Konzert und Lesung: Ich bin todesmutig (mit Benni Bauerdick und Looking For Ella)

In the organizer's words:

An evening with both spoken and sung words about giving space to all feelings and looking where it hurts and growing as a result.

"Looking for Ela" will present the soulful indie pop of their debut album "I'll be back home soon, Love." and Benni Bauerdick will read from his book "Ich bin todesmutig - vom Umgang mit Trauer im Leben" and talk about his work with grieving people.

"The reason why people come to me is terrible, but working with people in mourning has a lot to do with love, gratitude, confidence and living (on)," says the WDR presenter and grief counselor. And his words fit so well with the music of the Cologne-based artist. Born out of the need to sort out feelings and overcome difficult phases, her album reflects an inner transformation: from rock bottom to more self-love and clarity. "It's my way of creating something beautiful and shaped from difficult moments," describes the artist, who lives in Cologne and produced the album mainly in her own studio.

This evening is both a concert and a reading. An emotional evening that will also be life-affirming and uplifting. With many impulses and tips from grief work.

An evening that will certainly resonate.

Benni Bauerdick is a 1LIVE presenter, WDR television reporter, author and trained grief counselor. He has worked in the media industry for over 15 years and is also a speech coach - including for funeral speakers. He is regularly in front of the camera and has also worked for many years behind the scenes of the WDR talk show "Kölner Treff" alongside Bettina Böttinger. The Sauerland native also hosts two podcasts: "Fenster oder Gang?", which is about mental health, inclusion and diversity, and "Todesmutig", which he produces together with Mechthild Schroeter-Rupieper. This project also resulted in their first joint book, which will be published in fall 2025: "Ich bin todesmutig: vom Umgang mit Trauer im Leben."

Looking For Ella - that's the Cologne-based singer, songwriter and arranger Natalie Handwerk. Her sensitive indie pop has the motto "Feel all feelings".

Her first album "I'll be back home soon, Love", which is dedicated to mental health, was released in March 2025. So sings

Looking For Ella sings about topics such as depression, self-discovery and friendship and embeds them in warm soundscapes and polyphonic vocal arrangements. She herself describes the album as a thunderstorm of emotions and their clearing up in nine songs.

Just how versatile Looking For Ella's songs are is shown by the list of artists she has been compared to in the past: Florence+The Machine, Aurora, London Grammar or even Adele. Looking For Ella concerts are like a deep talk evening with friends: Honest, close and empowering.