Next show: Fri, 11 Dec 2026, 8 pm · Theaterstübchen Kassel · with special guests Info & tickets →
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Wedding music & live duo from Germany · Destination weddingsOne voice, one guitar, eleven languages.

Rio x Lilia is an acoustic duo from Kassel, Germany. We play pop, soul, chanson, jazz and songs from all over the world for weddings, celebrations and stages, across Germany and at destination weddings abroad.

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♪ At Last · Etta James
HalloHelloBonjour¡Hola!OláCiaoMerhabaمرحباسلامこんにちは안녕하세요
11 Dec 2026 Fri · 8:00 pm

Live at Theaterstübchen

Rio x Lilia & Special Guests

For the sixth time we take the stage at the Theaterstübchen in Kassel, this time in a special line-up with three guests.

  • Nik ScherchTrumpet
  • Andy GrizhjaDrums
  • Leonard ArnemannPiano

Theaterstübchen
Jordanstraße 11
34117 Kassel

Advance 18 € plus fee
Door 23 €

Tickets & info ↗ Add to calendar
165songs in our repertoire
11languages
3continents played

The duo

Music is a language that unites the world.

Rio x Lilia are Ryosuke Hara and Sarah Lilia Benadda. A well-rehearsed team for years, with music as their shared language.

Our setlist ranges from classics and current pop and R&B to French chansons, jazz standards and Turkish rock. We sing in German, English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Turkish, Arabic, Persian, Japanese and Korean. New songs are added every month.

Together we take you on a journey around the world.

Lilia sings in the spotlight in front of a dark curtain, raising her hand

Vocals

Lilia

Sarah Lilia Benadda

Lilia has Algerian roots and grew up in Kassel. Her father was raised in France, and his playlist shaped her early on: French chansons, Manu Chao's “Radio Bemba” and the sounds of two cultures. That became her love for songs in many languages. Today she speaks five of them fluently and has learned the basics of eight more.

She studied education at the University of Kassel and California State University, Fullerton. Teacher during the week, singer at the weekend: on stage she blends jazz, soul, chanson and pop with a warm, powerful voice, writes her own songs and loves to host the evening in several languages.

Rio plays jazz guitar outdoors in front of bamboo

Guitar

Rio

Ryosuke Hara

Rio was born in Nagasaki and began his training at the Osaka College of Music. He has lived and worked in Germany since 2006. At the Musikakademie Kassel he studied instrumental pedagogy and performance (Künstlerische Reife) and completed both programmes. His diploma in instrumental pedagogy was awarded by the Frankfurt University of Music and Performing Arts.

A classically trained guitarist, he is at home in many genres today, from jazz and blues to pop, soul and contemporary soundscapes. Tone, expression and a personal interpretation are at the heart of his playing. He passes on his knowledge as a guitar teacher at the Kassel music school. For Rio, music is a language that needs no words.

Highlights

From Kassel to Osaka, Algiers and London

London, United KingdomApril 2025

Guest act for Hidè Takemoto

In April 2025 we were invited to London as guest act for Hidè Takemoto. We have known the Japanese composer and guitarist since “Sky Pearl”: Rio recorded one of his pieces on guitar.

On stage in London: a guitarist with a hat, Rio on guitar and Lilia at the microphone

Frankfurt am MainMarch 2025 · Prolight + Sound

Live act for tomorrow's broadcast technology

At Prolight + Sound at Messe Frankfurt we were booked as the live act: camera crews and manufacturers tested and demonstrated the latest technology for live TV productions on our performance.

Between Steadicams, camera cranes and stage lights, we showed how live music comes across on camera.

Rio and Lilia on the trade fair stage, surrounded by camera operators with Steadicams

Algiers, AlgeriaJuly 2024 · 24th Festival Européen de Musique

Representing Germany in Algiers

At this festival organised by the European Union we had the honour of representing Germany. It brings together artists from Europe and North Africa.

Together with the Goethe-Institut and the German Embassy we gave a songwriting workshop for Algerian learners of German and students. It led to new songs and new friendships.

Rio with electric guitar and Lilia with open arms on the festival stage in Algiers
© Festival Europ'Africa

Osaka, JapanMarch 2024 · Bar Clavelito

Back in the city where Rio studied

At the cosy Bar Clavelito we took the audience through our repertoire for an hour. Lilia hosted the evening with plenty of humour in German and Japanese. The owner invited us to come back any time.

Rio on classical guitar and Lilia at the microphone in front of a golden-lit stone wall at Bar Clavelito in Osaka

WürzburgAugust 2023

On stage with Apache 207

For his concert in Würzburg, German rapper Apache 207 held a casting for fans to sing “Komet” with him. Lilia was chosen from many applicants.

In August 2023 she joined him on stage and sang the song in front of around 16,000 people.

Watch on Instagram ↗
Lilia and Apache 207 sing together on stage, surrounded by sparkler fountains

Partners & clients

We have played for

  • Sigma Deutschland
  • Mitsubishi Electric
  • DMG Mori
  • Porsche Zentrum Kassel
  • Autohaus Ostmann
  • Plan International
  • Horizont Group
  • Gebäudedienste RICHTER
  • City of Kassel
  • City of Korbach
  • Kassel Chamber of Crafts
  • Kasseler Sparkasse
  • University of Kassel
  • and many more

Weddings & events

Live music for your day

Acoustic, flexible and with minimal equipment. We play wherever you celebrate: in a church, a garden, a restaurant or on stage.

Weddings

From ceremony to last dance

From the processional to the last song of the night. We are happy to play your requests, including in your family's language. In Germany or abroad.

Parties & corporate

Receptions & dinners

Birthdays, anniversaries, summer parties, corporate events. Relaxed background music or a set to listen to.

Stage & culture

Bars, concerts, festivals

A full evening programme in many languages. On request with a workshop, for example on multilingual songwriting.

Black-and-white photo: Lilia laughs, Rio tunes his guitar

A wedding day with us

Making your “one moment in time” memorable.

  • CeremonyMoving songs for the processional, the recessional and every moment in between. We discuss your personal wishes in advance.
  • Drinks reception & dinnerA relaxed atmosphere to let the ceremony linger and make dinner cosy.
  • And afterwards?A quiet end to the evening or a party: we follow your lead and your guests'.
Ask about your wedding

Wedding packages

Your package, exactly how you want it

Every wedding is different, so we put the music together with you individually. Most couples book a combination of these parts:

  1. CeremonyProcessional, vows, recessional: the songs that move you.
  2. Drinks receptionLight, sociable music for toasts and congratulations.
  3. DinnerGentle accompaniment that leaves room for conversation.
  4. First danceYour song, played live for your first dance.

The whole day Everything from one source, from the ceremony to the first dance.

Ask about a package

Destination Weddings

Saying “I do” by the sea, in a vineyard or in your second home?

We'll come along. As an acoustic duo we travel light and play wherever you get married. And because weddings abroad often bring together families from several countries, we sing in their languages.

  • Eleven languagesSongs for everyone at the table: German, English, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Turkish, Arabic, Persian, Japanese and Korean.
  • Travelling lightVoice and guitar need little space. We adapt to your venue, whether beach, vineyard, finca or old town.
  • Planning from afarWe go through the schedule and your song requests in advance by video call, so every moment works on the day.
  • Stage experience abroadA festival stage in Algiers, shows in London and Osaka: we are used to playing on the road.

We are happy to travel to you, for example toItaly ✦ Spain ✦ France ✦ Portugal ✦ Greece ✦ Turkey ✦ Morocco ✦ Japan ✦ and everywhere in between

Planning a wedding abroad? We are a vocal and guitar duo from Kassel, Germany, and we travel for weddings across Europe and beyond. We sing in eleven languages, so every family at the table hears a song of their own.

Ask about a destination wedding Travel and accommodation costs by arrangement

Repertoire

Songs from around the world

Current hits, classics and a few hidden gems. Two to four new songs are added every month. Your favourite song is missing? Just ask.

    Lilia's own songs are marked ORIGINAL.

    Listen & watch

    This is how we sound live

    Rio and Lilia performing in a café
    Video · Instagram

    “Komet” live with Apache 207

    Listen · solo guitar

    Sky Pearl – Hidè Takemoto

    A piece by Japanese composer and guitarist Hidè Takemoto. Rio had the honour of giving one of his compositions a voice on guitar.

    Live recordings

    1. 01HallelujahLeonard Cohen1:26
    2. 02Something’s Gotta GiveJazz standard2:53
    3. 03I’d Rather Go BlindEtta James3:55
    4. 04ZinaBabylone · Arabic3:49
    5. 05Aşktan ÖteDemir Demirkan · Turkish1:16
    6. 06La BohèmeCharles Aznavour · French0:24

    Gallery

    Moments from the stage

    FAQ

    Good to know

    The key answers for your planning. We are happy to discuss everything else personally.

    Who are Rio x Lilia?

    Rio x Lilia is an acoustic duo from Kassel, Germany: Sarah Lilia Benadda (vocals) and Ryosuke Hara (guitar). We play live music for weddings, celebrations and concerts and sing in eleven languages, from pop and soul to jazz and French chanson.

    Where do you perform?

    We are based in Kassel in central Germany and perform all over the country. We travel abroad for destination weddings. So far our stages have included Osaka, Algiers and London.

    How long do you play?

    Completely flexible, as long as you like. We plan enough breaks and agree the playing times with you and your schedule in advance.

    What do you need on site?

    Exactly one power socket. That's all.

    Do you bring your own equipment?

    Equipment such as speakers and microphones can be booked as an option. If the venue already has a sound system, we are happy to use it.

    Can we request songs?

    Yes, in any language. For requests that aren't in our repertoire yet, we need at least two weeks' notice.

    Do you play indoors and outdoors?

    Both. Church, registry office, garden, vineyard or beach: we adapt to your venue.

    Do you travel abroad?

    Yes, gladly. We travel to you for destination weddings. Travel and accommodation costs are agreed individually.

    How do we put our package together?

    Completely individually. Most couples combine ceremony, drinks reception, dinner and first dance, or book us for the whole day. Tell us what you have in mind.

    Enquiry

    Tell us about your event

    We usually get back to you with a quote within two days.

    • Date and place
    • Type of event and approximate number of guests
    • How long you would like us to play
    • Song requests and languages
    We only use your details to answer your enquiry. More in our privacy policy (German).