Event by Kesselhaus & Maschinenhaus (Kulturbrauerei) and Harmonica F E N Festival

The festival will take place from May 29 to 31 at Kesselhaus & Maschinenhaus (Kulturbrauerei)

Harmonica FEN Festival 2026 – Day 1

Friday, May 29, 2025 | 8:00 PM | Kesselhaus
HERMINE DEURLOO + ANTON GOUDSMIT | SETH SHUMATE | DUNN + WENDLING

At the third HARMONICA FEN FESTIVAL 2026 in Berlin, music fans can experience the harmonica in its many facets. This instrument—today often known only through blues, rock/pop, or folk music—is frequently underestimated within the wider musical world. From May 29 to 31, 2026, international musicians will take the stage at the Kesselhaus in Berlin’s Kulturbrauerei to showcase the harmonica across a wide variety of genres.
Artistic Director Sören Birke and Festival Director Julia Thurau present an impressive diversity: picturesque improvisation meets old-time grooves; jazz is heard in both classical and Oriental styles; and the lineup is rounded out by Country, Chicago, and Brazilian blues, as well as folk music from Finland.
Genre diversity and a sheer joy for music take center stage. By its second edition, the festival had already established itself as a key meeting point for international musicians.

The HARMONICA FEN FESTIVAL is a place for anyone ready to be amazed and to encounter the new with open curiosity.
Performing at the 2026 festival are a host of internationally renowned virtuosos:
Old-time musician Seth Shumate (USA); Belgian-Israeli jazz musician Yotam Ben-Or; blues icon Keith Dunn (NL/USA); improvisational artist Steven De bruyn; Hermine Deurloo from the Netherlands (jazz); the Swedish country-blues band John Henry (led by harmonica player Mikael Bäckman); the Finnish quartet Sväng; and the young Brazilian artist Indiara Sfair. The festival concludes with a concert featuring the internationally acclaimed sheng virtuoso Wu Wei, who takes the stage alongside jaw harp player Sören Birke, improvisational artist Steven De bruyn on harmonica, and Italian accordionist Titti Castrini.
The Festival

• Three evenings, each featuring three high-caliber concerts
• Late-night jam sessions open to everyone on Friday and Saturday
• Masterclasses and workshops on Saturday and Sunday

Go to https://urbancanvasberlin.com/past-events/

Harmonica FEN Festival 2026 – Day 2

Harmonica FEN Festival 2026 – Day 2
Saturday, May 30, 2025 | 6:30 PM | Kesselhaus
STEVEN DE BRUYN · INDIARA SFAIR + TIAGO JUK · SVÄNG

At the third HARMONICA FEN FESTIVAL 2026 in Berlin, music fans can experience the harmonica in its many facets. This instrument—today often known only through blues, rock/pop, or folk music—is frequently underestimated within the wider musical world. From May 29 to 31, 2026, international musicians will bring the harmonica to the stage of the Kesselhaus at Berlin’s Kulturbrauerei, performing across a wide variety of genres.
Artistic Director Sören Birke and Festival Director Julia Thurau present an impressive diversity: picturesque improvisation meets old-time grooves; jazz is heard in both classical and Oriental styles; and the lineup is rounded out by Country, Chicago, and Brazilian blues, as well as folk music from Finland.
Genre diversity and a sheer joy for music take center stage. By its second edition, the festival had already established itself as a key meeting point for international musicians.

The HARMONICA FEN FESTIVAL is a place for anyone ready to be amazed and to encounter the new with curiosity.
The 2026 festival features performances by internationally renowned virtuosos:
Old-time musician Seth Shumate (USA); Belgian-Israeli jazz musician Yotam Ben-Or; blues icon Keith Dunn (NL/USA); improvisational artist Steven De bruyn; Hermine Deurloo from the Netherlands (jazz); the Swedish country-blues band John Henry (led by harmonica player Mikael Bäckman); the Finnish quartet Sväng; and the young Brazilian artist Indiara Sfair. The festival concludes with a concert featuring the internationally acclaimed Sheng virtuoso Wu Wei, who takes the stage alongside jaw harp player Sören Birke, improvisational artist Steven De bruyn on harmonica, and Italian accordionist Titti Castrini.
The Festival

• Three evenings, each featuring three high-caliber concerts
• Late-night jam sessions open to all on Friday and Saturday
• Masterclasses and workshops on Saturday and Sunday

Harmonica FEN Festival 2026 – Day 3

Sunday, May 31, 2025 | 6:30 PM | Kesselhaus
with YOTAM BEN-OR · JOHN HENRY · FREE REEDS ALL STAR ENSEMBLE

At the third HARMONICA FEN FESTIVAL in Berlin in 2026, music fans can experience the harmonica in all its many facets. This instrument—today often known only through blues, rock/pop, or folk music—is frequently underestimated within the wider musical world. From May 29 to 31, 2026, international musicians will take the stage at the Kesselhaus in Berlin’s Kulturbrauerei to showcase the harmonica across a diverse range of genres.
Artistic Director Sören Birke and Festival Director Julia Thurau present an impressive variety: picturesque improvisation meets old-time grooves; jazz is heard in both classical and Oriental styles; and the program features Country, Chicago, and Brazilian blues, as well as folk music from Finland.
Genre diversity and a sheer joy for music take center stage. By its second edition, the festival had already established itself as a key meeting point for international musicians.

The HARMONICA FEN FESTIVAL is a place for anyone ready to be amazed and to approach the new with curiosity.

The 2026 festival will feature performances by internationally renowned virtuosos:
Old-time musician Seth Shumate (USA); Belgian-Israeli jazz musician Yotam Ben-Or; blues icon Keith Dunn (NL/USA); improvisational artist Steven De bruyn; Hermine Deurloo from the Netherlands (jazz); the Swedish country-blues band John Henry (led by harmonica player Mikael Bäckman); the Finnish quartet Sväng; and the young Brazilian artist Indiara Sfair. The festival concludes with a concert centered on the internationally acclaimed sheng star Wu Wei, who will be joined on stage by Sören Birke on jaw harp, improvisational artist Steven De bruyn on harmonica, and Italian accordionist Titti Castrini. The Festival

• Three evenings, each featuring three top-caliber concerts
• Late-night jam sessions open to everyone on Friday and Saturday
• Masterclasses and workshops on Saturday and Sunday
  Sunday, 3:00 PM: Musical Fairy Tale for Families—part of the “Instrument of the Year” project (Berlin State Music Council)