Booking page here, party index page here
This gig – featuring two world-class acts – has been organised not by hardboiled business executives looking to make a fast buck, but by an inspiringly home-made, locally-run collective.
Their exemplary story (in German here) is relayed in English thanks to Paul Köhrer, who was so instrumental also in the success last year's BtP party for Gary Brooker's birthday.
How
it all began
Fifteen years of the Rock Kulturinitiative, Winterbach
The outcome of a dream
More than twenty years ago (1991), some Rock and Blues maniacs were nursing
their pints in a pub when a dream came to them, in which they saw Rory
Gallagher on stage, there in Winterbach!
A few beers
later they recognised that this particular star was somewhat out of their
league. But what about a different artist? Spontaneously each of them threw
200 DM into the hat, thus laying the foundations for the first rock concert
in Winterbach!
Our first promotion, Steve Gibbons
On 28 April 1991, on the dot of 8 pm, the dream came true, with a good deal
of spine-tingling, as Steve Gibbons and his band took the stage at
Winterbach school. 420 Rock and Blues fans were able to enjoy two-and-a-half
hours of top-class music. After this show there could be no doubt: it must
not be the last concert in Winterbach!
More and more people came forward, just for fun, to help when the next event was mooted. And what do you do, when there’s a critical mass all wanting the same thing? You create a Cooperative.
12
September 1992: founding party
Our founding party saw us back in the Winterbach school, with the bands
Smiling Faces and Hard Driving Mama, who are, incidentally, still with us to
this day.
A lot got done thereafter … as you can see from the names of our guest
performers down the years:
Albert Lee & Hogan’s Heroes, Alvin Lee & Band, Andrew Roachford, Andy
Fairweather Low & The Low Riders, Arthur Brown, ASIA, BAP, Barclay James
Harvest, Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings, Candy Dulfer, Canned Heat, Chris Farlowe
& Band, Chris Jagger, Chris Thompson, Clem Clempson, Climax Blues Band,
Colosseum, Dana Fuchs Band, David Lindley and Wally Ingram, Dr. Feelgood,
Edgar Broughton Band, Eric Burdon & The New Animals, Fischer-Z, Fish, Gary
Moore, Geoff Whitehorn, Jack Bruce, Jethro
Tull, Joan Armatrading, Joe Bonamassa, John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers,
Johnny Winter, Larry Carlton, Level 42, Little Feat, Living Colour, Long
John Baldry , Maceo Parker, Man, Michael Schenker, Mick Ralphs Bluesband,
Miller Anderson & Band, Mitch Ryder & Band, Moody / Marsden Band, Mountain
feat. Leslie West, Nazareth , Nina Hagen Band , Nine Below Zero, Paul
Carrack, Peter Frampton, Robben Ford & The Blue Line,
Robin Trower, Roger Chapman & The Shortlist,
Savoy Brown, Simple Minds, Snowy White, Spencer Davis Group, Stan Webb’s
Chicken Shack, Steve Gibbons Band, Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel, Steve
Lukather, Steve Winwood, Taj Mahal Trio, Ten Years After, The Blues Band,
The Georgia Satellites, The Hooters, The Sweet, Tower Of Power, Uriah Heep,
Walter Trout & Band, Wishbone Ash,
among others,
and naturally many local bands too.
To date,
approximately fifty thousand spectators have come to shows we’ve organised.
The highlights in the club's history have been the “Zeltspektakel” (at which
Procol Harum will play in July) and the “Bluesparade”, now in their tenth
year.
About 250 members support the committee and work hard before, during and
after the events. Without their volunteer efforts no such events would be
possible. Excursions, parties and weekly meetings bind the group together,
under the present chairmanship of Steffen Clauss.
Future plans?
We’ve got plenty! And what are they? Keep an eye on our home page, or
subscribe to our newsletter ... then you won’t miss a beat!