On September 17, 2025, AmerikaHaus NRW hosted a country music event at Papa Joe’s in Cologne’s historic old town, featuring singer-songwriter Dickie Lee Erwin. The Austin-based musician performed several sets throughout the evening, adding anecdotes from his long career and life in Texas. He was joined by Werner Krotz-Vogel, a German fingerstyle guitarist and multi-instrumentalist, who contributed a local perspective to the program.

Erwin, who grew up in southeastern New Mexico and West Texas, has been active in the Austin music scene for several decades. With eleven albums to his name, he seamlessly blended classic country and Americana and at times added his own unique flairs to the songs.

The evening offered guests an opportunity to experience American country music live in an intimate setting and to engage directly with the artists. The welcoming atmosphere at Papa Joe’s encouraged exchange between performers and audience members during breaks. The presence of numerous country music enthusiasts, some dressed in traditional Western attire, underscored the resonance of the genre in Germany.

We cordially thank Dickie Lee Erwin and Werner Krotz-Vogel for their performance and for bringing original American country music to Cologne. We are grateful to  Papa Joe’s for hosting us and to the Federal Foreign Office for kindly supporting the event.