In the organizer's words:

Oklahoma Lonestar Heartbreak Institute

40 Years: Anniversary performances in Hamburg and Berlin

"Hillbilly Deluxe": In the mid-1980s, Dwight Yoakam, Nanci Griffith and George Strait brought a breath of fresh air to the US country scene.

The "New Traditionalists" wave spread to England - and from there to Germany.

In 1986, the Oklahoma Lone Star Heartbreak Institute from Hamburg was the first independent band in Germany to venture into this unadulterated country & western sound.

The all-star septet - all seven musicians came from other well-known bands - played hand-picked songs by Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard and Townes Van Zandt, including fiddle and Chet Atkins guitar twang. Thanks to the jazz musicians in the group, highly dynamic western swing by Bob Wills and Tex Williams also entered the repertoire.

Over the years, the Oklahoma Lone Star Heartbreak Institute gained an excellent reputation as a stylistically confident country band and thus became the opening act for the Mekons (UK), the Okra All-Stars (USA) and the Jever Mountain Boys led by Alexander Hacke. Guest singers as diverse as Jochen Distelmeyer (Blumfeld) and Chris Kiel (Lovekrauts) enriched the legendary C&W Christmas shows before the group broke up at the end of the 90s.

Back after 40 years for two anniversary performances with the original line-up!

Detlef Diederichsen (voc, g) Die Zimmermänner, Robert Forster Band

Folke Jensen (g) Ledernacken, Tilman Rossmy Quartett

Christian Kellersmann (sax, voc) Die Zimmermänner, Die Doraus & Die Marinas

Paul Nemitz (keyb) Ledernacken, Bigband of the German Armed Forces

Matthias Strzoda (dr, voc) Rocko Schamoni, The Go-Betweens

Hans-Hinrich Thedens (fiddle, g, voc) Andreas Dorau, Chateau Neuf Spelemannslag

Marc Zimmermann (b) Prollhead, The Punkles, Aeronauten

Saturday 28.3.2026 Hamburg Westwerk
Sunday 29.3.2026 Berlin Monarch