ZAPPANALE #35 - - - PART 10 - - - THE FRIDAY PREVIEW - - - WHEN PLANNING WILL BECOME ESSENTIAL

On Friday, the musical activities will kick off in Bad Doberan town.
Two 'warm-up' events have been scheduled at Café Zikke (at Alexandrinenplatz 2).

11h00 Smalltape

The Thursday gig will be with a larger band, while this more intimate setting will be a solo concert by  Smalltape / Philipp Nespital.

12h00 The Petit Hilo Jazz Orchstra

10 musicians from the Hilo Jazz Orchestra are flying over to Bad Doberan. They'll perform on the main stage twice, but part of the ensemble will also do a 'warm-up' at Café Zikke on Friday.

In the meantime, the Kosmische Brocken documentary is shown at the Kamp Theater, and things will start over at the Rennbahn as well.

12h00 Pamela Des Barres Meets Jim Cohen

At the same time, over at the festival ground, Jim Cohen will invite Pamela Des Barres in his red sofa.

Around 14h00 the actual festival will start, switching between the (smaller) Arf Stage and the (larger) main stage.

14h00 - Doom Gong

This sounds like fun. Lots of energy.

https://www.zappanale.de/en/artists-z-35/doom-gong-usa

16h00 - the VKB band

"Re-inventing the music of Tom Waits."
The VKB Band will be performing at the Arf Stage. Judging by the clips I've seen on YouTube, this seems to be the perfect place for them.
Looking forward to this !

https://www.zappanale.de/en/artists-z-35/vkb-band-usa

18h00 - OFFICIAL OPENING, and concert by The Lovers Of Invention

The London-based Lovers Of Invention.
The band that I definitely want to see. I even considered going to London to see one of their gigs.
It was said that there were plans to get them to perform at the MOSAE Zappa festival last year, but, for some reason, that didn't or couldn't happen.
Very excited to see them.
If you check out some of their YouTube videos, you'll notice that at one time, Emma Rawicz was part of the band. Give her recent projects a listen as well.
Also worth mentioning is guitarist and lead vocalist Jonah Hitchens's "The Snake Boys" project. They have an album out (on Bandcamp) with their version of FZ's 'Cosmik Debris'.

https://www.zappanale.de/en/artists-z-35/the-lovers-of-invention-uk

20h00 - Brique

There will be no cooling down after The Lovers Of Invention when Brique will take the Arf Stage.
Experimental music. Featuring Luc Ex (from The Ex) on bass !

https://www.zappanale.de/en/artists-z-35/brique-fr

22h00 - Agitation Free

German krautrock / space rock pioneers Agitation Free will take the main stage at 22h00.
Founded in Berlin, Germany in 1967 - Disbanded in 1974 - Reunited briefly in 1998, 2007 and 2012, and they're performing again !!
The band has released 10 albums (half of these being live albums) and has another live album scheduled for later this year.
I'm listening to their "Live Kesslhaus Berlin 2013" while I'm typing this !!

https://www.zappanale.de/en/artists-z-35/agitation-free-de

24h00 - W3LTR4UM

German psychedelic improvisation band W3LTR4UM will be the final band on Friday.
Sounds like a fitting finale for Friday.

https://www.zappanale.de/en/artists-z-35/w3ltr4um-de

STEVE VAI UPDATE

BREAKING NEWS FOR ALL STEVE VAI FANS

JUNE 2027 IS “VAI IN HOLLAND” MONTH

JUNE 2027 MARKS AN UNPRECEDENTED PROJECT FOR A SINGLE COMPOSER/PERFORMER.

IN A SERIES OF EVENTS THE LEGENDARY STEVE VAI WILL PRESENT AND BE PRESENTED AS ONE OF THE MOST RELEVANT COMPOSERS AND VIRTUOSOS OF HIS TIME.

June 3:
The Chamber Music Of Steve Vai
In the Singer Theatre in Laren, Steve’s chamber music will be performed by violinist Joe Puglia, the North Sea String Quartet and pianist Ralph van Raat. The evening will be hosted by Steve Vai himself, together with his long-time associate Co de Kloet. The evening will consist of Vai classics in special arrangements as well as two world premieres. More information available soon!

June 6:
Steve Vai & Residentie Orkest: A Symphonic Celebration
Steve Vai’s orchestral works with two world premieres
Yes, Steve’s birthday!
Steve himself will perform with the legendary Residentie Orkest from The Hague, under the baton of Jukka Iisakkila. Besides some repertoire pieces, never before performed orchestral pieces, two world premieres will be featured.
A special project with young composers will be presented as well.

June 11:
Steve Vai & Metropole Orkest
A reunion!
Vai and the Metropole Orkest will present an exclusive live performance of Vai’s compositions for orchestra and rock band. The show will include previews of a future release of new Vai/Metropole studio recordings! Again, Jukka Iisakkila conducting.

ZAPPANALE #35 - - - PART 9 - - - UPDATES FOR THURSDAY

In recent years, when arriving in Bad Dobaran on Thursday afternoon, we would usually park the car near the Drümpel Parkplatz and take the short walk to the Zappa statue.
It's the best place to realise that one has entered the Zappa universe as there will be other music freaks checking out the statue, and it's close to the place where those who have arrived by train will get on the Molli (in the Mollistrasse) to go to the festival ground.

Up until a few years ago, upon our arrival, we would also visit the expo at the Zappanale office at the market place (Am Markt). Unfortunately, this space is no longer available but the good news is that the expo has moved to the festival ground.

And we don't want to loose too much time as this year's pre-party has evolved into an entire day of music.

The pre-party will take place on the festival ground, at the "Arf Stage".
Free entrance for those who have a festival ticket !
For those who want to attend but don't have a festival ticket, a contribution of 10 euro will be asked.

14h00 = opening or the pre-party
14h00 - Superthousand
16h00 - Smalltape
18h00 - Blanck Zappath
20h00 - Icarus Burns

And not at the festival ground, but scheduled to appear at the Zappateers tent at the camping ground:
22h00 - Chato Segerer

Wolfhard Kutz, the main man behind the festival, added that Zappanale is the only festival that can take place at the Rennbahn this year. 
Restrictions and even bans have been imposed on all festivals, but fortunately an exception was made for Zappanale because it has been running for so long.

I'm glad that this exception was made and I'm already looking forward to all of the familiar (and new) faces. And ready to discover some new music.

THE ALMOST THREE - LIMITED

• The Almost Three: Limited
      (2019, cd, Germany, pottpeople)

Released as a teaser for the (at the time) upcoming "It's Just Music" album, "Limited" presented 10 tracks. 5 studio tracks and 5 live recordings.
The 5 studio tracks would later get a spot on "It's Just Music".
The live tracks included a fine version of 'Whippin' Post'. Not the Zappa arrangement of the Greg Allman tune, but closer to the original.

In all, an excellent album !

ZAPPANALE #35 - - - PART 8 - - - SPECIAL GUESTS

This year's Zappanale will feature two Special Guests from the Zappa Universe

Pamela Des Barres

With Pamela Des Barres, we welcome one of the most dazzling personalities in rock history to Zappanale #35.
As a member of the legendary GTO’s, an author, an actress, and a firsthand witness to the era, she was part of Frank Zappa’s creative circle. In the late 1960s, she worked for the Zappa family and later became part of the GTO’s, a band mentored by Frank Zappa. Their album *Permanent Damage* was released in 1969 on his label, Bizarre Records. Pamela also appeared in Zappa’s film *200 Motels*.
At Zappanale, you can meet Pamela in person during a Q&A session. She’ll be signing books and sharing stories about her encounters with Frank Zappa and numerous other legends of rock history.

A very special highlight awaits you on Saturday at 5:00 p.m. on the ARF Stage: Together with Tante Tofu, Pamela will perform the GTOs’ song “I’m in Love with the Ooo-Ooo Man” live for the first time.
56 years after its creation. It will also be featured in the rock opera *SchieLa*.

 

Robert Davidson

We’re also pleased to welcome Robert Davidson as a special guest at Zappanale.
His name may not be immediately familiar to everyone, but his most famous photo certainly is: Robert Davidson photographed Frank Zappa in the bathroom, creating one of the most recognizable and widely circulated images in Zappa history.
For decades, the legendary poster hung in countless teenagers’ bedrooms, shared apartments, music clubs, and record stores. Now you have the rare opportunity to meet the photographer behind this iconic image in person.
At Zappanale, Robert Davidson will talk about how the photo came to be, his encounter with Frank Zappa, and his work as a photographer.

We’re looking forward to a special weekend filled with great music, exciting encounters, and plenty of stories from the Zappa universe.

GLENN FERRIS

 Glenn Ferris contributed to this 1994 album:

• Ravy Magnifique, Archie Shepp, Chico Freeman, Glenn Ferris: Meeting
      (1994, cd, France, night & day)

-- info: Jan van Kemenade

ANDREAS RAUSCH - - - THE DOG & FRANK ZAPPA

 -

MADHOUSE

Madhouse is the creation of Prince, teaming up with reed man Eric Leeds.
This collaboration resulted in two albums, "8" and "16", both filled with instrumental jazz-funk, Prince-style.

Madhouse released two albums, both in 1987 and on the Paisley Park record label.
The albums are rather difficult to find and both have been counterfeited including the Madhouse singles as bonus material.

Both albums had been on my want list for quite a while, so when I recently came across the counterfeits, I did not hesitate.

 

• Madhouse: 8
      (????, cd, --, paisley park n108)
      = “8” + two bonus tracks

• Madhouse: 16
      (????, cd, --, paisley park n116)
      = “16” + 4 bonus tracks

Here's a the official video for 'Ten' :

ZAPPANALE #35 - - - PART 7 - - - AN UPDATE FROM THE ZAPPANALE TEAM

Dear Zappanale visitors,

We’re in the final stretch of preparations and are very much looking forward to welcoming you soon to Zappanale #35.

There are also some changes to the festival grounds: Both stages will be moved closer to the lawn, and the gravel area will be subdivided once again. This will create a closer atmosphere, more energy, and an overall cozier festival grounds.

For all dance enthusiasts, we’re making sure there are no benches directly in front of the stages this year. This will leave plenty of room for dancing and a real party vibe.

We have a request regarding the campsites: Please leave large PA systems at home. We want all visitors to be able to get some rest at night. The particularly loud campers from previous years will be relocated elsewhere this time.

After careful consideration, we’ve decided against switching to Rostocker Pils and thereby lowering the beer price by 50 cents. But there’s other good news: This year, you’ll also be able to pay cashless at the beer stands.

Preparations for 2027 are already underway. At Zappanale, there will once again be a pre-presale at the current ticket price. This will continue for some time after the festival. We’ll simply have to add the applicable sales fees to the price. We’re also offering pre-presale tickets that include a vehicle for the campsites. There will be no additional fees for campers in 2027 either.

Initial talks with bands are already in full swing, and we’re once again receiving many exciting applications.

BEAT, WITH ADRIAN BELEW, TONY LEVIN, STEVE VAI AND DANNY CAREY

For those who missed the tour, a recording of the June 24, 2026, concert at the 013 venue in Tilburg, NL, turned up on DimeADozen.

And don't forget that the band has an album (+ blu-ray) out as well.