And we have now entered another culture-busy week in our “tiny metropolis” of Leipzsch.
On Tuesday, June 9, there’s a movie showing organized by GlobaLE Leipzig, in the Festsaal on the first floor of Neues Rathaus (Martin-Luther-Ring 4). The movie, shown in its original Italian with German subtitles, starts at 7 p.m. and is called “Io sto con la sposa.” It’s described by the event’s Facebook page as “the true story of five people who fled [Syria for Italy], as is the story of many at the EU’s external borders… In an emotionally touching, humorous but in no way trivializing manner, the core of the so-called Dublin Regulation will be taken up, very clearly illustrating how fugitives and asylum seekers are denied a self-determined place of residence.” Meanwhile, starting at 8 p.m. in the basement at Die VILLA (Lessingstr. 7), there’s the regular weekly event Sprachenabend Leipzig, at which people go around joining tables where a myriad of different languages are respectively spoken. Both culturally intriguing ways to spend an evening, and a chance to meet some new, diverse people probably with some shared interests. And the good thing about the Sprachenabend is that you can go next week, too, if you can’t make it this time (or can make it and want to go again).
Fear No Colours, a Glasgow-based theater company, will be visiting Leipzig from Thursday, June 11, and performing in English at Neues Schauspiel (Lütznerstr. 29). The opening performance of Sarah Kane’s Cleansed starts at 6 p.m. (Thursday); performances run through Saturday, starting at the same hour.
Friday, June 12, is all about music. Besides the Bachfest starting (and running until June 21st), with a packed program to celebrate the life and works of Leipzig’s biggest celebrity, there is a jazz event in a Reudnitz beer garden as part of the LeipJAZZig initiative. From 8 to 10:30 p.m. Blaswerk, a cool local wind orchestra that plays all kinds of jazz (from swing to Latin) and film music, performs at Hopfenspeicher (Oststr. 38). I will definitely be at this one (I sometimes sing with this orchestra, although this time I’ll only be present as part of the audience). Also at Leipzig east, at the only Polish bar/restaurant in town, Poniatowski (Kreuzstr. 15), the multicultural band Klezmer Muskelkater (with musicians from Iran, Italy and Germany) will also be performing at 8 p.m.
Saturday, June 13, presents Sofa Stories once again. The drill: Artists, in a laid-back atmosphere, share their poetry, stories and/or music with patrons at Uptown Coffee Bar (Riemanstraße 44), a production of Leipzig Writers. I have performed there too (I’m a busy butterfly), but this time someone a lot more interesting than me will take the stage (or sofa… or stool). It’s Ian from local band Cox and the Riot. And the performance starts at 5 p.m. UPDATE: The previously announced HomeLE café eat and dance event for Saturday has been postponed, and the date hasn’t yet been set.
And finally Sunday, June 14, is a day to hang outside being culturally stimulated at every step. Let’s just hope the weather cooperates. Starting at 12 p.m. and running for 12 hours, is The Market (at Täubchenthal, Wachsmuthstr. 1). The monthly event bears the self-explanatory description of “street food, design and vintage market,” plus a roster of diverse artistic acts to further brighten up the atmosphere. Moving from west to east the same afternoon, you can catch tapetenwechsel #4 on Eisenbahnstraße, with artists performing in people’s private gardens from 2:30-7:30 p.m. You have to join the organizers’ Facebook page/message them or know someone who’s hosting or knows where they’re going to find out the addresses. I found out where last time from a musician friend of mine and really enjoyed it. And last but not least, from 12-7 p.m. at Clara-Zetkin-Park (Anton-Bruckner-Allee) is the Ökofete, described as “the largest environmental festival in Mitteldeutschland… a festival for the whole family, [with] 130 stalls and a cultural program. Not only can you buy organic products [food and beverages], but also learn something about current environmental issues, smart solutions, and about those in Leipzig [associations, offices, companies, individuals] who contribute to the environmental cause.”
I’m not even listing every single special event happening in Leipzig here; some additional ones are on our Facebook page, others on other online pages and flyers, some completely underground. So if you look closely, there are plenty of opportunities to thoroughly enjoy your week and weekend in Leipzig! And maybe I’ll bump into you out there.
