Rausgegangen Revealed: A Secret Concert Worth the Wait
What’s more exciting than a concert? A secret one in a place you’d never expect.
End of January, a secret concert took place in Heidelberg. It was organized by Rausgegangen, an initiative that helps people discover the best events in their city. If you haven’t heard of them, they’re basically the go-to for finding cool things to do, from underground concerts to pop-up events. This one was hosted by Rausgegangen Rhein-Neckar, but they’ve also got branches in Berlin, Cologne, and more, each bringing people together through live music and different kinds of events or even parties.
The whole concept of the secret concert is pretty exciting: you buy a ticket without knowing who’s performing. Even the location stays under wraps until the morning of the event. Tickets are around 20 euros, making it an affordable way to discover new music or even catch an established artist in a more intimate setting. At the same time, there’s something about not knowing what to expect that makes the whole experience even better.
This time, the secret concert was held at the Commissary in the Patrick Henry Village, a former U.S. military base in Heidelberg. Once home to American soldiers and their families, the village still carries traces of its past, with abandoned barracks and a distinct atmosphere that feels like stepping into a different era. The Commissary used to be a bustling American supermarket back in the day but has since taken on a new life. Its walls are covered in striking art pieces, giving the space a raw, urban character that makes it the perfect setting for an underground concert.
Mäx and I got there around 7 PM. She was on photography duty, and I was there to write about it. We got in a little early, and the atmosphere was already buzzing. People were chatting, drinks were flowing, and you could tell everyone was eager to find out who’d be playing. I couldn’t help but hope for a big surprise as the anticipation was building. I knew Berq had played a secret concert in Berlin once, but let’s be real, that wasn’t likely to happen in our small university town. Still, I was excited to discover possible new artists.
At around 8 PM, the organizers took the mic to announce that we’d be seeing two acts that night. The instructions were simple: respect the artists, enjoy the music, and have fun. Easy enough.
The first act was Dolphin Love, I later found out his name is Constantin Kopp (aka Coco) from Hannover. He had a drummer with him, but otherwise, he writes, produces, and mixes all his music himself, which is pretty impressive for a 21-year-old. His music was definitely indie/alternative, all in English, and super original. One song that really stood out to me was Sun it had this raw, authentic feel that pulled me in. I don’t usually listen to this style of music, but I really liked how he performed it. He even played his electric guitar with a violin bow at one point, which was unexpected and added a unique touch. Some of his songs gave me Inhaler vibes, especially with the layered vocals. He also played his newest release, Where We Are, which had come out just three days prior to the concert. His set lasted about 50 minutes, and he was super engaging, chatting with the crowd, making jokes and all. He even brought out some self-made T-shirts as merch. Honestly, he came across as really genuine, and that made his performance even more enjoyable.
After Dolphin Love wrapped up, we had a 30-minute break before the next surprise act: a four-person band from Austria called Bon Jour. The lineup included lead singer Dominic Muhrer, Mario Fartacek on guitar, Julian Pieber on drums, and Giovanna Fartacek on background vocals. Their music was somewhere between alternative, indie, pop, and rock. Not too heavy, not too soft, just a nice blend of everything. They were great performers, no doubt, but their lyrics didn’t hit me as hard as Dolphin Love’s did. Still, their sound was solid, and they clearly worked well together. I found out later that they had even opened for Alt-J in Vienna, which is huge! One of my favorites from their set was Cloudy Woods. Hearing Dominic talk about writing it on a rainy, foggy day in his studio in Talgau made the song feel even more personal. They really got the crowd involved, and the energy in the room was great. As the set went on, everyone loosened up and started dancing. The last song, A Man With No Name, was my favorite of the night, and they even played an encore, which was a nice way to close things out.
After the concert, we stuck around for a bit and had some quick conversations with the artists. They were all super friendly, which made the experience even better. Rausgegangen’s secret concerts are honestly such a fun way to experience live music. It’s refreshing in a time when everything is so predictable. So, if you ever get the chance to go to one, do it. You never know; you might just discover your new favorite artist.
Be sure to check out your local RAUSGEGANGEN Events as they are in a few cities all over Germany.
However, for all music enthusiasts around the Rhein-Neckar Area, the wait won't be long. The next secret concert is coming up soon! Rausgegangen just revealed that the next "Geheimkonzert" will take place on April 7th, 2025! Have a look at their website to get a ticket for a fun night where you get to know new artists and genres. Pssst, you can even win some tickets there, so be quick!
See more photos in the album below!
WRITTEN BY
Ilayda
The question of belonging always lingers in the back of my mind. As a diaspora child, I carry the weight of leaving and the longing to find home in every place I go. So I like to write about what moves me. Music that lingers, films that haunt, words that stay long after the page is turned. I chase the moments that make me feel something.
PHOTOS BY
Maxine
I love to capture little moments in busy streets, but for our magazine, I mostly take editorial, portraits and concerts shots. You can sometime find me reviewing concerts or talking about all and everything during a hot chocolate in interviews with our guests.
