Wolf Biermann & Freunde - "Don't Wait for Better Times – The Anniversary Concerts for the 90th Birthday"

Description

Don't wait for better times!
Wolf Biermann & Friends - The concerts for the 90th birthday. The singer-songwriter and poet Wolf Biermann will celebrate his 90th birthday in 2026 – at the same time, the legendary Cologne concert of 1976, which led to his consequential expatriation and made him a key figure in German-German history, will mark 50 years. Wolf Biermann proved during times of the GDR dictatorship that one must take freedom: "Take your freedom, otherwise it will never come!"; instead of waiting for only minor freedoms to be granted. He was banned from performing and publishing for 12 years. The goal was to completely isolate him. However, Wolf Biermann did not yield; he remained the most outspoken critic of the GDR dictatorship. Through book and music publications secretly smuggled into the West, he became quickly known, and his works were translated into almost all Western European languages and into Japanese. His popularity significantly protected him from arrest. In 1976, the rulers decided to expatriate the poet and musician who could not be silenced. They used a method popular among the Nazis. The then-unprecedented wave of protests—personalities like Yves Montand, Joan Baez, Luigi Nono, or Arthur Miller in the West, and especially the resistance within the GDR itself, particularly from the so-called common people—are considered by historians as the beginning of the end of the GDR. Wolf Biermann remains outspoken and has repeatedly initiated discourses. He still does not shy away from speaking uncomfortable truths in often sharp, vivid language and thus interfering in current politics. This fall, Wolf Biermann will turn 90. His legendary Cologne concert of 1976 will celebrate its 50th anniversary. The geopolitical situation is changing rapidly. Today, it is again necessary to defend freedom, democracy, and equal diversity against radical-religious, racist, and anti-Semitic thinking and actions. The break begins in the minds and is ultimately completed in the indifferent heart. The times need combative role models like Wolf Biermann, who has shown by example what it means to stay steadfast. On his 90th birthday and the 50th anniversary of the Cologne concert, three events will honor and celebrate Wolf Biermann's political life achievement—as well as his musical and poetic works. In the festival concerts, friends, artists, and companions will meet Wolf Biermann (who will also perform his most important songs and poems on stage). Under the title: "Don't Wait for Better Times!" these concerts will take place:
October 21, 2026 Cologne - Philharmonie
November 3, 2026 Hamburg - Elbphilharmonie
November 20, 2026 Leipzig - Gewandhaus

**Announcement of the stage guests**
The stage guests for the 90th birthday festival concerts of Wolf Biermann are now confirmed—they are as diverse as the life and work of the poet and singer-songwriter himself. Friends, companions, political allies, and fellow artists will perform with Wolf Biermann over three evenings in Cologne (Philharmonie), Hamburg (Elbphilharmonie), and Leipzig (Gewandhaus). Each concert will have its own cast and program. The opening will be on October 21, 2026, in Cologne—and this is no coincidence: 50 years ago, Wolf Biermann gave his legendary Cologne concert, which became the occasion for his scandalous expatriation. Besides Biermann, the evening in the Philharmonie will feature: former Federal President Joachim Gauck, who will give the commemorative speech about this historic event that shook East and West Germany and provoked international protests; WDR icon Carmen Thomas and actor Burghart, who was at the concert in 1976; rapper Juse Ju, classical guitarist Nora Buschmann, and jazz legends Günter Baby Sommer and Uli Gumpert. The evening will be hosted by Pamela Biermann.
On November 3, 2026, in Biermann's hometown Hamburg at the Elbphilharmonie: Campino, who will give the commemorative speech, will come with guitarist Kuddel (Andreas von Holst). Die Toten Hosen recently released a joint version with Biermann of "Encouragement". The century entertainer OTTO. The Hamburg string quartet Salut Salon. Actors Burghart Klaußner and Gustav Peter Wöhler. Guitarist Nora Buschmann. Writer and cabaret artist Franz Hohler. Singer Uschi Brüning with pianist Christian von der Goltz; and jazz legends Günter Baby Sommer and Uli Gumpert. The evening will be hosted by Pamela Biermann.
On November 20, 2026, the journey continues to Leipzig. Here, Biermann held his first public concert after 25 years of total ban in the GDR in December 1989, enforced and improvised organized in the trade fair halls by civil rights activists. Historian Ilko-Sascha Kowalczuk will give the commemorative speech at the Gewandhaus that evening. Besides Biermann, the lineup includes: Wolfgang Niedecken with pianist Mike Herting, rapper Juse Ju, guitarist Nora Buschmann, actress Barbara Schnitzler, Chinese poet and dissident Liao Yiwu, singer Uschi Brüning with pianist Christian von der Goltz, and jazz legends Günter Baby Sommer and Uli Gumpert. The evening will be hosted by Pamela Biermann.
**All participants:**
Wolf Biermann; Pamela Biermann; Uschi Brüning and Christian von der Goltz; Nora Buschmann; Campino and Kuddel/Andreas von Holst; former Federal President Joachim Gauck; Uli Gumpert; Franz Hohler; Juse Ju; Burghart Klaußner; Ilko-Sascha Kowalczuk; Liao Yiwu; Wolfgang Niedecken and Mike Herting; OTTO; Salut Salon; Carmen Thomas; Barbara Schnitzler; Günter Baby Sommer; Gustav Peter Wöhler and surprise guests.

**DATES**
October 21, 2026 Cologne - Philharmonie
November 3, 2026 Hamburg - Elbphilharmonie
November 20, 2026 Leipzig - Gewandhaus
Tickets for the above concerts are available at all well-known presale outlets.
The co-organizer of the concerts is Clouds Hill (music publisher and label of Wolf Biermann), which continuously manages his music catalog—including the recent cover album "Wolf Biermann RE:IMAGINED - Songs for Now!"—and has made a name for itself internationally with the management of The Mars Volta and Omar Rodríguez-López catalogs.

Highlights

• Anniversary concerts for Wolf Biermann's 90th birthday
• 50 years after the legendary Cologne concert of 1976
• Wolf Biermann as a key figure in German-German history

General Information

Wolf Biermann will celebrate his 90th birthday in 2026 with special concerts at the Elbphilharmonie. These events commemorate his significant role as a critic of the GDR dictatorship and the protest wave that accompanied his expatriation.

Location

Platz der Deutschen Einheit 1, 20457 Hamburg, Germany

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