And once again, the most beautiful weekend Cologne has to offer is back. The Week-End Fest returns for its fourteenth edition. Each year, Jan Lankisch curates a line-up of personal favourites, local record-store bestsellers and artists beloved within the scene’s inner circles. The level of quality is consistently high, but this year’s selection is enough to take your breath away. Time to find some extra oxygen and check in at Stadtgarten Cologne on 7 and 8 November 2025—for a programme that promises to reach new heights.
Two Days of Pure Delight
Strata-East founder Charles Tolliver is set to appear. A jazz legend, certainly—but also, arguably, a formative figure in hip-hop, with artists like J Dilla and Madlib drawing a direct line to his output.
Speaking of legends: Carl Craig will be there. The man is Detroit techno.
Vinyl heads and YouTube diggers might well grant legendary status to Anna Domino too. Lankisch visited her, extended an invitation—and now she’s playing her first live set in 15 years.
And yes, there are musicians under 60 on the line-up too. Case in point: Smerz. The best pop band east of the UK! With their latest album Big City Life, the Danish duo have completed the leap into full-blown vision: this is now a fully realised, confident and unmistakably original sound.
And that’s only the tip of the iceberg. For the full line-up and tickets, visit the festival’s website.

Big City Life

Weirdo Black Vinyl Vinyl Edition

Threnody For The Khoisan

Live At The Captain's Cabin Black Friday Record Store Day 2024 Edition