Maxi Pongratz

With words and music, Maxi Pongratz explores the big questions of life: What does home mean? How do you find yourself? And what does folk music actually have to do with it? For an artist like Pongratz, who moves between tradition and modernity, pub music and avant-garde, these are not easy questions. His artistic spectrum ranges from subtle humour in the style of Karl Valentin to the melancholy depth of a Tom Waits - always carried by his unmistakable accordion playing.

The trained gardener, who once groomed ski slopes and baked in the Hofbräuhaus, has long since established himself as an important voice on the German folk scene. He became famous with his band "Kofelgschroa", with whom he released three albums produced by Micha Acher (The Notwist). In addition to appearing in Josef Bierbichler's film "Zwei Herren im Anzug" and the documentary "frei.sein.wollen", he is now presenting his third solo album "rum und num".

Today, Maxi Pongratz is regularly on the road with Simon Ackermann on double bass - always in search of new sounds and perspectives between folk music and contemporary art. His concerts are a unique blend of musicality, wordplay and profound reflection that makes the audience laugh and think in equal measure.