MOKA EFTI ORCHESTRA – Live 2026

Named after the iconic Moka Efti dance palace of 1920s Berlin, the band draws inspiration from the glamour and hedonistic depths of a bygone era.

Founded by songwriters Nikko Weidemann and Mario Kamien, together with arranger and saxophonist Sebastian Borkowski, the orchestra blends swing, hot jazz, and Afro-Latin rhythms with a contemporary edge.

Their track “Zu Asche, zu Staub”, featured as the theme of Babylon Berlin, became an internationally celebrated hit.

Since its debut at the XJAZZ Festival Berlin, the MOKA EFTI ORCHESTRA has performed across Germany, Denmark, Norway, Poland, and Switzerland, including sold-out shows at the Reeperbahn Festival, Elbjazz Festival, Jazz Open Stuttgart, Festival da Jazz St. Moritz, as well as venues such as the Komische Oper Berlin and the Munich Philharmonic.

Their debut album “Erstausgabe” (2020) reached #23 in the German charts, followed by their second album “Telegram” (2022).

Their latest release is the 10-inch vinyl single “Herz / Wo ich geboren bin”, featuring singer and actor Christian Friedel, known for his role in Babylon Berlin. Friedel also stars in the Oscar-winning film “The Zone of Interest” (2024) and the internationally successful series “The White Lotus.”

In 2025, the orchestra collaborated with actor Benno Fürmann and cabaret artist Le Pustra on the innovative concert-reading format “Der nasse Fisch,” touring 13 major venues across Germany, including the Laeiszhalle Hamburg and the Prinzregententheater Munich.