24.03.2001, Jodrell Bank
Planetarium

The Jodrell Bank Mark Ia radio telescope.

The Jodrell Bank planetarium.

The Jodrell Bank science center.More photos will be available later.

My lovely diary

On Friday, March 23th, we started our journey to UK at 9:00am. We drove to Rotterdam, about 430 km from our town away. At 8:00pm the ferry begun sailing across the northsea. We reached Hull at 7:00am on March 24th. Our first day driving left became now truth. At 11:00am we arrived at Jodrell Bank. On this Sunday the science center had opened for schools and the Macclesfield society of astromers showed some telescopes and pictures. At 3:30pm we met David and first we gone to a nearby pub. After that we begun to set up our instruments at the planetarium.

We started our performance at 8:00pm in front of 100 listeners and played the first part for nearly 45 minutes. Within the first part we played previously released titles from our CDs Sebastian im Traum, Pulse and Mosaique. Then we breaked the performance for 15 minutes. Within the second part (50 minutes long) we played only titles from our new album Voices Of The First Day. We finished the concert with a perfect correspondence between the music and the lightshow: with the last title "The Dream Of Lovell" the computer animation through the solar system reached the earth. Thanks to the operator for this greatful end. And the audience was very enthusiastic. That was a great feeling for us.

One hour after the concert we followed David to his home in Sheffield. That was a rather new experience: driving on the left side of a winding and hilly street through the Peak District National Park, where it was very dark and foggy. Wow! We seldom were such tired as on this day. We reached Dave´s home at 2:00am and talked nearly one hour about various themes.

We left Sheffield on Sunday noon and drove back to Hull, where we arrived at 3:00pm and reached Rotterdam the next morning at 7:00am. Then we drove back home and arrived there at 3:00pm. After unloading our instruments we knew that there was only one thing to do now: sleeping!

We hope that the audience enjoyed our music as we enjoyed the whole atmosphere. That was the first time that we have played within a planetarium. And the area of Jodrell Bank is a greatful place for this.

Thanks to all helpers and operators and especially to David Law for giving us the possibility to play in the UK.

Concert Review by Steve Humphries
It only seems like 5 minutes have gone by since the last Jodrell Bank gig, and that was June of last year! I thought that the quality of the music at last years concerts was good. Would the musical standards be maintained by Rainbow Serpent? OH YES! is my answer to another superb night of live electronic music. I would guess around 70 to 80 people turned up to see Rainbow Serpent, there was a great buzz in the foyer before the gig as people caught up with each other and bought CD's from Dave Law. Everyone was ushered in at around 8.00pm. The concert was to be divided into two sets lasting around 45 minutes. After a few words from Frank Specht, Rainbow Serpent opened with a selection of tracks from previously released CD's. The music was simply superb, great variation of styles, everything from space to sequencer driven music. At the interval I spoke to a few people, the verdict was a big thumbs up! It was nice to see that David Hughes of T-Bass and Stephan Whitlan could make it, Stephan had travelled over from Ireland to make the gig. After the 15 minute interval the 2nd set was underway, a real treat for Rainbow Serpent fans, a preview of music from there next CD which should be released around April/May time. Again another set of superb music. I for one will be buying the the new CD when it comes out. The concert went down really well with everyone, again I cannot praise the dedication of the musicians who travel all the way over from Europe to perform at Jodrell Bank. People really showed their appreciation after the gig by shaking Gerd and Frank's hand and thanking them for a great show! Can't wait for the return of Keller and Schonwalder in 2 weeks time, if it's anything like last June's gig we are in for a real treat. Well I'm off now to listen to the stack of CD's I got at the gig! (SH)

Concert Review by Graham Getty
Good to see such a large crowd for the first concert. Many familiar faces, and quite a few new ones which was encouraging. Rainbow Serpent were very organised for their first ever gig in the UK, and they spent plenty of time sound checking before the concert. 8pm saw the first of the two pieces they had prepared. There was plenty of variation, the set starting carefully with great atmospheric sounds. The sequences were restrained rather than "in yer face" however my favourite section appeared during the last 5 minutes, just before the break. A magnificent melodic section of surging synthesis. Their new CD seems a "must buy!". The second set was just as satisfying, a medley of largely more familiar pieces and no less successful. This was a great way to start the JB season, and again the visuals provided the perfect backdrop. See you at the next! (GG)