The young and vibrant music scene in Israel was the focus of the 2008 ILanD project, which the association “interkult unterwegs” ran at the end of May 2008 on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the State of Israel under the auspices of the ambassador of the State of Israel in Germany, Yoram Ben-Zeev, and the Minister for Culture and the Media, Bernd Neumann.

During the first phase of the project, musicians from Israel such as the Hip Hop pioneer Mook E and the bassist Yossi Fine, the shooting stars HaBanot Nechama and the Mediterranean surf band Boom Pam met with German bands and musicians in Leipzig, Cologne and Berlin. The artists worked together on a joint programme for a week, got to know each other, made contacts in the local music scene, met with the youth and shared intensive discussions and experiences with their German hosts. This cooperation going far beyond mere rehearsals was positively assessed by all artists involved as personally and artistically greatly enriching. Some of the networking emanating from the project has in the meantime bore fruit – a tour by HaBanot Nechama is only one result.

This year ILanD will go to Israel on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Tel Aviv. Musicians from Cologne, Berlin, Hamburg, Munich, Leipzig and Cottbus will take part in the first Israeli-German pop music festival at the beginning of November. For some musicians it will be a reunion, for others, such as Erobique from Hamburg or the Cottbus youth band Do I Smell Cupcakes, it will be the first meeting with Israeli musicians. Workshops and public discussions with Israeli musicians, music industry and media representatives, as well as joint rehearsals will be the focus of the week-long trip. The musicians will be accompanied by 19 youths from Berlin and Cottbus, who, together with students from the Ironi Alef High School in Tel Aviv, will document events per Internet and video for everybody who could not be there live. The magnificent conclusion of the exchange will be the live shows by the Israeli-German bands at the end of the week in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.

Participating artists 2009:

Israel

Mook E & Yossi Fine

HaBanot Nechama

Boom Pam

Onili

Botanika

Laroz

and many more

Germany

17 Hippies

M.A.R.S Allstars

Jahcoustix

Erobique

Ulman

Do I Smell Cupcakes

DJ Grace Kelly

www.ILanD2009.de

www.young.iland2009.de