ILanD 2009

What happens when the shooting stars HaBanot Nechama from Israel with their reggae-soul-folk meet the world beats of the Leipzig world music cult band Ulman? You have young musicians from Germany and Israel working together on a common sound that sets them apart from conventional genre definitions. That’s what happened at ILanD 2009, a German-Israeli pop music festival to celebrate the 100th birthday of the city of Tel Aviv. Of course, it was about joint concerts. But it was also about continuing a creative process that began already one year earlier.

No good event is without a background story – this was the case with ILanD 2009. It was preceded by the meeting of various bands for ILanD 2008, many of whom are once again involved. Together they went into recording studios and onto the stage in different German cities. The benefit for the artists as well as for the fans was enormous. A new network had emerged.

And so, in 2009 different bands such as 17 Hippies with their mix of chanson, pop, folk, the Balkan surf rocker Boom Pam from Tel Aviv, the Israeli hip hop pioneer MookE and the M.A.R.S. Allstars around Thomas D. and the Fantastic Four came together, complemented by Erobique from Hamburg, Jahcoustix from Munich, Do I Smell Cupcakes from Cottbus, DJ Grace Kelly from Berlin as well as Onili, Laroz and Terry Poison from Israel and many other acts. Workshops and public discussions with representatives from the music industry and the media provided space for exchange and contacts. At all times present was the group Young ILanD – 19 young people from Berlin and Cottbus who documented the activities per video and in the internet together with students from the Ironi Alef High School in Tel Aviv.

The highlights were the live concerts by the German-Israeli band pairs in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, an intensive experience and meeting – not just for the participants themselves. Even if the music was the main focus: what emerged for everyone involved was far more. Personal contacts with each other, to the music scene in Germany and Israel, as well as to young music fans in both countries formed the basis of a creative network.

For one week, ILanD 2009 brought together in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem 12 popular young bands from Germany and Israel. Alongside the rehearsals and concerts, there were workshops, public discussions and meetings with youth about the program. Initiator and coordinator is the Berlin association interkult unterwegs e. V.

A Film by ClipStore & Claudia Frenzel & interkult unterwegs