Popakademie bands live on stage!

At the "Work in Progress Club" the students of the Department of Popular Music present their current projects.

Admission is free.

On Saturday, October 18, two acts from the Popakademie will be performing on stage right next to St. Peter and Paul Church.

5 p.m.: Finja & Band
6 p.m.: Daniele Puccia

In the “Popakademie Talks” series, guests from the music and culture sector discuss various current topics. In the 2025/26 winter semester, three talks will be held on the topic of “Populism and Extremism.”

Gender roles? Nope! A flawless resume? Nope! A perfect morning routine? Nope! The Freiburg duo WILLMAN would much rather say “yes” to themselves, even at the risk of being uncool. Anyone who stands in the way of the duo's path to uncompromising self-acceptance is met with a snotty “You can kiss my ass.” With rap-infused empowerment pop anthems, Jo (vocals, synth) and Felix (drums) give the middle finger to outdated norms, external expectations, and constant self-optimization on their new EP “Ich bin Ich” (I am me). True to the motto: “How I was / how I am / is leading somewhere.” WILLMAN confidently package questions about the search for identity, setting personal boundaries, and mental health into danceable tracks and, armed with a healthy dose of courage, also sing about self-doubt and insecurities.

Participation in the talk is free of charge.

This year the Nachtwandel invites you to art, music and culture in Mannheim's Jungbusch harbour district.

The Bandpool will also open its doors on October 24th and 25th and will present current Bandpool bands and a few specials. That means this weekend there will be good music on two evenings in the Popakademie!

Every November, drummers and percussionists from different cultures around the world gather at the Popakademie for the World Drum Festival to make music, exchange ideas, and network. In a mix of workshops, masterclasses, panels, and concerts, world-class soloists present themselves to an interested professional audience. They showcase the current state of affairs in the international drum and percussion scene.

This year's participants include: Felix Lehrmann (drums), Jost Nickel (drums), Claus Hessler (drums), Theresa Stark (drums/hybrid), Diego Pinera (drums/percussion), Murat Coşkun (framedrums).

WORLD DRUM FESTIVAL PROGRAM
13.45 Uhr Masterclass Forum 1 (45. min)
Felix Lehrmann | Raum 001
Claus Hessler | Raum 415

14.45 Uhr Masterclass Forum 2 (45. min)
Jost Nickel | Raum 001
Diego Piñera | Raum 415

16.00 Uhr Masterclass Forum 3 (45. min)
Murat Coşkun | Raum 001
Theresa Stark | Raum 415

From 6:00 p.m. Concert
With Lilo Prochotta (drums / hybrid), Felix Lehrmann (drums), Jost Nickel (drums), Claus Hessler (drums), Vanessa Porter (percussion), Theresa Stark (drums / hybrid), Diego Pinera (drums / percussion)

In the “Popakademie Talks” series, guests from the music and culture sector discuss various current topics. In the 2025/26 winter semester, three talks will be held on the topic of “Populism and Extremism.”

On Tuesday, November 11, journalist and author Valerie Schönian will be a guest at Popakademie Talks, where she will report on populism and radicalism in eastern Germany. She was born in 1990 in Gardelegen, Saxony-Anhalt, and grew up in Magdeburg. Schönian studied German philology and political science in Berlin and trained at the German School of Journalism in Munich. She has been awarded the Marlies Hesse Young Talent Prize, among others, and was nominated for the Theodor Wolff Prize and the Reporter Prize. Her books “Halleluja” and “Ostbewusstsein” were published by Piper Verlag. Valerie Schönian has been working for DIE ZEIT since 2017, initially as an editor in the Leipzig office and, since 2019, as an author.

Participation in the talk is free of charge.

In cooperation with the Popakademie, the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Science, Research, and the Arts is presenting the POPLÄND Award for the first time. Three categories (live act, live music venue, producing) will each receive €10,000 in prize money. Further information to follow.

Experience the current generation of the Bandpool and take a look behind the scenes of our newcomer program Bandpool. LIVE & LOUD!

Admission to the concert is free!

Popakademie bands live on stage!

At the "Work in Progress Club" the students of the Department of Popular Music present their current projects.

Admission is free.

Celebrate with the DJs from the Popakademie!

Pure club atmosphere: Students from the Popular Music department will be performing their artist projects live as DJs at Club 003.

Admission is free.

Lineup:
COREALIS B2B HALLI KALLI
MAXOMAR B2B SCANE
JOAHNNES SPANIOL
CY:BORG
VYU
BUFFASYZE B2B KEMARE

Beats & Sound of the producing students! The line-up of the Producer's Club consists of students from the Pop Music Design bachelor's programme and the Popular Music master's programme with a focus on Producing/Composing Artist.

Admission is free.

In the “Popakademie Talks” series, guests from the music and culture sector discuss various current topics. In the 2025/26 winter semester, three talks will be held on the topic of “Populism and Extremism.”

On Tuesday, December 16, cultural sociologist Dr. Anna Schwenck will speak on populism and music. Her research focuses on popular music and food as material for populist and national performances, and her new research project examines the extent to which moral capital is becoming more important for social advancement, self-optimization, and the search for meaning—under the conditions of a globally strengthening flexible capitalism. In the winter semester 2025/2026, she will be a postdoctoral fellow in the Sociology Department of the Institute for Eastern European Studies at Freie Universität Berlin.

Participation in the talk is free of charge.

Popakademie bands live on stage!

At the "Work in Progress Club" the students of the Department of Popular Music present their current projects. The Popakademie choir will also be on stage on December 17.

Admission is free.

The Producer's Club is entering the next round with beats and sounds from producing students! The lineup consists of producing students from the bachelor's program in pop music design and the master's program in popular music with a focus on producing/composing artist.

Admission is free.

Popakademie bands live on stage!

At the "Work in Progress Club" the students of the Department of Popular Music present their current projects.

Admission is free.

Experience the Popakademie students on stage during their concert exams!

Admission is free.

February 15th is the Popakademie's info day.

On this day, the Popakademie offers lectures and information about studying at the Popakademie as well as study advice from staff, lecturers and students.
In addition, the Info Day provides insights into the Popakademie's project and competence areas.