Tuesday April 6th Rikas - North America 2027 \*\*\* Rikas are going back to where it all began. After a decade of writing, recording, rehearsing, and playing to sold-out audiences, the globally beloved German alt-pop quartet and childhood friends have unearthed and polished up some of their earliest recordings and arranged them on a brand-new EP, fittingly titled Bedroom Tapes. The band’s trip down memory lane comes on the heels of another celebration of rock nostalgia. In summer 2025, after the release of their riveting sophomore album, Soundtrack For A Movie That Has Not Been Written Yet, Rikas reconvened in their hometown of Stuttgart for rehearsals. Amid recording new material, Rikas began filming themselves playing a series of vintage rock covers, including ELO’s “Last Train To London” and Wings’ 1980 classic “Goodnight Tonight.” The latter quickly went viral after Florence Pugh shared it on her Instagram story, and soon it earned praise from Sir Paul McCartney himself. Soon, Rikas were being invited by McCartney to record a full “Goodnight Tonight” cover. “We were very flattered,” says bassist Sam Luca Baisch. “We hadn't recorded an official cover before, so it was without pressure. And to have Paul McCartney’s team say it's cool, and we want to support you guys on it, was a great feeling. I think it gave us confidence.” This nostalgic moment pairs perfectly with Rikas’ next chapter, which revisits a handful of their first recordings as a band. Friends since childhood, Rikas is the long-running project of Baisch, guitarist and keyboardist Sascha Scherer, drummer Ferdinand Hübner, and guitarist Chris Ronge, each of whom contribute equally with an emphasis on creative egalitarianism. After high school, Rikas literally took to the streets, buying rail tickets and traveling all over Europe, where they busked and opened for bigger acts. Over the course of two LPs (their 2019 debut, Showtime, and follow-up Soundtrack For A Movie That Has Not Been Written Yet) and three EPs (2021’s Short Stories, 2022’s Goodbye Sunshine, and 2025’s Last Train To London), Rikas have built a loyal following around their busking roots and brisk, easygoing harmonies, anthemic choruses, and egalitarian style, where every member contributes equally to songwriting and shares the spotlight both in the studio and on stage. Presented by Songbyrd All ages