news
...long time no see: The past few years were marked by upheavals and moves within the band, but: there's new music is in the making! Until then you can support our album on Spotify or listen to our live session from Bayerischer Rundfunk.
Many thanks to Robert Hasleder, Alejandro Vega, Una Steinleitner, Hannah Englisch, Marco Hauer, Julian Hoecher Media, Oscar Kappelmeyer, Markus Ritschel, Mia Straub and Emily Karacić.
About us
more than neighbours are Christoph Meier (cello / guitar / voc.) and Leonard Ritschel (piano / voc.) based in Passau. Two-part and with cello, guitar and piano they compose and arrange under the influence of various genres. The folk-duo integrates elements of jazz, blues, indie and classical music. In the gospel choir of the University of Passau they got to know each other and discovered that they are neighbours. Because of their common love of music they agreed on naming their band "more than neighbours".
Leonard Ritschel
Leonard, born in Rosenheim, began taking piano lessons from his mother at the age of five and attended the musical Ignaz-Günther-Gymnasium in Rosenheim. There, under the pianist Olga Bolocan-Töppel, he strengthened his musical abilities within the framework of a classical education, which he demonstrated in the form of the solo concert "Rhapsody in Blue" (George Gershwin) with orchestra accompaniment. In 2014, he graduated from high school with excellent grades in music. At the beginning of his high school years he also studied clarinet under the conductor and composer Raúl Alvarellos and took part in youth music competitions.
Christoph Meier
Christoph, born in Regensburg, began taking piano lessons at the age of six. At eleven he switched to cello as his main instrument and enjoyed a classical education with Cornelie Bergius and Johannes Klier. In 2015 he graduated from the Werner-von-Siemens Gymnasium with music as an additum subject (cello). During the middle and upper school he learned saxophone with Franzi Forster and due to his father's passion he has always been accompanied by guitar playing, which grew into the equal passion of cello playing. After graduating from high school he was cellist in the symphony orchestra at the Singrün, and since 2015 he has been playing with his father, guitarist Hans "Yankee" Meier, in the duo Father and Son.
Alban "Luis" Tröndle
Alban Luis grew up north of Augsburg. Due to the professional cultural orientation of his parents, his childhood was already marked by art and music. First with the trumpet, later with drums and bass, he went through numerous ensembles, combos and school bands. In 2014, music steered his paths to South America, where he gave instrumental lessons for half a year through the association Musicians Without Borders. Since 2016, Alban lives and studies in Regensburg. Other musical projects currently include the band The MoG Collective, as well as various big bands and jazz combos.
Ben Kopfnagel
Ben Kopfnagel was born in Berlin. After finishing school he completed his education as a "state-certified ensemble leader in the field of rock/pop/jazz" at the Music College in Regensburg. His 17 years of drumming experience also ensured that he passed the entrance exam to study drums at the "Drummers Collective" in New York. Privately, he works as a drum teacher and producer - in his own recording studio "Alte Schule Studio" in Deimhausen. He enjoyed lessons under greats like Gerwin Eisenhauer, Jost Nickel, Jojo Mayer, Benny Greb, just to name a few of his teachers. Since 2020 Ben is a member of the band more than neighbours, but actively plays in various other constellations, not least in the band Klangphonics, of which he is also a founding member.
Gigs
Our upcoming gigs:
show previous gigs-
Sofar Sounds Nürnberg
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Jugendzentrum Zeughaus Passau
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Kunstnacht Passau, Hafen Passau
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Allegretto di Luglio Passau
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Sofar Sounds Leipzig
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Sofar Sounds Paris, Frankreich
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Altes Spital Viechtach
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IMPULS-Festival // Redoute Passau
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SofarSounds München
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Facebook-/Instagram-Livestream // Innstadt-Brauerei Passau
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Café Museum Passau, doesn't take place because of corona
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Zeughaus, Album-Release Passau, postponed because of corona
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Konzertsaal (ehem. Piano Mora), Festspiele Europäische Wochen Passau, postponed because of corona
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Eröffnung der Kulturstadt Bayern - Böhmen Schwandorf, Breite Straße, Bühne
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KONZERT Passau, Rathaus Innenhof (Jazzfestival Café Museum)
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"Sommerflimmern" Regensburg, Thon-Dittmer-Palais
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PARADIES Hinding 50, Freinberg, ALTE TANKE
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Vorband bei "The Komets" (ALBUM-RELEASE), Degginger Regensburg
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Vorband bei "The Komets" (ALBUM-RELEASE), Mälze Regensburg
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ALBUM-RELEASE, Zeughaus Passau
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ALBUM-RELEASE, Kresslesmühle Augsburg
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Unplugged im Club, Camera Passau
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Rathaus Garten Passau
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Europäische Wochen Passau
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Stadtfest Open Air Ingolstadt
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Kresslesmühle Augsburg
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Alte Mälze Regensburg
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Degginger, Popkulturfestival Push Regensburg
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Rathausinnenhof Passau
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Gablergasse, Nacht der Musik Passau
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Contact
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