Harmonica FEN Festival

What are Free-Reed Instruments?

The Free-Reed instruments – harmonica, accordion, bandoneon, concertina, melodica, and the millennia-old Chinese Sheng – share a simple technical idea with unlimited musical consequences: a freely vibrating metal tongue produces the tone when air flows through it. The Harmonica FEN Festival is dedicated to their full spectrum, from Indian Raga to Old-Time Country to Brazilian Blues.

Kulturbrauerei Prenzlauer Berg – An Industrial Sound Body

The Kulturbrauerei at Schönhauser Allee 36, formerly the Schultheiß brewery, is one of Berlin's most significant industrial monuments and has been a central cultural hub in the Prenzlauer Berg district since the 1990s. The festival uses two of the complex's most beautiful spaces: the Kesselhaus for the major evening concerts and the Maschinenhaus for late-night sessions, masterclasses, and the family concert on Sunday afternoon.

International Top Musicians

The festival is an international address in the free-reed milieu. In 2026, performers on stage will include: Hermine Deurloo (Netherlands, Jazz), Keith Dunn (USA/NL, Blues icon), Seth Shumate (USA, Old-Time), Indiara Sfair (Brazil), Steven De Bruyn (Belgium, Jazz harmonica), Yotam Ben-Or (Israel/Belgium, Jazz), the Finnish quartet Sväng, the Swedish blues band John Henry with Mikael Bäckman, the young Indian musician Shubhranil Sarkar, and the concluding Free Reeds All Star Ensemble, which commemorates the first Berlin Zungenschlag Festival of 1996.

More Than Concerts – A Workshop Festival

What sets the Harmonica FEN Festival apart: Twelve masterclasses and workshops spread throughout the weekend, led by the concert artists themselves. From the beginner format "Bend your first note" to the professional masterclass on Indian Raga technique – participants can learn from the world's best here. Plus, late-night sessions in the Maschinenhaus, where the audience and musicians improvise together until late into the night.

2026: Network and the Year of the Accordion

2026 marks a double occasion for the festival: it is the third edition and also the German "Instrument of the Year" year for the accordion. The program reflects this with an expanded accordion and Sheng component. The organizer is an international initiative of German and Dutch harmonica players, financially supported by the Berlin Senate and cultural funding bodies.