“European Ambassadors of Jamrock”
Since their formation in 1998, mars mushrooms have been considered the “European Ambassadors of
Jamrock.” Inspired by American icons such as Grateful Dead, Phish, and the Dave Matthews
Band, the band from Middle Franconia has built up a
passionate fan base over almost three decades—and they've done it all in DIY mode, without major labels
or traditional structures. Instead, mars mushrooms consistently focus on what they do
best: epic jams, genre-spanning sound journeys, and a live sound that immediately hits the hearts and dancing feet of hippies,
music nerds, jam rock fans, and anyone who likes to get carried away by sprawling improvisations.
Their new album, “Funerals and Carnivals” (05/2025), brings together the band's entire stylistic
range for the first time in an impressive Gesamtkunstwerk that has been arranged with great attention to
detail. Including brass, strings, and pedal steel. Between dark elegance and
glaring ecstasy, between introspective passages and eruptive flights of fancy, a
musical cosmos unfolds that captures the character of the band more purely than ever before. The songs
seem like snapshots from a surreal road movie—sometimes melancholic, sometimes
exuberant, often psychedelic—and combine a joy of improvisation with clear
compositional accents. “Funerals and Carnivals” is a tribute to life with all
its contradictions.
On this subject:

• “Cool album.” (8/10, Walter Sehrer, eclipsed magazine, 05/2025),
• “Everything flows from a calm but amusing vibe” (8/10, Christian
  Bruder, Classic Rock magazine, 06/2025)
• “Really great album, atmospheric and relaxed right down to the last note” (9/10, Björn Backes,
  PowerMetal.de, 05/2025)

The five musicians have always been masters at weaving together a wide variety of styles – from funk and
psychedelic to krautrock and country. Always danceable, always surprising.
No two concerts are alike, no song remains true to the recorded version. What sets the “Marsis,” as
they are affectionately called by their fans, apart is their unconditional devotion to
music as a moment—and to the community that makes these moments possible.
Since 2021, the band has been thanking their fans with their two-day Jamkraut Festival, inviting them
to enjoy music together in Adelmannsdorf near Wolframs-Eschenbach in Middle Franconia.
Currently still an insider tip (in a good friend's orchard)!

Band members
Michael Schmidt: guitar, vocals
Christoph von der Heide: bass, vocals
Lars Weißbach: keys
Thomas Kupser: didgeridoo
Christof Stellwag: drums