Culture Must Get Out! | Night of Gypsy Guitars

Night of Gypsy Guitars – Joscho Stephan, Paulus Schäfer with Gidon Oechsner and Daniel Schober

Guitarist Gidon Oechsner has been a fixture on the Austrian Gypsy guitar scene for many years. With his project Gewürztraminer, he has performed on numerous stages and at festivals throughout the German-speaking world. For this special concert, he has invited two outstanding representatives of Jazz Manouche: Joscho Stephan and Paulus Schäfer.

Joscho Stephan is one of the most internationally renowned Gypsy jazz guitarists of his generation and has long been captivating audiences far beyond the scene. On his latest album, he collaborates with renowned musicians such as John Petrucci and Matteo Mancuso. Stylistically heavily influenced by Django Reinhardt, Stephan expands the genre with original interpretations—ranging from Gypsy swing classics to surprising arrangements of well-known songs like “Hey Joe” or “Seven Nation Army.”

Paulus Schäfer is considered one of the most important guitarists in the Dutch Sinti tradition. Through concerts around the globe, he carries on his family’s musical legacy and has established himself as an indispensable figure in the international Gypsy swing scene.

On double bass, Daniel Schober provides the rhythmic foundation. He, too, has been a member of the band Gewürztraminer for years and is well-connected within the scene.

This concert evening promises a rousing blend of technical brilliance, joy of playing, and finely nuanced jazz manouche—entirely in the spirit of the grand master Django Reinhardt.

In case of inclement weather, the concert will take place just a few meters away at the recently completed Zeugstätte III, located at Wehrgrabengasse 4. Due to limited seating there, we recommend arriving early!

About “kultur muss raus!”

For years, the city’s open-air concert series “kultur muss raus!” has been bringing top-tier artists from Austria and abroad to public spaces in Steyr. The goal is to make art accessible—free of charge, open to all, and right in the heart of the city.

In this way, the city of Steyr underscores its commitment to enabling cultural participation for all and actively promoting its vibrant arts and culture scene.