist Barry Walker, keyboardist Paul Hasenberg and drummer John Jeffrey, combining driving rhythms with gentle, atmospheric sounds.

Support: Atlas Bird

The Leipzig-based band with Martin Schröder-Zabel (guitar, vocals) and Axel Kunz (drums, piano) breaks with the usual expectations of a duo with their sound. They love the grand gesture, which sometimes sounds as raw as you would expect from a duo and as big as you wouldn't think possible. The simple instrumentation of guitar and drums creates space for clear lines, pathetic power and the spaces in between that make songs exciting in the first place.