Christian Volkmann

I Play, mostly Harmonicas though at the moment I’m getting the hang of the Double Bass. It’s only a three-quarter but man am I glad I’m 6’4"… Got into the Bluesharp after moving to Galway and meeting this Spanish lad Xavier who was sitting outside the dole-office, teaching himself to play flamenco guitar after legging it from service in the spain (I'm not making this up!). He had no idea about anything except the music within himself. He got people to tune his guitar for him, didn’t know the names of the strings – but after a year he was providing the Music to Flamenco dance-lessons. That guy made me realize that after years of playing guitar myself, I had no inspiration for the instrument whatsoever. I was doing the 'german singing bob Dylan on the west coast' thing, so I ditched the guitar and grabbed my C-Harp with both hands and a whole new world opened up for me. I was a bit shocked, but the next day I did it again and hey presto, I still liked it! So here I am, 12 years and a lot of busking and blagging gigs and jumping onto stages with unsuspecting bands later. Music is a Great way to get around a bit, I've been gigging around San Francisco, Scotland, France and west Cork. Jammed in Thailand and South Africa and of course my home town, Hamburg. In Ireland i've played on two Electric Picnics, Midlands, the Fringe Fest Spiegeltent, the Wetshelter on Aungier st., and the 2009 Vibe for Philo, with Ditch Cassidy and Tom Brunkhardt. But I also play two residencies in Dublin, Peter Moore and the Wandering Harrys (which are currently wandering and looking for a kind, lovin' venue ;o) and the Sick and Indigent Song Club on Mondays at the Ha’Penny. Both Bands are story driven and that’s the way I like it, there’s got to be an ounce of meaning to Music for me, else it’s just drivel. Also am a proud shit-kicker with Ali and the DT's, Debut Album pending - anytime now, really! And the House of Cosy Cushions have been known to get me up for one or two, too - their song how clever is up now! Check out some of the People I’ve jammed with below in my top-friends list. Slån + Ceol agus Craic und Immer Locker Bleiben!