Baloise Session Backline Blog

A concert is like a meal in a good restaurant. All the guest has to do is enjoy it, without having to think about the work that it took in the kitchen to prepare the menu. In the new edition of our «Backline Blog» – brought to you by Novartis – project manager Tobias Friederich of AudioRent Clair gives us a peek behind the scenes and explains the challenges involved in setting up the stage for different acts and their individual requirements.

Our latest edition of the Backline Blog – brought to you by Basler Kantonalbank – is all about the fascinating subject of «Women in the Music Business». Find out from Tanya Gavrancic, show producer and manager of Steff la Cheffe, the hip-hop artist herself and Beatrice Stirnimann, CEO of Baloise Session, how to assert yourself as a woman, how the situation of women in the world of pop and rock has evolved in recent years, and the advantages of bringing more women into decision-making positions in this industry too.

Unique encounters in the classroom. The rapper Siga and sign language interpreter Vanessa rock Basel county's Böckten primary school with hip-hop and sign language! The latest edition of our Backline Blog – brought to you by AMAG – shows how music can break down barriers and introduce schoolchildren to a new world. Let yourself be moved by a touching story about courage, music and community: Discover how Jenny, who has been deaf since birth, can feel the sounds of Siga’s hip-hop, and learn about the role music plays in her life.

The Baloise Session not only surprises with top international stars in the Event Hall of Basel Fair, but also brings a pop-up concert to the centre of the city once a year, free of charge and spontaneously. Last November, newcomer St. Lundi from England performed in the gallery of Basel’s historic red Town Hall. St. Lundi – a name to note! Find out more about this up-and-coming artist and his encounter with Basel – brought to you by Host City Basel.

The Baloise Session is more than a platform for the greatest stars on the international music scene. It is also a springboard for aspiring newcomers. What does it mean for a young Swiss musician to perform for the first time at the Baloise Session? In the latest edition of our Backline Blog – brought to you by Baloise – we accompany the Biel musician and singer Dana from her first showcase at the media conference to rehearsals in her Zurich studio, a school workshop in Kirschgarten High School, and her big stage appearance. In the process she reveals some very personal and exclusive insights into her life and work.

We make sure that world stars such as Alicia Keys, Sir Elton John and John Legend only play on the best instruments. To this end, we work with renowned partners such as Stoffler Musik and Yamaha, who supply our grand and upright pianos. In the latest edition of our backline blog, we take a look behind the scenes of the hire of these valuable instruments. Andreas Stoffler, owner of the traditional Basel family business Stoffler Musik, and Lukas Schellenberg, piano specialist at Yamaha, explain what is important and what special requests are sometimes made. They also show how live music inspires audiences to pick up an instrument again and why so many stars have relied on the Yamaha brand for many years.

We are delighted to announce that the contract with our Presenting Sponsor, the Baloise insurance and financial services provider, has been extended for another four years until 2029. The partnership has existed for 25 years, and the Presenting Sponsorship since 2013. The continuation of this partnership underscores the shared commitment to promote music and the vision of creating unforgettable experiences for music enthusiasts.

From legendary rock stars to acclaimed electro acts and sentimental singer-songwriters – the Baloise Session 2023 offers an exciting mix of musical genres. In the latest edition of our Backline Blog – brought to you by Novartis – host Zeno van Essel and renowned music expert Dano Tamasy, musical director at Radio SRF, put this year’s programme under the microscope and talk about the many other stars in the different genres who have already graced the Baloise Session stage. A fascinating discussion about musical genres and their stars through the years.

Memorabilia from icons the likes of Elvis Presley, Freddie Mercury and Kurt Cobain are priceless in the world of rock. In Basel there's an institution that boasts one of the largest and most significant collections from the rock and pop scene: the L’Unique Foundation. With its appearance at the Baloise Session, it is drawing attention to the good cause to which it is committed, and reveals the stories behind its coveted exhibits. For the latest edition of our Backline Blog – brought to you by Basler Kantonalbank – we met up with the founder and CEO Andy Ibach for a fascinating talk about music, people, passion and engagement.

Dive into the fascinating song worlds of artists from Chuck Berry to Ms. Lauryn Hill, and discover what makes their hits so soulful. Is it the stirring melody or the meaningful lyrics? This intriguing question is examined in the ninth edition of the «Baloise Session Backline Blog» – brought to you by AMAG. Eric Facon, one of Switzerland's most renowned music journalists, a well-known voice on Radio SRF and writer with the Neue Zürcher Zeitung, talks to Zeno van Essel, the host of the Backline Blog and reveals amusing anecdotes about world-famous hits, including some surprising insights into the creative work of international stars from Elton John to Stiller Has.