Blind Melody held its second installment of live musical performances on a clear spring night on the 16th of April. The concert was made up of three wide ranging acts, each with different experience levels but all with huge amounts of talent. The event was hosted at the Greenhouse Berlin 8th Floor Gallery by Zalk Productions.
First up to perform – for the first time ever in front of a live audience – was cosmic folk musician Mowgli (Théo Vicariot). He appeared, sitting on the stage surrounded by a humble forest of candles and olive plants, an atmosphere perfect for an early spring night. He began his set with a stroke of his guitar accompanied by Wojtek Świeca on the slide guitar. Mowgli’s soulful and melancholy voice filled the candle-lit room. A series of folk covers and also outstanding original compositions seemed to open the ceiling of the gallery’s performance space and expose the stars to shine down on Mowgli and his guitar. He names his style “cosmic folk” which is a very apt description for the music we heard that night. A brilliant premiere performance from this fresh folk singer from France; Bob Dylan would be proud.
After a short interval to let the audience to return from Mowgli’s galaxy and grab another drink at the bar, the performance space had transformed. The stage was flanked by several bicycles for the next group of performers – Girls on Fahrrads, an alternative Jazz band formed in Berlin. The crowd became silent as Thomas Kolarczyk opened their first song, bowing a beautiful sequence on his towering double bass. When he suddenly switched into a faster pizzicato style bass line he was joined by the rest of the band: Wojtek Świeca on the electric guitar, Jakub Skowronski playing the tenor saxophone, and Kuba Gudz at the drum-kit. Together, they played an incredible jazz set, changing through fast and slow tempos punctuated by solos from each of the talented performers. At the end they received a well-deserved standing ovation from their spellbound audience.
Another short break, and the stage decoration had changed yet again, this time for our head lining act. Multi-coloured disco lights spread across to all corners of the gallery space, a perfect ambiance for the crowd to get up off the couches and dance to the smooth jazz - techno beats of Jim Cassady & Pablo. Their intricate and deceivingly simple melding of live guitar, keyboard, electronic tools and recorded elements makes a strong atmosphere for both dancing and sitting back to chill. It was a huge honour to have the talented duo at Blind Melody, and also a very special opportunity for the audience to experience their sound in such a small and intimate setting at the Greenhouse Berlin. The night went on through to the early hours of the morning with more people arriving even after Jim Cassady & Pablo had already begun.
We give a huge thanks to our artists: Mowgli, Girls on Fahrrads and Jim Cassady & Pablo for three unforgettable performances. And thanks to Louie Neale for the great graphic design work and working the bar.
It’s certain to say that everyone enjoyed this second chapter of the Blind Melody saga. Join again next time to see the next event, stay up to date by pressing like on the Zalk Productions and Greenhouse Berlin Facebook pages.
Published by Zalk Productions 28/4/2016
Photos by Yuval Jacob Zalk
