“The organization runs more or less on the side, on the way home from work,” says Christopher Geyer from the creative collective The Open Door. Together with Tobias Heumann from the electronic event So not Berlin and Simon Englhart from the Jammin’ for Children project, he started the initiative for the benefit concert “So not right”, which will take place on April 12th at the Muffatwerk.
Since the event is organized on a voluntary basis and therefore involves financial uncertainty, Geyer admits that he has already had a few sleepless nights. But that has now subsided because the expenses have already been covered by previous ticket sales. All proceeds from the event will benefit non-profit organizations and associations that are committed to combating the shift to the right and helping those affected by racism. Sea Watch is among them, but also the February 19th Initiative, the Center for Political Beauty, Pro Asyl and others.
Many people are enthusiastic about the idea of the festival, not least because of the colorful line-up. DJs, bands and collectives from a wide variety of genres, well-known and new faces in the scene, come together here: From the former Moop mom-Singer Keno, Monobo Son and the Express Brass Band about the punk band Anal steel to indie sounds from Seda. Christopher Geyer and his colleagues are well connected in the Munich music industry and were able to spontaneously recruit numerous local acts for the evening, which presented a logistical challenge.
Fortunately, the concept is being treated favorably, says Geyer: “The Muffathalle, for example, agreed the day after our request and allowed us to use the entire work with three stages. And that even on a Friday, when a lot of people have time.” But the organizers are also very grateful for the support of the artists and the many helpers. “Of course we always had doubts, but these idealists motivated us to implement the whole thing,” says Christopher Geyer.
The rise of the AfD frustrates Geyer – and gave him the idea for the festival
The idea for the festival came to him at the end of last year, when the Forsa survey showed that the AfD was becoming increasingly popular. “That made me very sad and frustrated,” recalls Geyer. However, the current demonstrations against the right-wing showed that most people want to position themselves and stand up for diversity – appropriately, the event was given the second name “The Festival of the Many”.
But for the initiators of “So not right,” the rallies don’t go far enough. They have also set themselves the goal of bringing many people together, like at a demonstration. But above all, the concert is intended to raise money to sustainably counteract racism and respond adequately to migration. An online shop was also set up through which additional donations flow to the organizations mentioned through the sale of T-shirts, hats, scarves and stickers.
“Actually, there are so many other challenges, such as climate change, that are falling behind in the face of the shift to the right,” says Christopher Geyer. Nevertheless, he sees the urgency of tackling the issue and raising awareness – and not just in the context of this one evening: “So not right” should remain a format in the future that draws attention to grievances in society. Future events will be announced on the Instagram channel and website.
“So not right”, benefit concert against the right, April 12th, 7 p.m., Muffatwerk, tickets: so-not-right.de/tickets/