Germany, July 2006: Soccer is everywhere. Even those who didn’t know that a captain does not necessarily have been to sea are discussing details of defence and tactics, of economic and psychological consequences of the championships. It’s the weekend with the final, and it’s also the weekend of TFF.Rudolstadt. Is there a place besides soccer?

There is. Already on Wednesday, the first tents cover the camping ground occupying the best spots. We are generous losers, let the Italians play the pre-opening concert on Thursday. “La Notte della Taranta“ perform the soundtrack to an exuberant world music party: The tarantula rocks the Heidecksburg; ex-Police drummer Stewart Copeland and his 20plus musicians from Southern Italy bring Mediterranean flair and joy of life to Rudolstadt.

Traffic jams in Thuringia. Visitors are late, and also some musicians. After weeks of blistering sun, it rains in the afternoon: Rudolstadt as usual. Not usual: The opening words come from a new mayor: After 17 years in office and 16 festivals, Dr. Hartmut Franz has retired. His successor is residing for only one day when he speaks words of welcome to the guests, including Prof. Jens Göbel, Thuringia’s minister of culture. He hails TFF.Rudolstadt as the federal state’s most important festival, finds encouraging words for the event’s innovative spirit and efficiency.
 
At Neumarkt, the schedule is turned upside down: No musician arrives in time. With the tolerance of those living around the place, the shows with three French bands (noJazz, Jérémie Kisling, Orange Blossom) start 2 hours later than originally planned – and last well into the night. On the market placem, one of this year’s festival specials, the “Magic Pipes” concert with seven bagpipers from Austria, Estonia, France, Hungary, Iran, Scotland, and Spain wipe away any doubts that pipers can find a joint platform (and key) to perform together.
 
In Heinepark, England’s Bellowhead do much better than their fellow countrymen in the Championship: Equally hyped as the world’s best, they convince with their first-ever concert on the continent.
 
At least equally satisfying: Bajofondo Tango Club from Buenos Aires. Tango is TFF’s dance of the year, and the Argentines – with Academy Award winner Gustavo Santaolalla – prove that the tango’s birthplace is still the cradle for the most creative new developments.

SATURDAY, 8 July

Central to the festival’s Saturday schedule is the ceremony at the Heidecksburg where the German world music prices RUTH are awarded. Two newcomer awards, for the guitar-bandoneon Duo Bögeholz-Mosalini and the Berlin-based reggae/hiphop quartet Ohrbooten. A German RUTH for Konstantin Wecker and his “Bagdad-Kabul-Projekt” featuring musicians from Afghanistan, Iraq and Turkey. A Global RUTH for harp guru Rüdiger Oppermann and his festival / project / concert band “Karawane” and its musical journey from Brittany to China.
 
10 bands in the country focus on France. Among them a little woman with a big aura: Françoiz Breut captures her audiences in no time. She is on the safe side inside the town church – beefólk from Graz perform at the Heidecksburg to an audience soaked with rain. When the festival is over, many name the Austrians as one of their discoveries, though.
 
After the newcomers and discoveries of the day, the last concerts in the night are reserved for two oldies but (very different) goodies: Suzanne Vega enchants her audience with a well-crafted set of folk-pop hits from the last two decades while reggae legend Jimmy Cliff succeeds with a mix of original hits and traditionals.

...on Stage: Ágostones (HUN), Bajofondo Tango Club (ARG), Beefólk (AUT), Bellowhead (GBR), Bögeholz&Mosalini (CHL/ARG), Debashish Bhattacharya (IND), Bilwesz (DEU), Bobo (DEU), Jimmy Cliff (JAM), Die Sieben Leben (DEU), Lila Downs (MEX), Etnika (MLT), Eyuphuro (MOZ), Liu Fang (CHI), Fania (SEN), Göttler-Raith-Kunkel (DEU), Katalena (SLO), Municipale Balcanica (ITA), Ohrbooten (DEU), Ro:TORO (EST), Rudovous (CZE), Rüdiger Oppermann (DEU), Willy Schwarz (USA), Shanbehzadeh (IRN), Shoghaken Ensemble (ARM), Suden Aika (FIN), Sväng (FIN), sYn.de (DEU), The Dead Brothers (SUI), Suzanne Vega (USA), Konstantin Wecker (DEU), Woven Hand (USA), Yang Yi (CHI), Zakopower (POL), Zirkus Amalgam (DEU)

... as Country Special FRANCE: Babylon Circus, Bagad Roñsed-Mor, Françoiz Breut, La Chavannée, Pascal Lamour, Les Boukakes, Les Primitifs du Futur, NoJazz, Orange Blossom, Thierry Robin, Jérémie Kisling

...as Magic-Piper: Béla Ágoston (HUN), Fraser Fifield (SCO), Cätlin Jaago (EST), Pascal Lamour (FRA), Lorena (ESP), Sepp Pichler (AUT), Saïed Shanbehzadeh (IRN)

... as Buskers: Amapolas, bazár dilo, Broom Bezzums, Colinda, Reinhard Cooper, Rheidun Mascha Schlesinger, Dizzy Spell, DrevA, Duo Cord, Fei Scho, Fork & Fiddle, Fussgänger, Grinsteins Mischpoche, Groß Weber Farnbach, Haase & Band, Jubilee 4, Kapelle Rohrfrei, Knoblauch Nuß, Ndungu Kina, On The Fritz, Percussonia, Quest & Friends, RADA Synergica, Selamat Jalan, Sonido, Summamania, Triskilian, Vivre, Roman Wreden, Yang Yi

... at Dance stages DJ Roland (DEU), Sabor a Tango (DEU), Carlos Tapia (ARG), Peter Wassiljewski & das Leschenko-Orchester (DEU), Älabätsch (DEU), Bellowhead (GBR), Bilwesz (DEU), Dainava (LIT), Sigrid Doberenz & Wimmerschinken (DEU), Eka & Eva (DEU), Norske Dansere (NOR), TFTE Rudolstadt

... and furthermore: Bazooka Boys (DEU), Frank Bettenhausen, David Saam & Christoph Lambertz, Helena Rüegg, Mandolinenorchester Rudolstadt, Pegleg´s Night, Ralf Gehler, Smoking Joe