Kampnagel is the first decent sized live music venue I've been to in Hamburg. The setup is a bit…read moreweird if you're used to going to gigs in the UK. Firstly, they start late. Support at 2200, band at 2300, out by 0030. The building looks like some kind of former factory, and when you get in there it's very very civilised! You drink outside the hall first, in a huge factory floor, and go in just before the support come on. Everyone was queuing up, I presumed to get to the front. Not a bit of it! They were actually queuing to get seats! The magic of going to gigs in Hamburg is twofold then. You can actually just buy tickets on the day for most things, AND you can get right to the front, cause the Germans aren't interested in doing it themselves! Amazing. The Decemberists themselves were really really good. I'd only got into them a day previously, so didn't know all the songs, yet came out on such a high I made a frivolous tshirt purchase! I love acoustic music at the best of times, and these guys play really interesting songs, sea shanties... bordering on trad folk at times. They're also really tight. The highlight of the gig was the encore when they dived into the crowd, with instruments, and played "The tale of the mariners revenge" completely unplugged. Great stuff.

The Kampnagel surprised me even before I set foot in it's doors. One of my favorite bands, The…read moreDecemberists, were set to play there and those who heard that this little-known band (or at least, little-known in Germany) were going to be giving a show at the Kampnagel mentioned that playing there was a significant "movin' on up". Their previous show at the Knust, a smaller venue fit for a smaller audience, was packed to the brim. Playing at the Kampnagel is apparently a large step up for indie bands. The location itself is large and comfortable, built for a middle-sized audience The location is part concert hall, part contemporary art gallery and part club (The "Casino") and is geared towards a younger crowd (students and 30-somethings). The acoustics in the concert hall are moderately good and the hall itself includes seating arrangements for the lazy. Smoking is not allowed in the concert hall itself, which is a blessing. Smoking in the outer hall is allowed (where the exhibition takes place) however the lack of ashtrays and very few trash bins was a little odd. Overall, The Kampnagel seems to be a lovely place for a concert, but I can assume that audiences would be more enthusiastic about the preformances if a lack of seating arrangements would force them off the chairs and onto the dancefloor. Video link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0R4tmJY0rtQ

From the owner: -Erfahrene DJ's -professionelle Veranstaltungstechnik…read more-Dry Hire (Vermietung von Veranstaltungstechnik) -Bühnen -Schaum- & Halloweenpartys -Hochzeiten - Open Airs -Erstellung von Sicherheitkonzepten (Fachmeister für Veranstaltungssicherheit) - Dekoration - uvm.

The show was rather mediocre. The production was cheap in…read morecomparison to Lion King, it actually had a low-budget feel to it in some parts. It did have great moments, and the band was on point!