Baloise Session Backline Blog

Up to 160 channels, 100 microphones and broadcasts to more than 140 countries: In the latest edition of our Backline Blog – brought to you by Implenia – we look over the shoulder of sound engineer Ron Kurz. For almost 35 years, he has been making sure that the Baloise Session concerts sound just as authentic in the recordings as they do live. He takes us behind the scenes of creating the perfect live sound – from soundcheck to mixing vocals, drums and audience ambience, right through to the final edit. In the interview, he talks about the unique challenges posed by the Baloise Session’s intimate club table atmosphere, shares the story of an unexpected collaboration with Toto, and reveals the artist he would most love to see perform.

Stars, tour buses, flights, hotel stops – and sometimes even a late-night call to action to get people and equipment on the right track: The Artist Driver Team coordinates artist transportation, backline trucks, and last-minute requests – discreetly, flexibly, and always with the goal of ensuring the musicians arrive relaxed. In the new Backline Blog from Baloise Session – brought to you by AMAG – Theres Riggenbach shares how she’s been organizing these transports for 20 years. Thirteen drivers, countless arrivals, and last-minute changes all have to come together. Every flight is monitored, every route is planned, and every tour bus is given instructions. “My main goal is for everyone to arrive satisfied, and to make sure I don’t leave anyone stranded anywhere,” says Theres. Chauffeur Christine offers a glimpse into her daily routine behind the wheel of a Baloise Session limousine: She’s driven stars like Seal, Grace Jones, and Rod Stewart, handles impromptu stops along the way, and makes sure the artists arrive at the stage – and back at their hotel or the airport – feeling relaxed. An exciting report on coordination, improvisation, passion – and years of experience that ensure relaxed stars and a smooth festival evening!

In the latest edition of our Backline Blog – brought to you by the Basler Zeitung – English pop musician Tom Gregory talks about his special performance at the Baloise Session – on a stage where artists such as Joe Cocker, Ellie Goulding and OneRepublic have previously performed. He talks about the musical influences that have shaped him, how he continues to develop his own sound, and why it’s important for him to stay true to his identity in the process. Look forward to personal insights into Tom Gregory’s musical world, his love of Coldplay, Keane, Travis and OneRepublic – and his thoughts on what makes a song truly special.

In the latest edition of our blog – presented by Techno AG – Basel-based cellist Lukas Raaflaub talks about his extraordinary performance with Queens of the Stone Age at the Baloise Session. He shares how he prepared for the concert in an incredibly short time, why he had to leave his classical mindset behind, and what it was like working with Josh Homme behind the scenes. Enjoy fascinating insights into the fusion of classical music and rock – and the magic of an unforgettable live performance.

In our latest blog edition – presented by Cornèrcard – Dabu Bucher, frontman of Dabu Fantastic, opens up in a surprisingly personal way. While wandering backstage through the gallery of Baloise Session performances by his musical heroes, he reflects on defining moments and his search for music with real depth. He also talks about his time as a music teacher and about his first appearance at the Baloise Session – a turning point for the band. Enjoy a personal conversation about Swiss dialect pop, creative integrity, and songs that truly resonate.

Rock giants, Hollywood stars and everyday heroes: All have stood before the camera lens of Swiss star photographer Marco Grob. In our latest Blog edition – presented by Novartis – he looks back at his impressive career: from his formative start at the Baloise Session to those moments when, as one of the most sought-after photographers of our time, he captured world history on film. He talks about Joe Cocker, who left a lasting impression on him, about Jimmy Page, who suddenly started air-guitaring in front of his lens, and about other iconic photo shoots whose images opened doors for him to the international media world.

A personal story full of memories and pure passion for music: Shortly before his performance at last year’s Baloise Session, Noah Veraguth looked back on his journey with Pegasus in our Backline Blog – presented by Andreas Messerli AG. He talks about musical influences, formative encounters, and the first steps onto international stages. At the same time, he shares what it feels like to say goodbye to the band in its original formation – and what comes next.

Christoph «The Voice» Schwegler is the distinctive off-voice of the Baloise Session and has been setting the tone for legendary concert evenings with his warm baritone for many years. In the latest edition of the Backline Blog – brought to you by Ricola – the Basel native talks about his beginnings at SRF, spontaneous casting experiences, and how sound engineers early on recognized the special quality of his voice.

During the festival, we transform classrooms into creative music spaces to inspire young people to engage with music in a lasting way – supported by the Swisslos-Fonds Basel-Stadt and Basel-Landschaft. Last autumn, singer-songwriter Zoë Më visited many schools, sparking students’ enthusiasm for songwriting. This led to the creation of original lyrics, first songs, and unforgettable moments – culminating in a pop-up concert at the Liestal Youth Center. In our latest blog edition – presented by Schweizer Illustrierte – we offer a glimpse into this special experience.

In the latest edition of our Backline Blog – brought to you by Baloise – we follow celebrated singer-songwriter Zoë Më on her journey from the very first concert announcement at the press conference in Basel’s Atlantis Club to her first note on the Baloise Session stage. Along the way, Zoë takes us into the studio where her ESC song «Voyage» was created, sharing how she dreamed as a child of building bridges between cultures through music, and how excited she is, after her success at the Eurovision Song Contest, to win back the hearts of her hometown audience in Basel with renewed courage. Reflecting on her musical path, she reveals: «The ESC made me braver. For the first time, I said: I want to show who I really am.»