Anyone thinking of Bremen and music most likely has the Bremen Town Musicians in mind. The four fairy-tale animals belong to Bremen like the Weser River. But Bremen's music scene has far more to offer than the historic combo of donkey, dog, cat, and rooster.
Quite a few famous musicians in the German music scene have their roots in Bremen and the surrounding area – be it Ferris MC from Deichkind, Flo Mega, Revolverheld frontman Johannes Strate, or Sarah Connor, who comes from Delmenhorst. Even the superstars in the music business worked their way through fans' living rooms and small club gigs at the beginning of their careers before making it to the big stages and music festivals. At SofaConcerts, you can discover some of them and invite them to your own house concert in Bremen.
Bremen's musical emblem is a fairy tale about four animals who set out to become town musicians and never quite arrive - which is a better joke about the city than it first appears, because Bremen has always had more music than its size suggests. Das Viertel, around Ostertorsteinweg, is the heart of it: bars, small stages and the Lagerhaus, which has been putting on independent music for decades. The jazz scene is long established, and the riverside Schlachte fills with music all summer.
The Altbremer Haus - the narrow townhouse the city built by the thousand - turns out to be close to ideal for this. It gives you a proper front room with good proportions and a door you can open to a garden. Bremen is a city where people know their neighbours, so a house concert here tends to fill quickly and end late, which is exactly the point.
A living room concert is exactly what it sounds like: a professional musician plays a full set in a private home, for an audience the host has invited. You will see the same thing called a house concert, a house show or - because of where we started - a SofaConcert. They all mean the same evening.
There is no stage, no ticket desk and no support act. A typical concert in Bremen runs 60 to 90 minutes, often split into two sets with a break, in front of anywhere from 15 to 50 guests. Most take place in the front room of an Altbremer Haus, a flat or a garden. The artist brings whatever they need; you provide the room and the people.
Everything you need to plan, folded into the order you'll actually do it.
Pick a date and a room - thirty people fit a living room more easily than you'd think. Then browse the artist list for a singer-songwriter, duo or band.
Send as many free enquiries as you like. Each artist replies with a non-binding offer, so you can weigh up a few before choosing. Settle the scope in writing in the booking system - that written record is what the contract is based on.
Confirming creates the contract and reserves your date. You deposit the fee plus the booking fee, which is held in trust and only released to the artist after the concert. You then get their contact details to sort out the last bits.
Browse Bremen and northern German acts, send free enquiries and book the one that fits your evening.
A few of the acts playing around Bremen.
List your space for free and touring artists apply to play your living room. You pick whoever you like the sound of, and you're never obliged to say yes - here is what hosting involves.
You would be joining people all over Europe who open their doors a few times a year and have turned their living room into somebody's favourite venue.
Some of the most recent spaces to join.
The choice can feel overwhelming. Don't worry - we'll help you.
Tell us the details of your concert and any particular wishes, and we'll do the rest.