Sound of Nashville Open Air - The 502s, Rose Betts, Zandi Holup & Birdtalker

In the organizer's words:

The Sound of Nashville Open Air returns to Cologne in 2026 and once again invites music fans to a special late summer event in the open air. On September 6, the open-air deck of the Kantine will be transformed into an open-air stage for international singer-songwriter and indie folk acts for one day. After two successful editions, the event continues to focus on an intimate open-air atmosphere, strong live performances and a stylistically diverse line-up. With The 502s, Rose Betts, Zandi Holup and Birdtalker, four international acts will take to the stage, bringing modern folk, Americana and indie sounds to Cologne.

The 502s bring their euphoric beach folk sound and their energetic live show to Cologne. The five-piece band from Orlando inspires with songs full of joie de vivre and community spirit. On their latest album "Easy Street" (2025), the band combines their characteristic sound with a sun-drenched concept about the relaxed life in an imaginary coastal town. After an extensive US tour and numerous festival appearances, The 502s are coming to Europe in 2026 as part of their "Nonsense All Night" tour.

Songwriter Rose Betts is still considered an insider tip in this country, but has already built up a loyal fan base internationally. The artist combines influences from her Irish roots with indie folk, chamber pop and atmospheric storytelling. Following her highly acclaimed debut album "White Orchids" (2022), she recently released the follow-up "There Is No Ship", which further cemented her reputation as an exceptional songwriter. Songs such as "Irish Eyes" became streaming successes and also made her a minor sensation on social media.

Zandi Holup, one of the most exciting new voices on the current folk and Americana scene, is also on the program. The singer-songwriter first attracted attention online with demo recordings and song fragments. Her debut album "Wildflower", produced by Ryan Hadlock (Zach Bryan, Wyatt Flores, among others), combines introspective songwriting with a haunting, emotional voice. Stylistically, Holup draws on the great folk traditions of artists such as Joan Baez, Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell, while her unfiltered storytelling is also reminiscent of the narrative power of classic country songwriters. As a live artist, she has already impressed as the opening act for Steve Earle, Amanda Shires and Midland.

The line-up is completed by Birdtalker, the acclaimed folk quartet from Nashville led by Zack and Dani Green. The band attracted a lot of attention in 2018 with their debut album "One" and the single "Heavy", which has now recorded over 95 million streams. Critics from Rolling Stone to NPR praised the group's warm, harmonious sound, which combines folk, indie and Americana. With their album "All Means, No End", Birdtalker continue to follow their musical path and continue to inspire with intense live performances.

In addition to the music, visitors can once again expect a relaxed open-air atmosphere on the open-air deck of the Kantine in 2026. The Sound of Nashville Open Air will once again combine high-quality live music with a relaxed experience and turn Cologne into a meeting place for fans of international singer-songwriter and Americana sounds for a day.