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KKI conference on local/regional music history in October
On Saturday, October 18, the KKI is organizing a conference entitled “History & Present of Popular Music in Bremen & the surrounding area” between 2pm and 7pm. The venue will be the Chamber Music Hall of the University of the Arts. In terms of content, the regional music history will be discussed, as it can be traced through artists, bands, clubs, festivals and labels as well as other multipliers and organizations.
Small KKI double exhibition in fall/winter 2025
From October 1 to December 31, 2025, we will be showing a small double exhibition designed by two interns.
Janne Andersen explored the self-selected topic "Sweet vacation dreams within your own four walls: Advertising singles from West German airlines in the 1960s and 70s".
André Prange has devoted himself to a solo artist. His part of the exhibition is entitled: "'I don't sing lies!' Petra Pascal – an (almost) forgotten singer between pop songs and long radio nights".
The double exhibition is set up in front of the entrance to the KKI and can be viewed there, as well as shortly in digital form in our online magazine "S[æ]itenanschläge".
Weiterbildungsstudent aus Hamburg macht Langzeit-Praktikum (Oktober bis Januar)
Marcus Bühler is currently completing a postgraduate study program in library and information management at the Hamburg University of Applied Sciences (HAW). Prior to that, he completed a degree in musicology at the University of Hamburg and conducted research for his master's thesis at the KKI archive, among other places. He will now be doing a 23-week long-term internship with us between October 2025 and January 2026 as part of his continuing education. We are happy to give him an insight into our daily work and look forward to his support!
FaMI intern in September
From September 8 to 26, Justin Kox will be completing a three-week internship with us as part of his training to become a specialist in media and information services (FaMI). Justin works at the State and University Library in Bremen and is currently in his second year of training. We are happy to give him an insight into our everyday work and look forward to his support!
Intern in September
In September, Janne Andersen will be completing a four-week internship with us. She has just completed her bachelor's degree (cultural studies and art, media & aesthetic education) at the University of Bremen and has been intensively involved with vinyl records both in her bachelor's thesis and in her part-time job at a record store and as a passionate collector. We are happy to give her an insight into our everyday work and look forward to her support!
KKI Cooperation Exhibition "The Collision of Freedom"
from August 22 to September 14, 2025, at the HfK Gallery
Picture: Paweł Jóźwiak
A project group of young historians, in cooperation with the KKI among others, has conceived a trinational exhibition dedicated to the Nazi persecution of Czech, German, and Polish swing dancers and jazz musicians. Entitled "The Collision of Freedom", the exhibition will be on display in the gallery of the University of the Arts Bremen (Music Department, Dechanatstraße 13-15) from August 22 to September 14. Admission is free.
There will be an accompanying program for the exhibition.
Four of these events will be offered (free of charge) at the HfK gallery alone:
August 22, 7:00 p.m., exhibition opening with partners from the Czech Republic, Poland, and Germany,
followed by live music from Jakub Šafr & Swing Trio Avalon with social dancing
September 6, 7:00 p.m., film screening "Django – A Life for Music",
followed by a discussion with Django Heinrich Reinhardt and Giovanni Steinbach, moderated by Natalie Reinsch (BBfd-tZ)
September 10, 7:00 p.m., theater performance "Gegen das, was da oben ist [Against What Is Up There]" – a documentary collage with motifs from "Swinging Bremen" (novel by Birgit Köhler)
with the student course "Performing Arts" by Helene Finck (Altes Gymnasium Bremen)
September 12, 7:00 p.m., Discussion about Sinti Swing with Dardo and Armando Balke, moderated by Nico Thom (KKI Director)
followed by a concert by the Dardo Balke Swing Ensemble with social dancing
More information about the exhibition and accompanying program here:
https://www.bremer-buendnis.de/2025/07/24/ausstellung-the-collision-of-freedom-programm-in-bremen/
New long-term intern (August to November)
From August 18 to November 14, André Prange from Bremen will be completing a three-month long-term internship with us. We are happy to give him an insight into our day-to-day work and look forward to his support!
The KKI takes a three-week summer break in July
From July 14 to August 3, we will be closed for three weeks due to vacation. We will be available again on August 4th. We wish you all a relaxing time with good music.
KKI music exchange at the "Open Day: Fête de la Musique" of the HfK on June 21
On Saturday, June 21, we will once again be taking part in the "Open Day: Fête de la Musique" of the Department of Music at the University of the Arts Bremen (HfK) - with a small music exchange. From 3 to 7 pm, you can visit us in the courtyard of the HfK (at Dechanatstraße 13-15) and pick up duplicates from our stock at low prices.
More information on the overall program here:
https://www.hfk-bremen.de/en/events/open-house-fete-de-la-musique/13360
Reorganization of the sheet music collection
We have once again tackled our sheet music collection and reorganized it. A big thank you to our expert intern Zoë Stevens, who delved deep into the material and unearthed many cheerful titles. As a result, we were able to rediscover some gems of salon orchestra sheet music from our collection.
Intern in June
Zoë Stevens, who lives in Bremen, will be completing an internship with us in June. We are happy to give her an insight into our day-to-day work and look forward to her support!
New KKI flyer
After careful consideration, we decided to combine two mottos for our long overdue new KKI flyer: “Keep it simple” and “Simple is beautiful”.
Cooperation project: Swing dance evening at the HfK on May 27
On 27 May, the KKI is organizing a swing dance evening together with the jazz department of the University of the Arts Bremen and historians from a transnational project group called "Nazi Injustice 'Degenerate Music'". At 8 p.m. we will start with a panel discussion in which contemporary witnesses from the 1940s and 1950s will also give their accounts. The music for the evening will be provided by the Hamburg band "Bun-Jon & The Big Jive", who will be sure to get everyone dancing.
More information here:
https://www.hfk-bremen.de/de/veranstaltungen/hfk-jazzclub-swingtanzabend/13324
Bremen musicology student completes internship in May
In May, our team will be supported by Leon Mai. It is of course a coincidence that his name is the same as the merry month. Leon is currently studying for a Bachelor's degree in musicology at the University of Bremen. We are happy to give him an insight into our day-to-day work and look forward to his support!
KKI at the jazzahead! CLUBNIGHT on April 25th
In 2025, we will once again be taking part in CLUBNIGHT as part of jazzahead! (trade fair & festival). On Friday, April 25, Nico Thom (KKI director) aka DJ EnTee will be playing in Mensa 13 / Music Cellar at the University of the Arts Bremen. After three bands have presented live jazz, the dance party will start at 11:30 pm (end: 03:00 am). This year's motto is: "Jazziest Hip-Hop in Town".
Jazz has had an influence on many younger styles of music, especially hip-hop. But hip-hop has also left its mark on jazz. In the 1990s in particular, jazzy hip-hop and jazz with spoken words had golden years. But even in the present day, the interactions are omnipresent. We will celebrate this exciting musical melange. All friends of cultivated breaking, popping and locking are cordially invited, as are head-nodders of all ages.
More information here: https://jazzahead.de/festival/#clubnight
KKI closed for Easter vacation from April 14 to 21
We are taking a short break to rest and replenish our stocks of Easter eggs. We will be back in regular service from April 22.
Friends of the HfK as guests
On Wednesday, April 9, the Friends of the University of the Arts Bremen visited us. During a guided tour, the HfK supporters had the opportunity to get to know the KKI and learn about the history and present of our institution. The Friends of the HfK were extremely interested and impressed by our collections and activities. More information about the Friends can be found here: https://hfk-freunde.de
KKI takes part in the "Night of the Libraries" on April 4
In 2005, the "Night of the Libraries" took place for the first time in North Rhine-Westphalia. On April 4, 2025, libraries from all over Germany and all 16 federal states will be taking part for the first time, including Bremen. In total, well over 1,200 institutions will be offering events on this evening under the motto "Knowledge. Share. Discover.".
The KKI is also happy to take part in this campaign. We are opening our doors to all interested parties (young and old) from 3 pm to 10:30 pm. Under the heading "Cheerful, lively & archived - the whole world of popular music at the KKI", we offer guided tours with music and film examples and anyone who likes can purchase one or more of our duplicates at our small flea market.
More information here: https://www.nachtderbibliotheken.de/veranstaltungen/bremen/338974861.heiter-beschwingt-archiviert-die-ganze-welt-der-populaeren-musik-im-kki/
Long-term intern in April, May and June
Frithjof Natho from Bremen will be completing a three-month internship with us from the beginning of April to the end of June. We are happy to give him an insight into our day-to-day work and look forward to his support!
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Anniversary year 2025 - 50 years of KKI
2025 is a year to celebrate for us. We are celebrating our 50th anniversary! In 1975, Klaus Kuhnke, Manfred Miller and Peter Schulze founded the "Archive for Popular Music" in Bremen, from which today's "Klaus Kuhnke Institute for Popular Music" emerged. Since 1991, i.e. for 34 years now, it has been part of the Bremen University of the Arts.
Make a note: On Tuesday, 25.11.2025, there will be a ceremony at the University of the Arts at 8 pm. All friends, companions and supporters of the KKI are cordially invited to attend.