Hazmat Modine

25 years ago, something came into being in New York that might be better described as a phenomenon than as an ordinary band: Hazmat Modine, founded by painter and professor at the New York Academy of Art Wade Schumann. Since Hazmat Modine first came to Europe in 2007, they have built up a huge following. They have not only played here, but also toured China, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Brazil and Mexico. Just as complex as the music is their band name: Hazmat is an abbreviation for Hazardous Material and Modine is a well-known American space heater company. Highly fitting for a band whose horn section produces a lot of hot air. Fantastic stories, embedded in no less imaginative music, loosely based on blues, calypso, jazz and folk, plus the unusual instrumentation with tuba, trombone, trumpet, harmonica and violin, complemented by guitar, banjo, cimbalom and percussion – and a charismatic stage presence to top it off – all this makes Hazmat Modine an experience for the senses and the mind. In the year before Covid, the band played the most successful year in its history. The long-awaited CD “Box of Breath” made it onto about 10 top album lists of 2019, into the charts in Australia, and even into the top 5 of the download charts. The two years 2020 & 21 saw the concerts fall victim to Covid 19, and the third attempt in summer 2022 brought them back to familiar European stages. These are strange times in America, strange times in the world. A true anchor and a light in these times is friendship. Friendship between people, friendship between cultures and nations. Hazmat Modine is an ensemble that includes men and women of all ages and backgrounds. The band is like New York itself and draws from the diversity of sounds woven into the city’s history. The compositions and lyrics are influenced by countless genres and musical languages: they have American roots with world-music branches. Hazmat Modine has been touring and performing in more than 40 countries for over 25 years. Worldwide appearances include WOMAD (England, Australia, New Zealand, Russia); jazz and folk festivals in Berlin, Vienna, Seville, Montreal, Pori, Cambridge, Vancouver and Calgary; FMM Sines in Portugal and live on BBC3. The band has toured China, Brazil, Mexico, Russia, India, Malaysia, Central Asia and almost all of Europe. They have written for Japanese television (Tokyo Joe), their music was used in Wim Wenders’ film “Pina”, and they performed at the conference marking the 75th anniversary of the Nobel Prize laureates. Hazmat Modine has been heard on NPR’s “The Next Big Thing” and “All Things Considered”, 3 SAT – concert broadcast “Soundcheck” on WNYC, “The World” on BBC/PRI and on radio WKCR. The genre is fluid, and 29 years after its founding the band continues to grow and flourish. As some members have retired or moved away from NYC, new musicians with new experiences and musical ideas have joined the band. Varun Das brings a background in jazz and Indian music; Kenneth Bentley brings his many years of experience with a wide variety of musical styles and a lifetime of making music in church. Wade, Daisy and Erik continue to write new songs and melodies, with Daisy taking on more vocal parts, and as always the Hazmat Horns contribute more than 30 years of musical experience… In the end, we find our unity in the friendship and camaraderie of music. In life, we all need a good friend. The tour and the new album in 2026 will be dedicated to him following the sudden death of sousaphone player Josef Daley = Good Friend. The band will travel to India for the second time in spring 2026, with concerts planned in Dehli, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Bangalore, before returning to Europe in May and June 2026, for the first time with concerts in Georgia, Romania and Bulgaria. New to the band are Kenneth Bentley Jr on sousaphone and young Indian drummer Varun Das, who is regarded as one of New York’s drumming talents. Wade Schumann – Diatonic Harmonica, Guitar, Banjitar, Lead Voc Erik Della Penna – Lead and Background Voc., Banjo, Guitar Kenneth Bentley Jr. – Sousaphone Varun Das – Percussion, Drums Steve Elson – Baritone Sax, Tenor Sax, Clarinet, Duduk, Flute Daisy Castro – Violin, vocals Pamela Fleming – Trumpet, Flugelhorn Date: Sat., 06/06/26 Start: 20:00 hrs Doors: 19:00 hrs Partially seated, no guaranteed seating Advance sale: € 37.30 (incl. advance booking fee) Box office: € 40.00 #folk #jazz #worldmusic