TEMPELHOF AIRPORT BERLIN/ COLUMBIAHALLE CONCERT WITH MANDO DIAO
June 30th, 2009
20:00
Words, Images Judith Ecochard
Berlin’s cutting edge Fashion Week SPRING 2010---that includes Mercedes Benz Fashion Week at the huge white tent set up at Bebelplatz, the Premium Tradeshow and the massive Bread & Butter Tradeshow ( the biggie for the European market)…got off to a rousing start, courtesy of the a fun concert by the Swedish garage style/rock band Mando Diao.
The hour-long, high-octane concert took place at the huge concert facility Columbia Halle, just 300 meters from the historic airport Tempolhof…where the hangars are now tricked out with masses of exhibitors showing contemporary attire for Spring 2010 and baggage claim is spinning with show totes..
Even the former air traffic control offices is worked out--- set up as a press lounge we only dream of replicating elsewhere…internet, computers, yum food, drinks-all kinds, and comfy lounge chairs. NICE.
Reason To Love It ALL:
As soon as we landed…we got it.
Berlin’s public transport is on time (duh-it’s GERMAN), SAFE, AND EASY TO FIGURE OUT…even for knackered journalists feelin’ the jet lag.
DOGS ALLOWED! So cute.
The swarms of humans squeezing through the checkpoints at the show (B&B badges or invitees only) were cool, calm and collected. And really hip looking.
Free beer, bubbly, Pepsi and water kept the masses saturated.
Naturally, the fat sausages and oversized pretzels were the grilled eats.
The Mayor of Berlin, KLAUS WOWEREIT—gave a short intro –in English and German…followed by an equally brief bunch of words by KARL-HEINZ MULLER, the leading light of Bread & Butter.
KARL-HEINZ MULLER-HEAD of B&B /KLAUS WOWEREIT-Governing MAYOR BERLIN
Appropriately, Muller screamed out “rock and roll”
And the energetic band plus two back up singers hit the stage for several loud and well-received rendition of their songs including their hit "Dance With Somebody." They sang in English too--- with toe tappin’ tunes about unrequited love and friendship...what we could pick out…our eardrums were exploding.
All ages turned out for this welcoming sendoff. We stood in the balcony next to a band member’s grandma who captured the whole thing on her camcorder…and outlasted us.