A mainstay in Germany's summer festival calendar, c/o pop is five days of concerts, club nights, trade fair and convention. The program ranges from current pop heroes with legions of fans to club acts and DJs that will be new to even the most die-hard clubbers.
At 22, he is known as one of the best in a new generation of electronic musicians. Nicolas Jaar has Chilean parents, lives in New York and is at home in clubs around the world. His techno sound is innovative and multi-layered, incorporating pianos à la Eric Sati and percussion instruments of all kinds. And everything gets glued together with a bumping beat.
Tim Bendkzo studied theology and sold used cars before taking his place in the pantheon of Germany's pop superstars. He sounds a bit like fellow German star Xavier Naidoo, but his lyrics take a bit more of an ironic twist. A chart-topper since 2011, Bendzko has achieved quite a bit already, racking up a number of German music awards ncluding a Bambi and an ECHO.
Intense, resonant, dark, emotional and idiosyncratic - the style of Soap&Skin. 21-year-old Austrian singer Anja Plaschg is behind the project. Plaschg has become a major force in German-language pop since her debut album in 2009. Her c/o pop appearance in the Cologne Philharmonie features music from her new "mini"-album "Narrow."
Founded in 1980, Palais Schaumburg named itself after the German chancellor's residence in Bonn, the former capital. Minimal electronic sounds and Dadaist texts set the band apart within the Neue Deutsche Welle genre of the 1980's. They remain a big influence on young bands. Around 30 years after their debut, Palais Schaumburg plays at the festival in the original line-up.
Her real name is Dominique Dillon de Byington. She hails from Brazil, grew up in Cologne and now lives in Berlin. Alongside playing the piano, she uses a computer onstage, and her singing style is unique. Her minimalist sound, ethereal charm and piano style impress fans and critics alike.
Put Peruvian and Spanish rappers together with a Mexican guitarist, a Chilean who sings, and a couple of Germans on drums, and you've got "ChupaStylee" - the music of Chupacabras. A bit like the bloodsucking mythological creature of the same name, the band helps itself to every imaginable music style to create its global sound.
Learn some dance moves, how to make videos or even how to make beats - it's all on offer for the young ones at c/o pop. The can head to a DJ workshop and show what they can do at a "talent flea market" afterwards. There's plenty for kids to do while their parents head off to concerts.
The c/o pop festival has become an important meeting point for the music and event branches in Germany. The 2012 edition is the ninth, with an expected record number of visitors - hoping to top the 35,000 guests from last year.
The c/o pop festival in Cologne is a platform for newcomer artists.
