1.12°C German folk-indie band Wait for June brings their genre-defying sound to Colchester Arts Centre on Saturday, 19th October. Known for their intricate melodies and captivating songwriting, the band, hailing from Wetzlar, Hesse, has made a name for themselves, performing across Germany, Switzerland, and the Netherlands.
Founded in 2013, Wait for June has produced two EPs and a full-length album, blending a unique mixture of folk, indie, rock, piano-pop, and a touch of funk. Their music has been described as a “well-stocked record shelf” – no matter what you pick, you’re guaranteed to find “pure joy of music celebrated in any form.” Often compared to melancholic yet beautiful Scandinavian music, their sound is a harmonious mix of heartfelt vocals and instrumental variety.
Fronted by vocalists Manuel Sohn and Jule Jochem, the band is known for their powerful interplay of voices. Manuel’s warm, earthy vocals add a tone of melancholy and hope, while Jule’s soft yet forceful voice breathes life into their songs. The band’s musical versatility is equally reflected in the instruments they play, with each member swapping between guitars, ukulele, banjo, piano, harmonica, accordion, strings, and more.
Manuel Sohn explained that the journey to Colchester Arts Centre began unexpectedly: “About a year and a half ago, I met Anne Schwegmann-Fielding, a Colchester-based mosaic artist, by chance in a pub in Wetzlar. She was on a hiking tour through Germany with a friend, and we got chatting about art and music. I told her that I used to play in Northampton, which is twinned with Marburg, my hometown. Back in the day, there was this big exchange festival between twin cities across Europe, and she really liked the idea. Anne spontaneously invited us to Colchester and helped establish a connection with the Colchester Arts Centre. After a lot of networking, we’re finally here – thanks to the support of the Arts Centre and the twinning societies.”
Manuel hinted at the possibility of future collaboration: “If there’s interest and more support from the societies, we’d love to organise a gig for a Colchester artist in Wetzlar next year.”
With a trademark sound that intertwines delicate harmonies, introspective lyrics, and lively performances, Wait for June promises an unforgettable night at Colchester Arts Centre. Their performances are known for a diverse setlist, alternating between folk ballads, energetic indie tracks, and even a dash of funk—ensuring there’s something for every music lover.
Ben Howard caught up with Manuel Sohn to chat about their music, their journey to Colchester, and what fans can expect from the upcoming performance.
Your music combines many genres—folk, indie, rock, piano-pop, and more. How do you balance such a wide range of influences while still keeping a cohesive sound?
We all have a very broad taste in music, which, of course, also influences our songwriting. The fact that we arrange the songs together and bring in all our ideas creates a common sound. Maybe not all songs are cohesive overall, but when you see us live, you will experience a very organic band.
After all that networking and planning, how does it feel to finally perform here in Colchester?
We arrived in Colchester late last night. We first had problems with the rental bus and then with the accommodation, which we had to rebook spontaneously. We are now in the beautiful Cuckoo Rooms in the city centre and are really looking forward to our time in Colchester. It feels great that the event is actually happening after all these months of planning. Yesterday evening, we even spontaneously organised to play a few songs on the open stage at the Victoria Inn on Wednesday evening.
You mentioned the possibility of organising a gig for a Colchester artist in Wetzlar next year. How important is cultural exchange to you as a band?
We write our songs in English because we all like English-language music best. But music is a universal language anyway. Initiating an exchange with artists from Colchester would be really cool. We believe that such exchanges are more important than ever, especially in today’s times.
Wait for June are:
- Jule Jochem – vocals, piano, guitar, banjo, harmonica, accordion, strings
- Manuel Sohn – vocals, guitar, ukulele, mandolin
- Florian Müller – bass, vocals
- Dennis Nauheim – drums & percussion, accordion, glockenspiel
Don’t miss Wait for June’s performance at Colchester Arts Centre on Saturday, 19th October, for a night of folk-pop energy, emotional storytelling, and musical magic. Support comes via Alexander Valentine.
Doors open at 7.30pm, Starts at 8pm. Tickets are £7/ £6 concessions, available from Colchester Arts Centre.
