Sunday, July 5, 2026

ZAPPANALE #35 - - - PART 5 - - - THE PRE-PARTY PREVIEW

The Zappanale festival lasts three days.
From Friday to Sunday.
On paper, that is, because there has always been a warm-up party with live music.

In the past, this event was often held in the town's park, near the Kamp Theater, but to accommodate the people who are camping near the festival ground, this has moved to Galopp-Rennbahn, the festival ground itself.

On top of that, it's no longer just a 'warm-up party' as it has grown into an additional day of the festival.

Fast forward to July 16 :

Kicking off on Thursday at 14h00 already, Superthousand will take the stage.
Progressive rock from Germany.
As one might guess from the title of their latest release, the band has released four albums so far.
Sounds pretty good to my ears !

At 16h00, smalltape will be up. smalltape is Berlin-based Philipp Nespital's project.
Melodic, atmospheric and theatrical.
He could be performing solo or bring his band... Very keen to find out.

At 18h00, we'll be treated to a mix of Black Sabbath and Frank Zappa songs, delivered by Blanck Zappath.
The band is a regular feature and has performed at several warm-up parties. This will be fun.

And then, at 20h00, it's time for Icarus Burns.
The band released their first album in 2025.
Instrumental heavy psych / stoner / metal.
Looking forward to this.

If you're arriving on Thursday, and even if you're staying in the center of Bad Doberan, or in one of the nearby villages, make sure to visit the festival ground. It's where everybody will be. Reconnecting, meeting people, or just enjoying it all.

TYLERSONGS - THE CASIO COOKBOOK

Tylersongs' "The Casio Cookbook" includes a cover version of Frank Zappa's 'Let's Make The Water Turn Black'. Out on Bandcamp and on cassette !! 

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ZAPPANALE #35 - - - PART 4 - - - "ARF" SHE SAID

"Arf" she said.
 An iconic part of the lyrics of 'Evelyn, A Modified Dog'.

But the 'Arf' appears everywhere throughout FZ's Project/Object.

And it's also the name of the quarterly magazine that's issued by The Arf Society: "The Arf Dossier".

"The Arf-Dossier" is the official, bilingual (German/English) fanzine of the Arf Society, the international Frank Zappa fan club based in Germany.
The publication, which has been printed continuously since 1994, is generally released four times a year (March, June, September, and December). It contains a mix of festival and concert reviews, album critiques, historical features, and news on musicians connected to Frank Zappa.

So weather you're visiting Zappanale or not, if you want to be posted on what's happening in the Zappa Universe, subscribe to The Arf Dossier. (50 € / year)


STEFANO BOLLANI

I recently received a recording of Stefano Bollani's concert at the Cappella Paolina del Palazzo del Quirinale in Rome, Italy, from October 10, 2004.

Broadcast on Italian national radio, Rai Radio Tre, the recording is of excellent quality.
At least as interesting is the fact that Stefano performed Frank Zappa' s 'Eat That Question' !

The piece can also be found on Stefano's "Sheik Yer Zappa" album.


NEW BOOK BY PIERREJEAN GAUCHER

Pierrejean Gaucher wrote:

Hello everyone,

I’m delighted to present my latest work to you. But I’m afraid I might disappoint some of you, because my new release… is a book! ☺️

That said, it’s very much about the guitar and music. It’s not an autobiography, nor an encyclopaedia, but rather a collection of reflections on how we think about and experience music today. I’ve written it in the form of an ABC, to appeal to musicians and music lovers alike.

As a friend put it, “it’s a book to buy with your eyes closed”, but it’s best to open them again afterwards to read it, and also to keep your ears open for the accompanying soundtrack. Here’s a short video to illustrate it.

https://youtube.com/shorts/n1BCIwJUL40


EUGENE CHADBOURNE & JIMMY CARL BLACK - THE JACK AND JIM SHOW - THE REFLECTIONS AND EXPERIENCES OF JIMI HENDRIX

  • Eugene Chadbourne & Jimmy Carl Black: The Jack And Jim Show - The Reflections And Experiences Of Jimi Hendrix
        (20??, cdr, Germany, inkanish records)

I recently came across this re-issue of "The Reflections And Experiences Of Jimi Hendrix".
The original 2001 release, also released on Jimmy Carl Black's DIY Inkanish Records label, had Eugene, Jimmy Carl and Black Paddy on the album cover.
I don't know when this re-issue got released or even if there are other versions out there, but I'm glad I found it.

Eugene Chadbourne and Jimmy Carl Black plus Pat ‘Black Paddy’ Thomas (piano) did a Jimi Hendrix tribute show on October 26, 2001 in Emilia, Italy.
The album presented Zappa’s ‘Hey Punk’ mixed with Hendrix’ ‘Hey Joe’ as FZ took the chords of Jimi’s song as inspiration.


 Here's what the duo looked and sounded like in 1995:


DWEEZIL ZAPPA & VINNIE COLAIUTA

 


DANIEL ROHR - ALLES ÜBER FRANK - 14. JULI 2006, ZAPPANALE 17


  • Daniel Rohr: ZAPPA! Alles Über Frank – 14. Juli 2006, Zappanale 17, Bad Doberan
        (2006, dvdr-promo, Switzerland, private release)

Daniel Rohr performed his "Zappa! Alles Über Frank" theater show at Zappanale in 2006.
I knew of a promotional CDR of the Zappanale recording, but it seems that Daniel also made a video recording available as a (promotional) DVDR.
Recorded, directed and edited by Jörg Herrmann’s Zappanale video team.

I wasn't aware of its existence.
Pretty happy that I could get hold of this. Another fine addition to The Others Of Invention.

Here's a promo for an October 2006 concert:


KOMMISSAR HJULER - ANTIFLUX 2

  • Kommissar Hjuler: Antiflux 2 / Free Frank Zappa Anti-Object 7”
        (2026, 7”, Germany, private release)

Kommissar Hjuler produced this Frank Zappa Anti-Object 7” in 2026.
I received it as a gift. It was part of a series of works with / inspired by Milan Knizak.
It has pictures of Frank Zappa's face glued on the grooves of the 7".
The particular item, an anti (or non-playable) 7” was #41 in the Antiflux 2 series.


J.M. SMIG

Released in February 2025, J.M. Smig's 'Bar Mangled Standard'.