Kraftwerk To Light Up Southern, Western U.S.

Seminal electronic music group Kraftwerk is transporting concertgoers to a mechanistic, alternate reality in its 3D concert tour, coming to two distinct regions in the U.S. this September.

Photo: Michal Krumphanzl / CTK via AP

Forum Karlin, Prague, Czech Republic

The shows are scheduled specifically in Southern and Western States, with the first show in North Bethesda, Md. Sept. 3 and concluding at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles Sept. 18. There are only nine shows currently scheduled, fans may need to do some driving.

Kraftwerk has been around for over 45 years, as the first iteration of the band formed in 1970 in Düsseldorft, Germany with the partnership of synth-masters Ralf Hütter and Florian Schneider.

Although Schneider left the group in 2008, the band’s musical and performance style has, by many accounts, remained strong. Kraftwerk’s use of synths and electronic, driving rhythms, as well as its fixation on robotics and technology in lyrical themes and visuals, have inspired generations and entire genres of musicians.

Afrika Bambaata‘s “Planet Rock”, one of the most well-known early electronic-rap songs, sampled Kraftwerk’s “Trans-Europe Express” and David Bowie dedicated a song, “V-2 Schneider” to the band’s co-founder.

The live shows are noted for their use of 3D technology and theatric lighting while the four band members symmetrically stand onstage at identical podiums, from which the music is performed.

Here are the dates for Kraftwerk’s unique spectacle:

Sept. 3 — North Bethesda, Md., Music Center At Strathmore
Sept. 6 — Atlanta, Ga., Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre
Sept. 7 — Memphis, Tenn., Minglewood Hall
Sept. 9 — New Orleans, La., Orpheum Theater
Sept. 10 — Dallas, Texas, The Bomb Factory
Sept. 12 — San Antonio, Texas, H-E-B Performance Hall At The Tobin Center
Sept. 15 — Phoenix, Ariz., Orpheum Theatre
Sept. 16 — San Diego, Calif., Balboa Theatre
Sept. 18 — Los Angeles, Calif., Hollywood Bowl

General onsales start on April 29, except for the Los Angeles show which will open ticket sales on May 1. More information is available at Kraftwerk.com.