Bayoogie Masters Moers — Schloss Lauersfort

Schloss Lauersfort — Blues in the Baroque Schinkelsaal

Schloss Lauersfort is located in the Moers district of Kapellen, on the western outskirts of the county town of Moers in the Wesel district. The former Lower Rhenish noble residence was expanded in the 18th century according to plans by Karl Friedrich Schinkel — hence the name of the main room, Schinkelsaal. Today, the castle is used for cultural events — and is one of the most original concert venues on the Lower Rhine. With only around 100 seats, the Schinkelsaal is the venue for intimate classical, jazz, and blues concerts, where the audience and musicians are on an equal footing.

What are the "Bayoogie Masters"?

"Bayoogie" is the neologism created by pianist Christian Christl, which combines boogie-woogie and blues with other stylistic influences — from New Orleans piano and boogie classics à la Albert Ammons and Pete Johnson to contemporary crossover formats. The Bayoogie Masters are a concert series in which Christl works as the host and musical director, inviting one or more top guests to each concert — similar to a jazz session, but with a clear boogie-blues orientation. Three concerts are announced for 2026 in the Schinkelsaal:

• Saturday, March 14, 2026 — first spring edition
• Friday, August 14, 2026 — summer edition
• Saturday, November 21, 2026 — autumn edition

Christian Christl and Christian Noll

The host is Christian Christl — pianist, composer, and one of the most sought-after boogie-woogie and blues pianists in Germany. Christl has been touring worldwide for years, regularly plays at major blues and boogie festivals (Cincinnati, Bremen, Boogie Woogie Festival Lugano), and has released several albums.

Christian Noll on the blues harp is expected at least one of the three editions — one of the best German harmonica blues players, known from sessions with national and international blues greats. The Christl/Noll constellation has been working together for years and is one of the most distinctive blues duos in the German-speaking world.

Meet & Greet Before Each Concert

A special feature of the series: A meet & greet with the artists takes place before each concert — where the audience, pianist, and guest musicians gather in the foyer, chat, ask questions, and learn about the background of the setlist. A small gesture that further enhances the intimate atmosphere of the series and dissolves the distance between stage and audience — a constellation that would be impossible in large halls.

Why Moers?

Moers has an exceptional tradition of jazz and improvisational music (the annual Moers Festival at Pentecost is one of Europe's most important avant-garde jazz festivals). The Bayoogie Masters play in a parallel vein: not avant-garde, but traditional and contemporary blues-boogie repertoire, but in the same spirit of musical quality that the city has cultivated for decades. Schloss Lauersfort as a venue also gives the series an unusual cultural positioning — blues not in a pub, but in a baroque hall.