Okertones

In the organizer's words:

Americana sound, born on the banks of the Oker in Braunschweig: Tom Bennecke is breaking new and unusual ground with his band project "Okertones".
new and unusual paths. The band has dedicated itself to a subtle, wide-ranging mix of styles that includes influences
influences of folk, country and bluegrass, but which also incorporates black music preferences. The debut album bears the name

of the band and was presented on August 29 at the pre-release concert on the Freundschaftsbühne stage in Braunschweig's Prinz-Albrecht-Park.

The official release of the album is on 10.10.2025. The following singles have already been released in advance

in advance: "Bring ihn nach Hause" (featuring Cappuccino) in July (with video release), "Better Man" (featuring Maike
Jacobs) for the concert in August (also with video release) and "Börßum" (featuring Andy Bermig) in September.
Guitarist Tom Bennecke, who has made a name for himself in the nationally renowned
Braunschweig Jazzkantine and thus primarily for funk,
hip-hop, jazz and reggae, has long since lost his heart to 'American folk music'. Since his teenage years, the
born in Braunschweig in 1959, has loved West Coast bands such as Poco and Little Feat. Musicians like David Lindley opened his ears
David Lindley opened his ears to the slide guitar, especially the Dobro, which is played on the knees with a steel tube.
Bennecke is fascinated by the unmistakable, vibrating Dobro sound. Melodies and song ideas
and song ideas come naturally to him on this instrument. For a long time, he had meditatively played just for himself on the banks of the Oker, the
and composed for a long time, until he gradually put together his own band for this special sound.
for this special sound.
For the "Okertones", Bennecke has recruited a number of well-known, exceptionally talented musicians who share his passion.
who share his passion. In fruitful songwriting partnerships with vocalists inside and outside the band, the repertoire
outside the band, the repertoire grew. The band founder, who laid the foundations for most of the songs, arranged them
and produced them, particularly appreciates the creative momentum that develops in the interplay between the
instrumentalists and gives the songs the finishing touches.
The songs are sung in German and English. The songs deal with departure and retrospection, longing, home, power women and big city cowboys. About life and death.
The Braunschweiger Zeitung wrote: "The 'Okertones' light a warm, crackling campfire in dark, cold times.
times. Their music sounds very earthy, very handmade, lovingly retro and as if it came straight from the prairie across the pond.
blown across the pond."
The band consists of: Peter Jung, Andy Bermig, Catrin Groth,
Maike Jacobs, Markus Schultze, André Neygenfind and Tom Bennecke But musical guests such as: Britta Dekker, Cappuccino, Beate Zacher and Carsten Fritz