ÄTSCH selected as first Irish band to perform at Jazzahead 2018

jazzahead! organisers sought recommendations of emerging Irish artists from Improvised Music Company and Irish quartet ÄTSCH were chosen to perform at the jazzahead! club night series which runs concurrent to the main showcases. This is the first time an Irish band will perform at jazzahead! and the start of what we hope is an annual tradition of Irish showcasing at this important international event.

We had a chat with Matthais Winkler, guitarist and band-leader of ÄTSCH, about his music, what inspires him, and what it means to him to be part of this year's Jazzahead!

Q. Who or what inspires you at the moment - be it in music, arts, politics or your personal life, to create music?

My family in Germany and my girlfriend here in Dublin inspire me everyday with the amount of love and compassion they pass on and how hard they work to not only reach their goals but help others on the way. Also our Drummer Hug Denman who is possibly the smartest person I know is a huge inspiration in the way how he deals with life, family and work.

Q. Can you tell us about a seminal experience, project, or encounter that had a significant impact on your career?

Seeing Peter Bernstein in The Sugar Club for the first time, I think in 2013/14, was huge. He played Body and Soul in dedication to Jim Hall who just past away the day before the gig. That really made want to become a Jazz guitarist.

Q. Are you working on anything new at the moment? What’s next for ATSCH ?

Curretnly I am writing some new material as we are getting more gigs. We´d like to get tunes of the other group members in as well so we have a more accurate picture of the Band as such on our gigs.

Q. What does it mean to you to be part of an event like Jazzahead ?

It's huge! I never really got the chance to travel for music. Not even speaking of playing my own music. It's something you dream about but as a local jazz guitarist you are certain it never will happen. That it happened now is such a gift and childhood dream for all of us.

Thanks, Matthias!

ÄTSCH, will be performing as part of Jazzahead! on Saturday 21st April at Rebels Club Irish Pub in Bremen, Germany.

More information and tickets here