For a city that created its own music genre, it’s no surprise that Hamburg has a rich musical heritage. It’s the hometown to music legends, has an enviable club scene and some of Europe’s greatest studios. Here’s our introduction to Hamburg’s legendary music heritage…
Club scene
Hamburg has a ton of music clubs. You get a mix of both long-established and current ones, as the city’s constantly changing live scene sees new venues popping up all the time… and all of them make Hamburg a great city for a variety of different music genres. Did you know that the Black Keys played one of their first concerts in Germany at Hamburg’s Molotow? Or that Adele played a solo show in her early years in Grüner Jäger? They’re just two of the many venues we collaborate with here at BIMM which form a core part of Hamburg’s live music scene!
Hometown of legends
There must be something really special about Hamburg, because so many great musicians and well-known bands have started their careers in the city. Probably the most famous of them all is, of course, The Beatles, who played their first shows at Hamburg’s Star Club (which is today known as Indra). But there are so many more too, such as Udo Lindenberg, Annett Louisan, Revolverheld and Bosse. Hamburg is also famous for its hip hop scene, with some of the most successful German rappers hailing from the city, like Beginner, Samy Deluxe, Fünf Sterne Deluxe and 187 Straßenbande, to name just a few.
Hamburger Schule
Hamburg even created its own music genre called the ‘Hamburger Schule’, which is a mixture of indie-rock, punk, grunge and pop sounds. Some of the bands associated with it are Kettcar, Thees Ulmann and Fotos, and one of the Hamburger Schule’s most well-known ambassadors is BIMM Hamburg Songwriting tutor, Frank Spilker – frontman of the hugely successful band Die Sterne.
Studios
There are plenty of studios in Hamburg which produce great records and have been used by some of music’s greats. Home Studios by Franz Plasa recorded Lauryn Hill, Mariah Carey and Rammstein in the ‘90s, while Boogie Park Studios has worked with German musicians including Helene Fischer, Udo Lindenberg and Adel Tawil. But let’s not forget Clouds Hill Records – a home for bands from all over the world, hosting musicians such as Pete Doherty, The Killers, The Whitest Boy Alive, and many more. It’s also owned by Johann Scheerer – Head of Music Production at BIMM Hamburg!
Want to be part of the vibrant music scene in Hamburg? For more information about studying at BIMM Hamburg, order a prospectus, book to attend an Open Day, or contact our Admissions Team on +49 303 11 99 186 or by email at [email protected]
