"Music as all kinds of arts is a magic way of connecting people. I strongly believe that art can build bridges and connect people. That is something we need more than ever in today’s times with all those conflicts, wars and right wing populists. So art is always a political message as well, the message of peace and solidarity."

Andy Lösche: ...We Tour The World!

For 35 years now German based Concertbüro Andy Lösche has brought you the finest in Blues, Soul and Swing. Most of the artists are represented exclusively throughout Europe by Concertbüro Andy Lösche, some exclusively throughout Europe, Asia and Africa. For the benefit of our European artists, we also work in cooperation with other European agencies. Veteran European promoter and manager, Andy says: "We are specialized in producing European tours for American and European artists, but we also provide many additional services such as tour management and backline rental. We can direct you to the best tour managers, drivers and sound-engineers in the business. Additionally, we provide full-service management to many of our artists. And we can help you out as the artistic director of your festival..."                     (Andy Lösche / Photo © by Nicolas Armer)

The story of Concertbüro started, as Andy says: "Well, I was doing the bookings for my own band, and one day a good friend asked me, if I could try and help him to fill a few off days for a British Blues band he was booking those days. We succeeded and my booking agency was born." Concertbüro motto is …We Tour The World!

Interview by Michael Limnios

How has the Blues music influenced your views of the world and the journeys you’ve taken?

Touring the world with artists is a privilege, you have the chance to see a lot of cities and countries, you learn a lot about other cultures, you have the chance to make things happen with many different people, and at the end oft he day all together work for one big aim: to entertain people with the best show possible. Music is what connects us, no matter what color you are or what religion you may have.

What were the reasons that you started the Concertobüro? What is the hardest part to be a promoter/road manager?

Well, I was doing the bookings for my own band, and one day a good friend asked me, if I could try and help him to fill a few off days for a British Blues band he was booking those days. We succeeded and my booking agency was born.

The hardest part? There’s always something, a missed flight, a cancellation, a flat tire, lost luggage, at some point you get used to all that. I guess it’s the lack of sleep after a few days on the road. And the after show partys (smile).

What moment changed your music life the most? Which acquaintances have been the most important experiences? 

I don’t think there was that one special moment, it’s a collection of a lot of moments, moments when you had the chance to hang and talk with artists you really like. Meeting Arturo Sandoval was such a moment, or B.B. King, not to forget meeting John Lurie. Talking to John Mayall has been a great experience as well for me.

I was working over many years with the late great Terry Evans and the wonderful Mighty Sam McClain. I think those two had the most influences in me. No wonder, we did hundreds of shows together, we spent thousands of kilometers together. But it’s not only the artists, there’s so many wonderful people, promoters, sound guys, press people I became friends with over all those years. People you just don’t want to miss.

"I wished Blues music would be more accepted in some of the European communities, so they would see and understand the worth and message of our music better." (Photo: Andy Lösche of Concertbüro with Raphael Wressnig's Soul Gift feat. Gisele Jackson, Armenia 2018)

Are there any specific memories or highlights of your career that you would like to tell us about?!

Pooh, there were a lot! I just name a few: Opening up the American Embassy in Montenegro with Terry Evans, working for one of the very less Blues and Jazz Festivals in China ever was a real highlight, that one was called Heineken Beat. An ongoing highlight over many years was the Efes Pilsen Blues Festival in many cities all over Turkey. There was concerts in Russia, impossible these days. Working for the US Embassy in Armenia was great, the ambassador was a real music lover. The Dubai Jazz Festival we did for over 10 years was special too. There’s so may, impossible to mention all. What I always enjoy a lot is to put a full festival together what concerns the artistic part of it.

What do you miss most nowadays from the blues of the past? What are your hopes and fears for the future of?

I am not really a traditionalist, I always like it when new ideas are added to the music, so there’s nothing I miss musically really. Maybe one thing: I am a bit bored of all those Blues Rock guitar slingers, oh well. Let’s have more Funk and Soul music with it! What I personally miss are those friends from the past who passed away.

If you could change one thing in the European Blues scene and it would become a reality, what would that be?

That is a difficult question indeed. I wished Blues music would be more accepted in some of the European communities, so they would see and understand the worth and message of our music better.

What are some of the most important lessons you have learned from your paths in the blues business?

As I said before, there’s always something. What I learned is to stay calm, there’s always a solution, problems come up to be solved.

What is the impact of music to the socio-cultural implications? How do you want the music to affect people?

Music as all kinds of arts is a magic way of connecting people. I strongly believe that art can build bridges and connect people. That is something we need more than ever in today’s times with all those conflicts, wars and right-wing populists. So, art is always a political message as well, the message of peace and solidarity.

Concertbüro Andy Lösche - Home

(Photo: Andy Lösche with Eric Burdon, Sharrie Williams and radio people, Spain 2014)