Who | The Milk Carton Kids

When | Sunday, January 24

Where | Passionskirche, Berlin

​If any act were to fill the very large shoes of modern-day legends Simon & Garfunkel, indie folk duo The Milk Carton Kids would be the ones to do it. With a focus on sweet, lilting harmonies and delicately crafted guitar work, the two Californians represent a welcomed shift from Mumford & Sons mainstream stadium folk and return to the intimate folk tradition of long ago. They’ve come a long way since their inception in 2011, and 2015 saw them release their fourth LP, Monterey, to critical acclaim. In any case, it’s not everyday that a band lands a venue that’s perfectly suited to their sound, so seeing The Milk Carton Kids in the acoustic heaven of the Passionskirche will indeed be a special treat.

For fans of: Simon & Garfunkel, The Avett Brothers, Gillian Welch

Who | The Paper Kites

When | Friday, January 29

Where | Musik & Frieden, Berlin

Though Australian indie rock band The Paper Kites had their start in 2010 as a primarily folk-inspired act, their music has since evolved quite a bit, with each new release marking a further departure from their more acoustic roots. So from their folksy beginnings, to the 70s psych flare of their debut full-length, and now on to the synth-tinged, War on Drugs-inspired sound of their recently released LP, twelvefour, the Melbourne-based quintet continues the trajectory into new territory. Their sophomore album truly showcases the charming manner in which they mash up all of these influences and put their own spin on them. Add to this the lovely, smooth timbres of singers Sam Bentley and Christina Lacy and a smartly executed pop sentiment, and you get music that’s simply a joy to listen to (which, I suppose, explains why I’ve had this album on repeat for days…).

For fans of: Solander, Angus & Julia Stone