Next Week in Munich: Jose Gonzalez, Nick Waterhouse & Shovels + Rope

Finally, things are warming up a little in Munich (at least in terms of culture). Jose Gonzalez kicks off the week at the Muffathalle, playing a sold-out gig. I’m so looking forward to it – I saw him play at the Residenz theatre a few years ago and he took my breath away. His most recent album, Vestiges and Claws, was released in 2015 – and before that he released an album in 2007 – he’s a man of quality, not quantity. The gig is sold-out, but if you have a ticket, I might see you there!

There’s a timely screening of a documentary at the Amerikahaus on Monday – they’ll be showing The Age of Consequences (free admission, 7pm), a film centering on climate change and international conflict. The Hurt Locker crossed with An Inconvenient Truth, it will be a thought-provoking, unflinching look at our world today.

LA singer-songwriter Nick Waterhouse is at the Ampere on Tuesday – that gig is also sold-out, demonstrating the appeal of old-school R&B at the moment.

The husband and wife folk duo Shovels & Rope are at Strom on Wednesday. They’re on tour promoting their current album, Little Seeds, released last October, which The Guardian described as outstanding.

If you’re still feeling the pinch from Christmas, pop down to the Ampere on Thursday for Munich Rocks! – a completely free evening of local bands. On stage this time: young rock band The Charles, Freising’s Red Blood Cells and Munich four-piece Vertigo.

Also on Thursday, Berlin indie/electro band Bakery are at Milla – tickets cost 14 € and the show starts at 8:30pm. If you’re not sure who they are, take a closer look at their bassist, Noah – son of tennis champ Boris Becker.

There’s a mini festival on at the Kranhalle on Saturday that’s well-worth supporting – aimed at raising awareness to save M94.5, Munich’s best radio station, it features the likes of Elektrik Kezy Mezy, Occupanther, Red Blood Cells (if you couldn’t get enough of them at Munich Rocks!), Dobre and Kandinsky. Lots of fantastic local bands doing their bit to save M94.5 – just leave a donation to get in.

Finally, you have until Sunday to check out MUCA’s exhibition How We See The World, which will present the history and vision of the glasses manufacturer Rodenstock, which was founded in 1877. I still haven’t checked out MUCA (apparently it’s Germany’s first urban art museum), but their exhibitions sound interesting.