Opening Show 2025 – Imagine Togetherness!
The Opening Show of the 20th Reeperbahn Festival will take place on Wednesday, 17 September, at the Stage Operettenhaus. The approximately 60-minute opening combines keynotes and live performances by international acts with socio-cultural and music-specific themes, picking up on this year's festival motto: ‘Imagine Togetherness!’ is an appeal to work together to shape a sustainable and fair music industry of the future, to question old ways of thinking and to allow new perspectives.
During the four days of the Reeperbahn Festival, the international diversity and power of music is clearly felt in St. Pauli and the surrounding area. In addition to its social relevance, it is also an enormous economic factor, which is why it is important for the entire industry to take on new perspectives and find creative ways of dealing with contrasts such as art and commerce, tradition and innovation, live experience and streaming, and to build bridges that enable a responsible and fair music industry for all players in the future.
This year's host, radio and television presenter Clara Amfo, guides the approximately 1,200 invited guests from politics and the international cultural industry, as well as festival visitors, through the programme and welcomes Dr. Carsten Brosda, Senator for Culture and Media of the City of Hamburg, Ingo Mix, Head of the Department for the Promotion of Art and Culture at the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media, and festival director Detlef Schwarte on stage, who will guide those present through the history of the Reeperbahn Festival.
This is followed by live musical performances by singer-songwriter Calum Scott (GBR), alternative band Florence Road (IRL) and Future Female Africa – featuring Sheebah Karungi, Femi One, Die P, Onejiru, Mayonde, Anna Bassy, poundo, Nicole Hadfield, mari.ama and Miss Leema – whose performance also marks the first live performance of an upcoming release on the RBX Music label – the six nominees for this year's Anchor competition will be presented. Finally, an in-depth keynote address will address global connections that illustrate how vulnerable and interconnected the music industry is, and will raise crucial questions about responsibility, fairness and creative freedom.
The event is sponsored by the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media and the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg.