When the journey began in the mid-1970s, the public’s enthusiastic response was explained as a reflection of the spirit of the times. Yet over the following 50 years, that spirit has constantly changed — and still this music has endured, passed on from one generation to the next. It must clearly touch something in many people that reaches far deeper than any zeitgeist or passing trend.
Back then, The New York Times sensed in Vollenweider’s music a “profoundly positive otherworldliness” — and perhaps this is exactly where the secret of its enduring success lies.
Vollenweider says: “Especially in times when we are all confronted to a great extent with threatening developments in the world, yet without truly being able to take action ourselves, we seem to have a strong need for moments in which we can restore and strengthen our deep-rooted confidence in life. In that respect, music has always been my own survival strategy too.”
For the 73-year-old Vollenweider, the 2027 tour, “The Journey – die Reise,” is also a deeply grateful revisiting of the stages of his extraordinary adventure. With their remarkable versatility and virtuosity, these five musicians can create the rich sound of a full orchestra.
With its powerful sound, Andreas Vollenweider’s special harp can fill even the largest halls with ease — ultra-deep basses, hypnotic grooves, crystal clarity, melodic beauty, and a deeply moving presence. It is within these soundscapes that his four musical companions move and take flight
The complementary force comes from Walter Keiser, whose drumming has provided the heartbeat of this music from the very beginning; Daniel Küffer, likewise the band’s multi-instrumentalist for almost 30 years, with a virtuoso focus on a wide variety of wind instruments; Isabel Gehweiler, whose cello playing has for many years brought emotional warmth, depth and fullness to the music; and Oliver Keller, who expands Vollenweider’s world of sound with a wide array of string instruments, ranging from delicate filigree to powerful, rock-infused energy.
The many people behind the scenes — in organisation, sound, and technical production — have likewise been part of the “Friends”, most of them from the earliest days. Together, they create something that goes far beyond a concert ensemble: a sense of family that, together with the audiences creates the Vollenweider experience.
What can audiences expect from the 2027 tour?
Andreas and his companions will open the gate to their musical treasure trove, sharing the most legendary gems from 50 years of this extraordinary sonic universe.
