The Brandies

Kürbis und Apfelfest im Britzer Garten

20.09.2026

We are a country folk acoustic trio. Maybe you have already heard of us or even met us at one of our performances. WE have been around since 2014. Our love of the music of Johnny Cash and other country stars brought us together. Since then we have been touring the country folk and western scene together in Berlin and the beautiful state of Brandenburg!

New - The Brandies In Börnecke - New

Vergrößern durch Anklicken, zum Schließen neben das Bild klicken

Cilla

has been singing in various choirs since her early childhood, eventually took singing lessons and performed with the choirs all over Europe.
She sang soul, gospel and pop as a soloist in smaller project choirs.
Her voice gives you goosebumps in the high notes, a pleasant power in the low notes and casts a spell over many people. So she came from soul and blues to country songs. Here she was now on the road in duets and in small bands, which performed at parties such as weddings and anniversary celebrations in Berlin and all over Germany.
At some point, however, she met Castor, was immediately enthusiastic and thought to herself: “There’s a June missing here”, and Castor thought so too!

Castor

began his musical career at the age of 16 with a western guitar.
For over 25 years he has been on stage in various formations as a singer, guitarist and bassist, getting to know many facets of music and can draw on a wealth of experience. He has toured the USA a total of 7 times, was invited to the North-West Folklife Festival in Seattle twice with his band and has also performed in Finland, Austria and Canada, among others.
In recent years he has toured with his solo program: “Castor sings Cash - songs and stories of Johnny Cash” with interpretations of Johnny Cash and - to avoid clichés - this time not just country songs...

Rawley

is the only real Berliner in The Brandies, and started taking cello lessons when he was 5.
Later, in the 80s, he spent 3 years studying cello and piano at the Hanns Eisler special music school.
During his studies, he played music in a funk and soul band in Jena. Here he met Castor, who was playing bass at the time. He says of himself: Luckily for him and us, he discovered our new band, The Brandies, and knew immediately what was needed here, a "primitive instrument", a double bass.
With rhythm, groove and melody, he now forms one of the three pillars of the band, strengthening our foundation of earthy acoustic sounds from old America.

Ulli

She is the fourth member of the Brandies. Her musical journey began quite traditionally with the piano, but her heart has always belonged to the handmade acoustic sound of string instruments. When she discovered bluegrass at the tender age of 12, she was hooked – she was determined to learn how to play the banjo.A decade later, her journey took her to Hamburg, where, while strolling around the Reeperbahn, she bought a banjo from a street musician.
Two years later, she moved from Hamburg to Berlin.Her love for bluegrass music remains as strong as ever, and she has demonstrated this through her work with numerous bands. Every now and then, she also picks up the mandolin and enjoys singing lead or backing vocals.