Here are a few links to filk sites that I recommend. The list used to be much longer, but many filkers no longer maintain a website, which is a shame – they were always great sources for lyrics … But I don’t want to dwell on the past. At least the sites listed here still exist. Even if some browsers complain because the certificates have expired, you can still visit these sites, and they are still beautiful.
Filker websites
Ju & Katy
Ju Honisch and Katy Dröge are passionate musicians whom I could listen to for hours. Their outstanding voices, which I can recognise among hundreds, complex song structures and great versatility make them a constant delight – not to mention the tremendous human and musical support I have received from them over the years. These pioneers of German filk are not to be missed!
Kirstin’s Let’s Filk About Homepage
Kirstin Tanger is an integral part of the German filk scene as co-founder and editor of the filk zine Let’s Filk About and organiser of FilkContinental, not to mention her performances as a musician. Her website is more of a general information database on filk than her personal archive and should be the first port of call for anyone in Germany wanting to find out more about filk.
Sagensang
One has to wonder where Daniela Festi had been hiding before she discovered filk at the DFDF in 2012, but now it’s impossible to imagine life without her. Highly intelligent songs and parodies by a computer scientist, role-player and all-purpose bard with a great voice and versatility, from whom we hope to hear a lot more.
Schattenweber
One band that is particularly close to my heart was Schattenweber – after all, I myself performed on stage with Silva and Kjenjo as Lord Landless for many years before they decided to pursue a career as professional musicians and I chose to become an author. They rocked ren fairs, festivals and other gigs in northern Germany with their fantasy folk music and had more than one of my songs in their repertoire, not just on their CD. Unfortunately, the band has since broken up – their website still exists, and their CDs are still available for purchase.
Summer and Fall
The German filk duo Summer and Fall is unrivalled when it comes to instrumental and linguistic diversity. With songs in German, English, French and Russian, what feels like a hundred different instruments on stage, crystal-clear voices, dreamlike harmonies and enchanting stories, they set the bar very high. A visit to their website is worthwhile if only to purchase their CDs. Be sure to give them a listen!
Talis Kimberley
Talis, the bundle of energy from England, is a musician who combines folk music with political messages that make you want to go green just by listening to them. Absolutely captivating and powerful on stage like no other, this professional’s CDs are also well worth buying, even if a whirlwind is difficult to capture on plastic. Her beautiful website features all her lyrics and much more.
Filk-Conventions
DFDF
The Spring Festival of Filk Music, known as DFDF for short or affectionately as Düff-Düff, is the first of two annual German-language filk conventions held in late spring. It currently (as of 2024) takes place at the Ring Hotel Sellhorn in Hanstedt and combines the comfort and relaxation of a wellness hotel with filk music.
FilkCONtinental
The oldest German filk convention has been taking place since 1997 – for a long time annually, and for several years now alternating with its sister convention Intermezzo. Unlike the high-priced hotel accommodation at DFDF, this convention focuses on affordable accommodation in order to be a convention for everyone – but when it comes to music and high-profile guests of honour from overseas, there are no compromises.
Intermezzo
Alternating with FilkCONtinental, Intermezzo takes place in odd-numbered years – with a similar concept, but with its own twist, such as the “featured listener,” which also puts the spotlight on a non-musician filker. In 2025, this convention will take place near Bielefeld.