Next week in Munich – Oktoberfest, Dinaw Mengestu, Rhonda

Fiva‘s starting the week off in the Ampere, promoting her new album, Alles Leuchtet. The show’s already completely sold-out, so if you have tickets, have a fantastic time. I’ve become quite a fan of her songs, thanks to FM4 playing her regularly, and her lyrics are rather lovely.

Alternatively, Rhonda (made up mostly of Trashmonkeys’ members) are playing at the Muffatcafe on Monday, with tickets costing 19 € on the door. Milo Milone is a superb singer:

Tuesday’s a busy day for arts and culture:

The fourth Munich bike and fashion show is taking place in the Muffathalle. If you’re wondering how fashion and bicycles are combined, the models cycle down the catwalk. Entrance costs 8 € and there are some cool labels on show – the German ecolabel Wear Positive, very comfy alpaca wool products from marcpatricks and the brand new urban clothing label onoo. The fashion show will be rounded off with a party at Ampere.

Also on Tuesday, there’s a craft beer tasting event on at a relatively new co-working space in Sendling. Impact Hub Munich looks seriously cool, and you can try seven different beers over the course of the evening. It starts at eight, and you can sign up via Facebook.

I Am Giant, the New Zealand band now based in London, are at Strom on Tuesday. Tickets are available from München Ticket for 14.40 €.

Hosted by the Amerika Haus, Ethiopian-American novelist Dinaw Mengestu will be reading in the Muffatcafe on Tuesday, from 8pm. I cannot wait to get my hands on his latest novel, All Our Names, which I’ve heard is an incredibly moving and wistful analysis of the African diaspora. I was hugely impressed with his first novel, The Beautiful Things That Heaven Bears, in which he wrote as if he were an established author, and I would love to catch his reading at the Muffatcafe. Tickets are just 8 € on the door.

And if you’re more in the mood for something snazzy, you can put on your tuxedos and ball gowns and head to the Nationaltheater for a Stage Dinner from 6:30pm on Tuesday. It’s a really fancy affair, and the Bavarian State Orchestra will be on hand to provide musical accompaniment to your dinner. All money raised will be donated to the Bayerische Staatoper’s children and youth program. Register here.

After Tuesday, things kind of trail off, as people get ready for the Wiesn, but the Atomic Cafe‘s hosting a nice little gig on Friday night – Arizona’s Becky Lee is in town. She’s fiery, hugely talented and a one woman band.

And on Saturday, Oktoberfest begins! From 11am, check out the Oktoberfest parade through the city, before the mayor taps the first barrel at midday in the Schottenhamel tent. I’ll be writing a post dedicated to Oktoberfest later in the week – and hope you’re all looking forward to another raucous Wiesn.