A Unique Festival Experience
At the Detect Classic Festival, the atmosphere is unlike any other. “The space is completely different, the community feeling is really special. It’s an adult playground. Everything is incredibly artistic and so much fun,” says Johanna Burnheart, a London-based German violinist and composer. The festival, taking place from 11-13 August at Schloss Bröllin, an 800-year-old estate an hour North-East of Berlin, was founded in 2019 and promises to “blur the boundaries between club and concert hall” with an eclectic mix of genres and media. Over the weekend, more than 60 international acts will perform, including Burnheart, who will showcase her electronic-jazz fusion tracks in an ambitious solo set.
Johanna Burnheart: A Musical Fusion
After beginning her career as a classical violinist, Burnheart transitioned to jazz in 2011, becoming the first jazz violinist to be accepted at undergraduate level by the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. She has since collaborated with renowned artists on the London jazz scene such as Rosie Turton, Yazz Ahmed, and the ensemble Maisha. Her debut album, Burnheart, was released in 2020 with Ropeadope Records.
Burnheart’s music is a unique blend of her diverse influences, from the techno scene in her hometown of Berlin, her experience on the jazz scene in London and across Europe, to her early classical training. She emphasizes that her compositions are not confined to one specific genre, making her the perfect representative of Detect Classic Festival’s core idea: blending different genres and creating new musical worlds in the space in between.
A Festival That Encourages Versatility
Last year, Burnheart performed at the festival with German producer and electronic artist Christian Löffler as part of a touring group. The festival plays an active role in forming groups, which go out under the banner of “Detect Ensemble.” This versatility within the organization is embedded into the festival and makes it one of its strengths.
This year, Burnheart will be playing a solo set in the estate’s atmospheric grounds, featuring unreleased music alongside tracks drawn from her debut album and her album of techno remixes, Burnheart Remixed, released in 2021.
A Diverse Line-up
The Detect Classic Festival will showcase a variety of music styles, including jazz, classical, ambient, electronic, contemporary, and avant-garde, complemented by audiovisual displays, performance art, and dance. Workshops and talks on various topics, such as tantric yoga, silent expression, weaving, and mobile-making, will also take place throughout the weekend.
Jazz highlights of the festival include Leipzig-based contemporary jazz band WELTEN and Berlin-based singer-songwriter SOPHE. Classical musicians, such as lutenist David Bergmüller and pianist Frank Dupree, will explore new horizons. The electronic performances by Jonathan Kaspar and Fantastic Twins are also expected to impress attendees.
Experimental artists, such as Guatemalan cellist and composer Mabe Fratti and the Berlin-based trio Mitsune, will offer unique performances. Fratti’s solo set will draw on Gregorian chants, Sephardic music, and shoegaze and dream pop, while Mitsune will combine traditional Japanese folk songs with virtuosic original compositions using the Tsugaru Shamisen, a traditional Japanese 3-stringed instrument.
The Detect Classic Festival 2023 promises to be a celebration of difference, providing artists, musicians, and audiences an opportunity to explore new ways to use and understand space and sound.
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