This is the fourth year that the Reeperbahn Festival has been held, and it has already evolved into one of Europe's major club festivals. Over the next couple of days, 155 bands and solo artists will perform in more than 20 clubs situated in an area that was once infamous for its red lights.
The Changing Face of St Pauli
Over the past couple of decades, the character of the St Pauli district, through which the Reeperbahn street runs, has changed markedly. Emphasis is increasingly given to the theatres, which host big budget musicals, and the numerous opportunities dine out in the Kiez ( the term locals use when referring to St Pauli). Bars and prostitutes, working legally, still attract their clients but the Reeperbahn is now usually described as an "entertainment district".
The Beatles in Hamburg
That said, even before the Reeperbahn underwent its image change, some of the world's greatest performers took to its stages to provide entertainment. Famously, The Beatles had a series of residencies in Hamburg clubs from 1960 to 1962. The Star Club, where The Beatles played three stints in 1962 - from April 13 to 31 May 1962, November 1 to 14 and December 18 to 31 - also hosted a number of other great acts. Gerry and The Pacemakers, The Bachelors, The Everly Brothers, Jerry Lee Lewis and Little Richard number among the names who performed at the Star Club, which closed in 1970. Stefanie Hempel, one of the festival's Hamburg-based performers, will be hosting free of charge Beatles Tours on Friday 25th and Saturday 26th September (starting 5.00 pm), recounting anecdotes about The Beatles in Hamburg and singing their songs.
Attractions of the 2009 Reeperbahn Festival
Back in the present, it's anticipated that around 20,000 visitors will enjoy the programme of the 2009 Reeperbahn Festival. The clubs of St Pauli and open air stages of the Reeperbahn's Spielbudenplatz are hosting the likes of the Editors, Dinosaur jr and Deichkind. The festival's motto is "New International Music" and newcomers from across Europe and further afield will also be performing. From the United Kingdom come the Cinematics, Bleech, Sophia and Lowline. Norway sends Katzenjammer, while neighbouring Sweden is represented by Björn Kleinhenz. Cortney Tidwell, Maplewood and Slightly Stoopid join the line up from the USA, and Ohbijou will be attending from Canada.
The Reeperbahn Campus for Creative Industries
The Reeperbahn Festival is not the only attraction in Hamburg for fans and students of popular culture. The Reeperbahn Campus is being held over the same period. That means representatives from four major industries will be in the Hanseatic city from September 24th to 26th.
Members of the film, music, information technology and games industries will be exchanging notes at the Reeperbahn Campus, which insiders say "offers a new communication platform to an expert audience." Panel discussions will be held on the trends and challenges facing people working in "creative industries" and on the effects of the blurring of the boundaries in what were once distinct industries.
Both the festival and the campus events promise to be lively affairs.
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