TWO BAND FESTIVAL by SILVAN STRAUSS: Silvan Strauss X Reuben James *live

In the organizer's words:

Silvan Strauss (Kabul Fire/D) *live*
Reuben James (Rufio Records/UK) *live*

Hamburg producer and drummer Silvan Strauss is an exceptional phenomenon and an outstanding representative of a new generation that moves effortlessly between jazz and urban contemporary music. Jazz, hip-hop and beatmaking flow naturally into one another and merge into an unmistakable style. Anyone who has seen his videos, in which he integrates swinging microphones and tilting milk jugs into his improvised drum sets, knows how enthusiastic he is about what he does.

Born in Kempten, he grew up listening to German radio big bands, punk rock and hip-hop albums from the golden era, played drums on everything he could get his hands on as a child and took part in the Bavarian State Youth Jazz Orchestra. In between rehearsals, he produced his own beats, switched between punk and hip-hop bands, and eventually studied at the Hamburg University of Music. His immersion in Hamburg's live music scene earned him the Hamburg Jazz Prize in 2021.

In recent years, he has worked with greats such as Maria João, Soweto Kinch, Omer Klein, Guinga, Farhot, Jazzrausch Bigband and Till Brönner. Strauss incorporates the immense input from all these different collaborations into the Toytoy project, where he produces and works closely with his bandmates on a vision of experimental groove music.

Strauss releases his own music on Kabul Fire Records, where he represents the organic and analog side of beatmaking. In late 2024, he will release his second studio album FLUKIN' with impressive guest appearances such as Oscar#Worldpeace, Salomea, Joe Armon-Jones, Farhot or Mehdi Qamoum.

Reuben James, singer-songwriter and pianist from Birmingham, moves between soul, funk, jazz, R'n'B, hip-hop and more. The often overused term "eclectic" certainly applies in his case, his music flows so freely between genres, his improvisations are so rich in allusions and content, and he skillfully explores the boundaries between jazz and pop affinity. Not least because of this, but also because of his virtuoso jazz techniques and his sensitive voice, he is one of the most exciting and creative artists of recent years.

Before he caused a sensation solo in 2019 with his first EP "Adore" and his debut album "Champagne Kisses" (2023), he developed his colorful sound palette over years of collaborations. Inspired by blues, jazz and gospel at home, he was already playing in trumpeter Abram Wilson's quartet at the age of 17. He abandoned his scholarship at the renowned Trinity College of Music in London early, against his parents' advice, to go on tour with Sam Smith instead, who he thought was on the verge of a breakthrough at the time. Pure gut feeling and he was absolutely right. He not only accompanied Sam Smith on his tours, but also co-wrote his successful album "The Thrill Of It All" (2017) and collaborated with musicians from a wide variety of musical worlds, including Joni Mitchell, Stormzy, Bonnie Raitt, Herbie Hancock, Elton John and Disclosure.

We are offering discounted tickets for this event to give people with smaller wallets access to culture. These contingents are limited and only available at TixforGigs. We trust in your self-assessment: If you can, book standard tickets and leave the discounted contingents to those who need to save a lot right now.