„SONGS & WHISPERS“ - CIRCUIT 01/2012
Please find the German version down below
Gillian Grassie (Philadelphia, USA)
Gillian Grassie is an award-winning harpist/singer-songwriter from Philadelphia whose blend of jazz-inflected indie folk/pop showcases her “knack for turning seemingly insignificant events into songs worthy of everyone’s attention,” (Origivation Magazine). Her innovative use of the harp, expressive vocals, and sophisticated but accessible songwriting prowess have earned her grants from the Thomas J. Watson Foundation and the U.S. State Department, a slew of awards, radio airtime, film placements, television coverage, and the fervent support of her fans, who collectively funded Grassie’s second full-length studio album, The Hinterhaus, produced by Todd Sickafoose (Ani DiFranco, Anaïs Mitchell) and expected to be released January 2012.
Grassie graduated cum laude with a degree in Comparative Literature & her music is often inspired by literary works, with references to Philip Larkin, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, and William Faulkner woven throughout. Whether performing at a club in the heart of Siberia or on a moving train car in India, Grassie never fails to surprise and delight her audiences with a charming, comfortable, and engaging stage presence that has won her devoted listeners across the United States, South America and Asia, including Grammy-winner Marc Cohn, who called himself “an instant Gillian Grassie fan,” noting, “it’s rare to hear a young singer with such control and understated soulfulness, and even more rare to hear a harp provide such a deep percussive groove. I was immediately captivated by her sound.” In the context of the “SONGS & WHISPERS” CIRCUIT 01/2012 she will perform in North-Western-Europe.
Influences: Joni Mitchell, Billie Holiday, Ani DiFranco, Portishead, Björk, Jeff Buckley, Damien Rice, Patty Griffin, Iron & Wine, Philip Larkin
For Fans of: Ingrid Michaelson, Feist, Regina Spektor, Beirut, Norah Jones
“[Serpentine is] an album that belongs on every critic’s best of list not only for the year, but for the decade.” - Music for America
“Her music deftly blends jazz, pop, folk and rock with mesmerizing effectiveness, with forays into techno and even bossa nova further blurring the boundaries of tradition.” - Naila Francis, The Intelligencer
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"SONGS & WHISPERS" is putting its EDUTAINMENT-format into practice in cooperation with Altes Gymnasium Bremen within CIRCUIT 01/2012.
Therefor the pupils deal with each facet of the musician Adam Donen including biography, song structure and lyrics.
All results are published on a blog created by the pupils: https://www.htnnet.de/julius/wordpress
The highlight of this project is a visit of Adam Donen at their school, where he will perform together with pupils.
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Adam Donen (Cape Town, RSA / London, UK)
Born in Cape Town, resident in London for 8 years, Adam Donen is a poet, musician and actor. Critically feted across Europe, his songs have been compared to Leonard Cohen and Jacques Brel, yet his style is all his own.
Donen has garnered much praise for his consummate stage performances, performing moving, transcendental music that takes you through terror and heartbreak, and out the other side.
His new album, Vampires, was premiered in London at the prestigious King’s Place concert hall, where he was accompanied by a 16-piece orchestra. The album will be released across Europe on 1st May, 2012 on the label “SONGS & WHISPERS” and will be presented live during CURCUIT 01/2012.
Influences: Nick Cave, Leonard Cohen, Bob Dylan, Jacques Brel, Johnny Cash, Goethe, Joni Mitchell, Lou Reed, Love, Josh T. Pearson, Tom Waits, Tori Amos, Georg Buchner, William Shakespeare, Tennessee Williams
"A unique talent" - Roger O' Donnell, The Cure
"A musical poet. RECOMMENDED!" - London TimeOut
"There's no-one out there writing songs like Adam Donen - PennyBlackMusic, Scotland
Take a look at the video:
Adam Donen reads Rainer Maria Rilke against a theatrical backdrop of Worpswede:
Honig (Duesseldorf, GER)
For years Stefan Honig was the singer of the German indie band BENEVOLENT and for two years now he’s a solo artist who quickly became one of the leading figures in Düsseldorf’s newly
formed singer/songwriter scene.
His debut album “Treehouse” came out in 2009.
Off stage Stefan works as a kindergarten teacher and the experience of watching the world through the eyes of a child often finds its way into the lyrics of his songs.
He has played many shows in and around Germany, Poland and the Netherlands.
A six week tour through China and has successfully supported international acts like Chris Garneau, Calexico, An Horse, Joshua Radin, Isbells, The Black Atlantic, John Vanderslice, Tunng, Castanets and many others.
Whether he is playing on his own or backed up by a band – HONIGs songs are songs to get lost in. Emotional and thoughtful. His new Album “Empty Orchestra” will be released in February 2012.
Influences: Nick Drake, Elliott Smith, Bon Iver
"SONGS & WHISPERS" - FESTIVAL at Kito on Sunday, 05th of February, 16:00!
(Alte Hafenstraße 30, 28757 Bremen)
Running order
16:00 - Kevin de Haas (Bremen / D)
16:20 - Lena Steinbrink (Bremen / D)
16:40 - Angelo Piazza (Bremen / D)
17:00 - Axel Kruse (Bremen / D)
17:20 - HONIG (Bremen / D)
18:20 - Gillian Grassie (Philadelphia / USA)
19:20 - Adam Donen (London / UK / RSA) supported by the music class of Altes Gymnasium Bremen!!
20:20 - Daisy Chapman (Bristol / UK)
Please note that details are subject of change!
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