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TOUR 2011

Alpine rock in the full circus tent

Plattlinger Anzeiger 12th July 2011 | Text & Photos: Fritz Apfelbeck
Hubert von Goisern & Band

Hubert von Goisern and his band show every facet of their ability at the Zeltfestival

Plattling. [...] Hubert von Goisern has always chosen a different path. As a young man his home in Austria became too confining and he went to South Africa. Then Canada became his new home and he played with natives in the Philippines. In Vienna he met the musician Wolfgang Staribacher and the two founded the Alpinkatzen band. He also played with Wolfgang Ambros. Hubert von Goisern mixed rock with alpine songs and out came alpine rock.

Hubert von Goisern had many new songs in his programme at his guest appearance in Plattling. As always the fans were pulled this way and that and there was much applause, as well as whistling and calling. The atmosphere got hotter and hotter. Between the songs Goisern talked about his childhood, for example about when he joined the local brass band and learned to play the trumpet. "I always wanted to play a shiny instrument", he said, his real name being Hubert Achleitner. He taught himself to play guitar and then came accordion and clarinet. He can also play the Jews' harp. All these instruments were put to use during the course of the evening.

After a very hot Saturday afternoon, the air in the tent was oppressively muggy in the evening. The lights also added to the heat. Those standing right at the front could feel this best of all. Hubert von Goisern's physical exertion was once more so enormous that one guitar was downright "drowned by the sweat dripping from his forehead. He didn't just pluck the strings of the guitar, but even worked them. Though his songs were sensitive, huge clouds brewed in the sky above the tent. The first fork of lightning was seen in the distance, but everyone hoped that it wouldn't be so bad. Just before 10pm there was lightning all over and the first rainfall began

The organiser wanted to end the concert early, but Hubert von Goisern insisted on following through with his programme. He played until just past 10pm and at the end came his well-known hits, including Hirtamadl, for which all the spectators had been waiting.

A delegation of Nibelungen – Queen Kriemhild, King Gunther and Brunhilde – were to have presented him with Nibelungen drink, but this didn't happen on account of the approaching storm. It was clear that the audience had come from further afield than just Plattling for Hubert von Goisern's concert. But Renate Franzel said with certainty: "I saw at least 30 people I know from Deggendorf".

Hubert von Goisern: strong benefit show appearance

Kurier 12th July 2011
Hubert von Goisern

Hubert von Goisern and his band do what they can in Grafenegg:
authentic music, charity without a fuss. And precise music.

It's up to you what you think of him: new folk music isn't to everyone's taste, drums and squeezebox remain a special mix. But the musical handwork and authenticity of the artist Hubert von Goisern simply cannot be denied. He didn't just prove it on Sunday, but did so in the service of a very good cause - in aid of the SOS Children's Village Fort Portal in Uganda.

At the Wolkenturm - the impressive open air stage at Grafenegg castle in Lower Austria - von Goisern gave one os just two concerts in Austria in 2011. The cofounder broke off his Germany tour and and got the mood going at first with his accordion. Closed eyes, meditatively slow steps - Goisern had arrived. In the first half the band with no name (Goisern: "If someone can think of a name, let us know. We're still looking") played above all new material, songs with a lot of power, strong lyrics and relatively uncompromising rock.

The just over 2000 visitors (sold out) were split in their opinion of the melodic and volume of the drums (Alex Pohn, good), bass (Helmut Schartlmüller, very good) and guitar (Severin Trogbacher, very, very, very good). But everyone liked the multi-instrumentalist Hubert (Jews' harp, accordion, acoustic and electric guitars, clarinet, cow bells) and his unfussy way of making music.

In the between the at times excellent solos and instrumental interludes he said things like: "We actually finished the album before the tour, but there's no CD yet. That gives us the chance to really play. And apart from that I find it embarrassing to say: and behind us at the merchandising stand you can buy it. You can't even buy it yet!"

After the interval the two young girls Maya and Lucia and the journalist and SOS Children's Village President Heinz Nußbaumer thanked their "old friend Hubert". The money will finance the SOS kindergarten at the recently opened SOS Children's Village in Fort Portal, Uganda. In reply to Nußbaumer's question: "Hubert, why are you doing something like this?" came, after a moment's pause, a quiet, but clear: "Because I want to."

The 50,000 Euros were presented and with that he said: "It's unusual for us, because normally we don't have an interval. So it's difficult to make a set. But then you realise: it doesn't matter, you just have to do what suits the occasion. You might not get caught."

And so Goisern announced the songs "for singing along". The audience was delighted, but stayed in their seats. For the time being. A little critique of the concert would incidentally be the rather dignified atmosphere and the audience's staring. Many of the noteworthy guitar solos definitely should have earned more than modest applause.

But then came the classics. Weit, weit weg, Koa Hiatamadl (in a good rock interpretation) and finally Heast as nit. For the final numbers Goisern asked the audience to come forward at last.

What remained was a really good impression; Goisern lives, his music still works and four good musicians get by in grand form without a keyboard and other instrumental soft-focus effects.

Hubert von Goisern

Blues rock with yodels and cow bells

Plattlinger Zeitung 11th July 2011| Text: Natalie Miseré | Photo: Birgmann

"Hubert von Goisern and Band" bring the tent to boiling point

Hubert von Goisern & BandPlattling. Music lessons couldn't be afforded. So the twelve year old Hubert Achleitner went to one of the seven brass bands in Goisern. His first instrument, the trumpet, was loud and shiny. 47 years later the trumpet has garnered rivals en masse with Hubert von Goisern playing instruments including the accordion, Jews' harp, guitar, clarinet, harmonica and nose flute. Spectators at the Zeltfestival on Saturday were able to see for themselves what the exceptional musical talent and his band had to offer.

"Hellooo", Goisern called to the crowd. Before his show he'd had the benches cleared away in order to make more room, "only a bunch of people have brought them back". Anyone who's an "Indian" has no need of a bench, he just thinks to himself: "I'll sit here". One thing was clear from the very first song: Goisern and his young band love and live music. The spark of joy quickly touched the audience.

Again and again Goisern, Alex Pohn (drums), Severin Trogbacher (guitar) and Helmut Schartlmüller (bass) egged each other on to go one better. They laughed and pulled faces to suit the music. They're not to be pigeonholed, the harmonious collaborative playing is at times rocky, bluesy or folksy. And so one psychedelic-seeming number is followed by the playing of cow bells, or a blues piece ends in a powerful, clear yodel. Goisern yodels as if he's never done anything different in his whole life - it's actually the case that he only started yodelling when he was 37.

And that's not enough. Goisern also masters playing guitar and harmonica simultaneously, or imitates instruments with his voice like the band van Canto. Even as in the boiling heat sweat drips from his long hair onto the wooden body of his acoustic guitar, he is not put off and glides the bottleneck over the strings. There is much applause.

Between the songs the Goiserer lets the audience take part in his life a little, telling stories about the trumpet teacher who didn't care whether Hubert learned or not. "But you can't be indifferent" Goisern said. In two years he worked his way up to first trumpet - "of three" - in the brass band. The two weeks in which he was without an instrument after he had a fight with the bandleader were bad. Then another bandleader in Goisern took him in. The trumpet gave way to the clarinet, much to Goisern's sorrow: "For six months I sucked this instrument." Later in life he wanted to tackle the evil thing and bought himself a clarinet. On Saturday not just the clarinet, but all the other instruments were given to him by backliner Hannes Peithner. Peithner also managed to animate the audience to dancing and singing along.

Singing along wasn't so easy. The majority of the songs played came from the new album ENTWEDERundODER, which is indeed finished, but not yet released. "Otherwise everyone will come well-prepared and sing along and we won't be able to play in peace." Goisern says jokingly.

But at the end came the songs for which the festival visitors had waited. According to Goisern, nobody should say that they can't sing. "Everyone can sing, some just can't sing as well." As a collective fewer vocally talented people hit the note either. With Weit, weit weg and Koa Hiatamadl came the sea of voices - at least on the chorus. And before Goisern and his band transformed into a yodel quartet, accompanied by crashing thunder, they played Heast as nit. Can't you hear, how the time flies ...

Hubert von Goisern raises 50,000 Euros for children

APA 11th July 2011

On Sunday evening Hubert von Goisern raised the grand sum of 50,000 Euros for the SOS Children's Village Fort Portal in Uganda. The musician and songwriter made a special trip from his tour in Germany to give the benefit concert, delighting Heinz Nußbaumer, President of SOS Children's Village Lower Austria.

To the question of why he had got involved for children in Africa, Goisern answered simply: "because I want to".

Every last seat seemed to be taken in the Wolkenturm open air arena with its splendid ambience - in the castle gardens - when the Upper Austrian entertained with his new songs, as yet not available on CD, on this beautiful summer evening. After the interval the fans were able to "seamlessly" sing along - from Weit, weit weg and Koa Hiatamadl to Heast as nit. The atmosphere was really wonderful when at the end Goisern invited everyone to come forward with the okay of the organiser.

The SOS Children's Village established in Fort Portal with Austrian monetary donations was opened on 23rd June and is the fourth such institution in Uganda. Nußbaumer announced that the proceeds of the benefit evening in Grafenegg will go towards building a kindergarten.

Hubert von Goisern: Live in Plattling - 9th July 2011

11th July 2011 | Photos: © Elli Christl

Tanz- and Folkfest Rudolstadt 2011

Allgemeiner Anzeiger 3rd July 2011| Text: Susann Grunert | Photo: Martin Gerlach / OTZ

[...] The winner of the German Ruth 2011 carries his musical roots in the name Hubert von Goisern. The Upper Austrian brought the finest alpine rock with him to Thuringia. "He carries his musical heritage out into the world and stylistically mixes it with what he has gathered in terms of world music impressions on his many journeys", said the statement from the jury. "This is the nicest prize I've ever received", the 58-year-old said, before he bashed into the keys of his accordion and impressively showed how danceable his music is.

Hubert von Goisern

Hubert von Goisern: And folk music can be cool

Mainzer-Rhein-Zeitung 3rd July 2011 | Text: Sabrina Schmidt | Photo: Harry Braun

Hubert von GoisernMainz - At his open air concert at the Zitadelle Hubert von Goisern was accompanied by merely drums (Alex Pohn), bass (Helmut Schartlmüller) and a guitar (Severin Trogbacher) - freeing the 58-year-old once and for all from the image of a funny folk music rogue singing about the "shepherdess who doesn't have fat calves".

And von Goisern left the world musician at home this time too. Instead of Tibetan meditation sounds, there were melodic village tunes and danceable pop songs from his new studio album Entweder und Oder, to be released at the beginning of September.

With the new songs in their unmistakeable Austrian complexion Goisern has rediscovered the sounds of his homeland in the Salzkammergut. Besides a melancholic and lightly ironic declaration of love for his hometown of Bad Goisern, he paid homage to his country of birth with with Jews' harp, button accordion, harmonica and cow bells. In flying turns he went naturally from one instrument to the next and with deeply personal songs such as I wü leben... he really warmed up the middle-aged audience, who had seemed very shy at the beginning.

Between the songs Goisern told droll stories from his youth and entertained with the much-quoted story of his expulsion from the Bad Goisern brass band. The fact that the combo from the neighbouring village only had space for a clarinet player was the only reason to learn to play the abhorred wind instrument with "this ungroovy sound". Today however Hubert von Goisern's clarinet-playing sounds so light-footed that is difficult to believe how "abhorrent it is, licking this thing".

He also proved his closeness to his audience when he after an hour and a half, he told his fans: "Be brave now: jump over the benches, climb the trees, come closer!" As if awoken from a deep sleep, the entire crowd got moving, rising from their seats and pouring in front of the stage. After the quartet were able "to put on the show in peace and play the new songs without interruption, because nobody could sing along" - as Goisern jokingly put it - the audience was then given the opportunity to do just that. Hundreds of people joined in during the moving love song Weit, weit weg, that over the years has anchored itself in the collective mind with its catchy melody and the famous Hiatamadl was also sent back to the charismatic thoroughbred musician like an echo from the audience too.

An impressive a cappella yodel from the four good-humoured alpine artists was then the icing on the cake at the end of an extremely successful concert in which Hubert von Goisern once more showed what a highly talented and unbelievably cool folk music anarchist he is with unrestrained love for his homeland.

Hubert von Goisern: Live in Rudolstadt - 2nd July 2011

22nd July 2011 | Photos: © André Bauer

The uncomfortable alpine rocker

Schwäbische Post 2nd July 2011 | Text: Uwe Glowienke | Photo: Eva Gaida
Severin Trogbacher and Hubert von Goisern

Atmospheric open air concert with Hubert von Goisern in Heidenheim's Brenzpark

Hubert von Goisern gave a great concert in the Volksbankarena of Heidenheim's Brenzpark on Thursday, under ideal open air conditions. Once again concert organiser Siggi Schwarz was able to bring of top-class musician to Heidenheim.

The smell of roasted nuts, pizzas and local delicacies drifted over the arena long before the first sounds from the "world musician" from Upper Austria. The audience - most of them in the 30+ group - was rewarded with not just the relaxed atmosphere, but by the sun shining above the park too, as it broke through countless clouds and shone unwaveringly across the crowd in front of the stage until it set.

Hubert von Goisern and his musicians - all from Upper Austria - celebrate alpine rock. The 58-year-old had brought a fair amount from the Salzkammergut with him: a declaration of love for his hometown Bad Goisern, the use of Jews' harp, cow bells and harmonica leave nothing to be desired. Whether groove, rock or soul, each found their preference represented here and many danced enraptured on the grass to the sun setting behind the Heidenheim mountains. There was enough room to work off their movement, as the arena was only about one-third full. But this did no harm to the atmosphere.

Goisern celebrates not just his cosmopolitan nature, which trickles down into his socio-critical lyrics, but also his own melancholy, for example when he sings Weit, weit weg and the fans sing along. He tells of his beginnings as a young boy in the brass band, from which he was soon expelled, since some of the older members were not ready for critique. But that is exactly what sets Hubert von Goisern apart.

He can be uncomfortable in his straightforwardness. And if you read his biography, you will soon see that he doesn't stand to be classified. A musician, actor, fashion designer, author and fan of foreign cultures we discover there. His use of instruments on stage is just as diverse, as well as his talent for yodelling.

It is a pleasure to listen to this man. The audience is closely involved, not excluded and by no means patronised. As one of the encores after this successful concert the alpine rocker gave the audience another ear worm to send them on their way in the form of his famous Hirtamadl.

Hubert von Goisern prevails with more than just Jews' harp and accordion

Xaver 1st July 2011

"Such good luck, the sun's shining on you all now", Hubert von Goisern greeted his audience on Thursday 30th June at the open air concert in the Brenzpark, Heidenheim.

And in fact: on the dot of 8pm the grey clouds parted and the rays of sunshine made Hubert's show perfect. 2000 fans came to listen to Hubert's lyrics, at times difficult for Germans to understand. Wearing a pink shirt the almost 60 year old showed that there's life in the old dog yet.

The globetrotter played instruments including guitar, harmonica, clarinet, Jews' harp, trumpet and accordion as if he'd never done anything else. Although he was previously thrown out of the Goisern brass band, partly for wearing his hair too long, he todays masters his instruments perfectly. The lively anecdotes he told between songs brought forth much laughter and applause from the audience.

He talked about his youth, his plastic clarinet and his homeland, the Salzkammergut. Von Goisern played many unfamiliar songs with his band Alex Pohn (drums), Helmut Schartlmüller (bass) and Severin Trogbacher (guitar). After all, the new CD won't be released until September. The songs are very catchy and revolve around "shaggy-haired" Indians, "cherries from the tree" and his love for his hometown of Bad Goisern.

He also had I wü' leben on board, as well as the earworm Weit, weit weg, which made for a wild atmosphere and a dancing audience. The crowning moment of the two hour concert was Koa Hiatamadl, during which the fans showed themselves to be very firm with the lyrics. In the end Hubert and his band gave the last encore after two hours: a four man head voice song, dotting the final i of his show.

Hubert von Goisern thrills at Burg Abenberg

Nordbayern Online 20th June 2011 | Text & Photo: Hans von Draminski

Dialect rocker and entertainer with wit and charm

ABENBERG - He is an entertainer and tough-talker, dialect rocker and singer-songwriter, who shaped a whole genre. And masters perfectly the spreading of good spirits: At Burg Abenberg Hubert von Goisern successfully and with lightning speed drove off the autumnal atmosphere evoked by the cold rainy weather.

Hubert von GoisernEveryone else came after him. At least that's how it feels. The "Goiserer", who is really called Hubert Achleitner and who named himself after his Upper Austrian hometown of Bad Goisern when he made alpine rock his purpose in life - set forth a wave, founded a style, known to some as "new folk music" and to others, "schräg dahoam".

It can be zwiefachers with rock grooves. Or chanson that turn into rollicking folk dances on the diatonic Styrian accordion. As well as melancholic chansons with strong jazz note as well as a rousing cover version of the classic Georgia, to the melody of which Hubert sings a wistful and lightly ironic "Goisern".

In between the songs the widely travelled man tells droll stories from his childhood and youth to a visibly enchanted audience. Thus one discovers for example that the young trumpeter was thrown out of the local brass band in Bad Goisern. And that there was only a place for a clarinetist in the band in the neighbouring village. Today Hubert von Goisern plays the instrument he once reluctantly took up with gritted teeth with the virtuoso deftness of a Klezmorim and he exudes just as much eye-winking humour.

No Tibetan meditation sounds

The world musician remains in the closet though. There are no Tibetan meditation sounds. Barely any ethno cross references either (apart from the indispensable Austrian national complexion). Instead danceable village tunes with sharpened rhythm from the drums and slap bass, or easygoing pop songs as guaranteed ear worms.

Hubert von Goisern has certainly never been a particularly hot contender for the mainstream charts with his wonderfully rebellious lyrics. On the other hand, an unpretentious love song such as Weit weit weg is so timelessly beautiful and catchy that it has remained in the collective consciousness over the years and was sung along to off the cuff by many hundreds of mouths in Abenberg.

The pieces from the new album planned for September have ear worm potential and a lot of charm too. Hubert von Goisern has remembered his roots and presents himself down-to-earth, without currying favour. When a good hour and a half into the concert he asks his fans to "squeeze together" and come to the stage, almost the entire audience stands up as one to comply with the wish of their idol. That's bringing people together. 

And the Styrian plays once more

Donau Kurier 21st June 2011 | Text & Photo: Tobias Tschapka

Abenberg (HK) There he is again: the exceptional Austrian musician Hubert von Goisern makes a stop at Burg Abenberg on his new tour. He performed a brilliant three-hour concert two years ago in the same place, this time he presented himself distinctly reduced.

Severin Trogbacher and Hubert von GoisernIt's noticeable not least in the shrunk band. Next to him on stage stand just three musicians instead of the seven of earlier times, Alex Pohn on drums, Helmut Schartlmüller on bass and Severin Trogbacher on the guitar, all masters of their trade. And then that's it, no background girls, no Eastern European guest musician, and Goisern even does without a keyboarder.

The "Styrian" isn't missing though, with which he opens the concert with Solide Alm – the song that is always given as a kind of overture as Goisern concerts and that after initial contemplative alpine tones quickly turns into a rousing rock number. This accordion is still his trademark, even though Goisern masters a multitude of other instruments - as he shows during the course of the evening.

The start is made, but nonetheless it takes a little time until the atmosphere in the audience warms up. That is not least down to the seating, which isn't a very good idea for an emotionally rich Goisern spectacle, especially since the temperature is anything but summery.

No matter, while the last rain clouds vanish from the sky, Hubert von Goisern and his men on the stage show that they can really bring the pressure as a four. The numbers come in, predominantly rocky.

The attentive Goisern fan doesn't miss the fact that many of the songs are unfamiliar. No wonder, Goisern is working on a new CD, to be released in September. It's exciting to wonder what will be found on it, but he seems to return more to his roots this time, the new songs at any rate no longer have this experimental world music character of the almost three year long Linz Europe Tour, during which he sailed across Europe with a cargo ship converted to a stage. Along the way the Austrian took on board a large number of unusual musicians from the countries bordering the river.

Nonetheless, the new songs are very catchy and of course Goisern plays a lot of his old songs too: Weit, weit weg the ballad with Severin Trogbacher's wonderful guitar solo, Goisern the homage to his Austrian hometown, or the rousing piece Leben from his last CD S'nix.

One can confidently call his singing and the obligatory yodelling downright powerful. Besides his "Styrian", he takes up guitar, harmonica and clarinet, a "ludicrous" instrument, with which, he says, he has a kind of love-hate relationship, but from which he can still elicit melodic sounds.

It has become much colder in the meantime and gradually the daylight over the idyllic concert ground in the shadow of the castle dwindles, allowing the spotlights to finally bathe the stage in bright light.

But at the end of the two hour concert Goisern once more "gets the heat rising", as he calls it: he asks the crowd to leave their seats and come forward to the stage. The fans don't need telling twice and suddenly there it is, the great open air feeling that until then somehow didn't want to set in. So there is a fantastic atmosphere when Goisern starts playing his most famous song Hirtenmadl as encore, and then right at the end probably his most beautiful ballad Heast as net is to be heard too, with which he releases his audience into the night with their hearts duly warmed.

The Schiffenberg at Gießen quakes: 4000 Fans for Hubert von Goisern and DTK

Giessener Anzeiger 20th June 2011 | Text & Photo: Ursula Hahn-Grimm

A total of 4000 fans came to the Schiffenberg at the weekend for the two open air concerts with Dieter Thomas Kuhn and Hubert von Goisern. Another 2000 were expected for Hannes Wader and Konstantin Wecker yesterday evening.

Hubert von Goisern is on the road again. After an eighteen month adventure journey with the concert ship on the Danube and the subsequent work in the studio, he is touring again, and the old cloister grounds on the Schiffenberg (seated this time) were sold out. 2000 people from near and far had gathered to experience live the "pioneer of alpine world music".

He appeared from the backdrop with its dragon emblem almost unnoticed, leisurely picked up his accordion and quite suddenly all hell was let loose. His brilliant young band came forth man by man, Alex Pohn (drums), Helmut Schartlmüller (bass) and Severin Trogbacher (guitar). A small band with great effect. Since the legendary Alpinkatzen Hubert von Goisern has toured with various bands and lineups. The female voices are missed a little this time. Many of the older members of the audience still remember "Alpine Sabine" and some also missed the African flair that the exotic band around Hubert von Goisern radiated at their show on the Schiffenberg in 2002.

Times change

Hubert von GoisernBut by no means does the current young band fall behind on the scoreboard. And also: music of course changes over the course of 30 years, in the period in which the pleasant musician from the province of Salzburg has been on the road with his songs and yodels. Just as certain is of course also the fact that traditionals and standards are immortal. The yodel, or the song Mercedes Benz from the unforgettable Janis Joplin, which Goisern has furnished with a very special alpine aura.

Thus it was an extremely lively and highly musical show that was celebrated on the big Schiffenberg stage by the four Upper Austrians. Well-known songs (Weit, weit weg), that were sung by a thousand spectators, were played as well as the new (Indianer), with some songs from the new CD, which is to be released in the autumn.

The musical whizz kid exercised himself in at least six different instruments: alongside the much-loved accordion, were this time a lot of electric guitar and acoustic guitar in particular, as well as harmonica, Jews' harp and finally ... clarinet. With this instrument Hubert Achleitner, his real name, was back in his hometown of Bad Goisern in Salzburg province again: back to the roots. There were seven rival brass bands in the 6800 inhabitant town when he was young. He played trumpet in the best brass band and was permitted to wear the biggest ostrich feather on his hat, he entertainingly fibbed to the audience.

Everyone had been warmed up after two hours, in their hearts at least. A few members of the audience made the temperatures of 14ºC more bearable with a hot cup of tea. And nonetheless the audience couldn't get enough: enthusiastic applause and loud cheers twice brought the musicians back on stage. First of all everyone was invited with dance with Hiatamadl. "Can't you hear how the time flies", quickly everyone was snuggled up to their sweetheart.

Long after the musicians had gone and the stage was already dark, the crowd continued to clamour. Hubert von Goisern and his lads appeared once more. Without any engineering or lights, the four musicians sang an a cappella meditative yodel. Nothing can follow that.

Cow bells ring for 2000 alpine rock fans on the Schiffenberg

Giessener Zeitung 20th June 2011 | Text: Redaktion GZ
Hubert von Goisern and Band

Gießen. Indians, Über-Upper Austrians and the successful shepherdess are to be encountered in the Salzkammergut, or more precisely: Bad Goisern. It's not even far from there to Georgia.

The alpine rocker and musical globetrotter Hubert von Goisern can sing you more than a song or two about that. But the 2000 fans who indulged themselves at the sold out open air concert from the Austrian musician and his band at the Schiffenberg in Gießen on Saturday evening mostly only knew Koa Hiatamadl (Shepherdess) from this list of characters. This hit was also the reason after the two-hour bilateral alpine- north American spectacle to leave the seats and storm delightedly to the edge of the stage for the round of encores. Happiness was writ across the faces of the audience, who had experienced a great, merry evening - and without a drop of rain either, though the weather had been pretty changeable the day before. But Hubert von Goisern also seemed happy, able to present a series of new songs on the current tour to which the otherwise lyric-sure fans couldn't sing along. After all, the twelfth album will not be released until late summer. And so, von Goisern joked, finally he can play music in peace.

Straight after the homey instrumental intro with Solide Alm, the Upper Austrian departed from the supposed mountain idyll. Appropriate to the cool temperature, the new song Brenna tuats with airy ska beats underscores a gyrating mass underscored by blues, stoner rock and reggae that never completely denies its alpine origin though. The singer-songwriter chirps the Jews' harp or lets his Styrian accordion celebrate heartily and snappily in the then rather funky and rock-grooving Hey Hey. Tex Mex sound and ska rhythms set the tone for the new work Indianer. But von Goisern's cow bell solo draws the eye much more to those who "can be found among us too" - the "denatured" people, who are born into the world in the city".

The fact that the 58-year-old has always looked for the musical vision beyond the peaks of the Salzkammergut stylises him still today as a trailblazer of so-called alpine rock and alpine world music. But his fans know that his special secret lives from not just crossing the folk music sounds of alpine culture with roaring guitars. Much more he proves his adept hand at inhaling the music of the different cultures of the world and as with the amplification of his homeland echoes of the mountains, rebelling against certain smallmindedness and regional boundaries. And so von Goisern yodelled, shouted, sang and yelled with a strong Upper Austrian accent, cheered with the clarinet, plucked the guitar or hooted on the harmonica, without repudiating his identity and origins. It sounded at times anthemic and balladesque, at times fantastic and rousingly fiery.

But the multi-instrumentalist von Goisern does not take so variedly from the world music chest on the current tour - oriental and Balkan sounds or choral singing are left out this time, he has left the trumpet and euphonium at home too. He has condensed his young band into an established rock format with guitarist Severin Trogbacher, bassist Helmut Schartlmüller and drummer Alexander Pohn, issuing them the seal of "Über Upper Austrians".

The long-time fans nonetheless got their money's worth: from his 1992 album Aufgeigen stått niederschiassen, with which he made his big breakthrough together with his former band Die Alpinkatzen, came the likewise anthemic, wistful Weit, weit weg, as well as the motivating, programmatic song for chanting along to (I wü) leben from the 2008 album S'Nix.

"Meanwhile, I like going home - from time to time", thought von Goisern, having celebrated the declaration of love for his hometown in the blues Goisern, an version of Georgia on my mind. He unfortunately didn't have a proper lap steel guitar with him in Gießen and produced the bluesy country sounds sliding sounds on his acoustic guitar with the bottleneck instead. The audience could also enjoy von Goisern's alpine version of a familiar Janis Joplin original: "Lord, now buy me a Mercedes Benz", he intoned in his own way.

Rather comfortably and appreciatively the fans followed the concert, which made room in the middle part for serene ballads like Halt nit an too. But people spared no applause and spontaneous yodels and shouts as expressions of their joy. Many fans were to be seen making their way home with eyes sparkling with enthusiasm, after the second encore.

Hubert von Goisern and Severin Trogbacher