Heiner Lauterbach Presents “Like a Hobo”

With his program “Like a Hobo,” he explores the literary DNA of the U.S.—the great storytellers who have inspired and helped shape world literature, and whose works have lost none of their relevance to this day.

He focuses on the small, subtle, lesser-known stories of Mark Twain: the forefather of modern U.S. literature, known for his sharp wit and his socially critical observations.

John Steinbeck: As a Nobel Prize laureate, he captured the plight of ordinary people and migrant workers during the Great Depression. His writings are deeply humanistic and full of empathy for outsiders.

William Faulkner: He dissected the soul of the American South and is considered one of the most important pioneers of modernist literature.

Truman Capote: Known for his brilliant style and his ability to describe the darkest aspects of human nature with cool precision.

O’Henry: The grand master of the short story. His writing is characterized by sharp twists and a deep understanding of the irony of fate in urban life.

Jack London: known for his precise observations and thrilling adventure stories.

F. Scott Fitzgerald: In addition to his masterpiece *The Great Gatsby*, he wrote many other brilliant stories.

As a huge music fan, however, Heiner Lauterbach doesn’t just focus on the great writers; he also draws a connection to the musical storytellers who not only laid the foundation for the blues but also had a decisive influence on the music world and laid the groundwork for today’s soul, rock, and pop music.

The COLOGNE BLUES CLUB feat. Timo Gross provides the soundtrack for the evening—a tribute to “storytellers” such as Robert Johnson, the legend of the Delta Blues, and Leadbelly, a powerful singer who brought folk and blues from the prisons of the South to the world.