| Mavericks
magic: It’s tonight!
By Esther Williams
It’s tonight. Country Roads XIV. And this concert is somehow
not complete without the Mavericks from Germany who for over ten
years, have entertained audiences in Colombo with their lively music
and great banter.
Dirk Maverick and Steve Bohn have a 30-40 minute slot during the
Country Roads concert tonight at the Cinnamon Grand at 7 p.m. “We
have many surprises this time,” they promise.
The
group continually includes new songs that are guaranteed not only
to get your feet a-tapping, but also to have you singing and laughing
along with them. ‘Ayubowan, Good Morning Sri Lanka’
is an original we are bound to hear along with other country favourites
to which they give the original Mavericks touch.
Having
performed at Country Roads for so many years, it is obvious the
group has formed a close attachment to Sri Lanka, particularly because
all Country Road concerts have supported vulnerable children in
various parts of the country. “It is one thing to play for
people who love music but to combine it with doing something for
children makes it more special,” remarks Dirk. “It’s
a good feeling,” he adds.
The group sets apart time for this show each year and plan other
commitments around that period as soon as they are given a date
for the concert by President of the Country Music Foundation, Feizal
Samath. “When we work with people, we get to know them well
and for us it is like meeting old friends,” Steve says.
During their last visit here, soon after the tsunami, they contributed
3000 Euros that they had raised from their town with the help of
their mayor. Dirk’s son Marvin had also given many of his
toys to add to his contribution of 5 Euros. For a child in Bentota
who had lost her violin along with everything else she owned, the
Mavericks have now got one to replace it.
“Even during the war, I never felt threatened here. People
were always friendly and taking care of us,” Dirk reminisces,
adding that he was advised by many to avoid coming to Sri Lanka.
Asked how they felt about performing with other music makers from
Sri Lanka, “Musicians speak music with each other and their
genre is not important,” explains Steve.
Formed in 1983, the Mavericks, a five-member band have performed
all over Northern Europe. They are considered one of Germany’s
outstanding country music outfits because of the various facets
they represent in their acts - dance ladies and bull riding.
Steve who has performed with the Mavericks on several occasions
talks about one song that crossed the border into East Germany prior
to the unification called ‘Hey buddy, you and I are friends’.
“Something about our music reaches out,” he says. They
have also performed for German soldiers in Kosovo and Sarajevo.
Playing mostly original material taken from their seven albums of
around 150 songs which are mainly in German, the band is now well
established as a major act within the country music festival scene.
Also a producer for German pop music, Steve runs a studio that has
seen the recordings of many a great German musician.
On their music, “It is totally a group effort,” they
admit. Dirk initially writes a song and comes up with an idea. Steve
and others collaborate on it intensively and that’s when they
have the best results. Incidentally, Steve can play all string instruments
except for the violin while others play most instruments. “I
just sing and play my guitar,” Dirk laughs.
Their songs are stories about love and relationships.
“I have had the same experience or would like to have the
same experience, is what I would like people to think on hearing
our music,” explains Dirk. Their new record will be released
in May. The proceeds of this year’s Country Roads will go
to the ‘Million Mosquito nets for a Million Children Project’.
“We are proud to be part of it,” Dirk says.
You too can be a part of it at the Cinnamon Grand tonight at Country
Roads.
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