Did aliens land there? Some people may have asked themselves this during Matthias Lilienthal’s controversial directorship at the Munich Kammerspiele. And it was fitting that under Lilienthal there were a total of four “Alien Discos” there until 2019. However, this was a great blessing for lovers of unusual pop, rock and jazz sounds. Because that’s exactly what Markus and Micha Acher have done The Notwist enriched the local music landscape at their festival with the title. With the end of Lilienthal’s directorship came the end. Then came Corona. Last year there was an attempt to revive the “Alien Disco” elsewhere. Which didn’t work out financially. But with the “Alien Pocket Disko” a kind of paperback version of the festival was released.
And now? The “Alien Disco” is finally back and in full bloom. It has its new location in the Munich Volkstheater, where 18 international bands from countries such as Argentina, India, Japan, Kenya and Mongolia will perform on three stages on December 8th and 9th. How did the “coup” come about with the Volkstheater as its new home? Well, according to Micha Acher, director Christian Stückl simply said “yes” at the first meeting. In addition, the “Alien Disko #5” is once again being supported by the Munich Cultural Department this year. Unfortunately, when the resuscitation was attempted last year, there was no corresponding promise. With the result that as organizers they would have “simply been stuck with costs that were too high”.
“This time we have prepared and secured everything very thoroughly,” says Markus Acher, “so that there is no way this can happen again. We are now a larger team and things are going great, but we also had to get used to it first.” “Inquiring and booking the bands was actually far too short notice for that,” says the musician. “But we were extremely lucky, everything worked out except for one thing and some really great things came about.” By which he means, among other things, the concert by Kabeaushé from Kenya. The musician is considered a child prodigy, with his “Future Pop”, which is reminiscent of Prince or Tyler, the Creator, but also of Bollywood. Live he stands for a “theatrical” show, which can be admired on December 9th in the Volkstheater.
The British experimental rock trio is also described as an “incredible live band”. Beak> to the Portishead-Musician Geoff Barrow touted. The duo also comes from the British Isles Jam Money, which moves somewhere between ambient and various lofi sounds. Mariá Portugal and Bruno Berle come from Brazil, which means there is a small focus on South America this time with Juana Molina and Fiesta en el Vacío. Mariá Portugal is active as a drummer and singer in a variety of projects, also composes for film and theater and is presenting her solo album “Erosao” in Munich. The multi-instrumentalist Bruno Berle writes touching, poetic songs, which he will also present in the record store “Optimal” in addition to the “Disko”.
Mariá Portugal is active as a drummer and singer in a variety of projects, also composes for film and theater and is presenting her solo album “Erosao” in Munich.
(Photo: Frank Schindelbeck)
Juana Molina used to be a TV comedian and now makes electronically tinged folk songs. And Luna Maria Cedrón, who calls herself Fiesta en el Vacío, incorporates Latin American elements such as flamenco or Occitan lyrics into her songs. Ulaanbaatar-born singer Enkhjargal Erkhembayar aka Enji mixes Mongolian melodies with jazz and electronics. And the Indian singer, actress and filmmaker MD Pallavi, supported by Andi Otto, will perform poems in her native language Kannada. Otherwise, Japan is once again a geographical focus. It starts on the first evening with Kiki Hitomi, who is known as a singer and musician from crazy projects like WaqWaq Kingdom. At the same time, the folk band Gratin Carnival from Kobe will be on stage.
The noise punk band also comes from Kobe O’Summer Vacation. And then there are also Turtle Yama with her funny electronic sounds and the musician Kopy with her “dark dance floor mysticism”. By the way, the popular “Sound Clash” improvisation sessions are back this year. What is new, however, is that in addition to the day ticket for 65 euros and the 2-day ticket for 95 euros, you can also choose a supporter ticket for 150 euros. As a thank you, you will receive an exclusive poster and a bag.
Oh and there’s also an unofficial “Alien Disco” album. A few days ago came with “The Orchestra In The Sky“namely a double album from Wedding Chapel + Japanese Friends out of here. The Wedding Chapel is the well-known, rumbly jazzy side project of the Achers, who have been to Japan several times with it. And there they are now in Tokyo and Kobe with friendly bands like that Tennis coats or Zayaendo Songs recorded that breathe the collaborative spirit of “disco”. In any case, they are the perfect way to get in the mood for the festival.
Alien Disco #5, Fri./Sat., 8./9. Dec., Munich Volkstheater, Tumblinger Str. 29, www.muenchner-volkstheater.de