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Session Basel AG, Grenzacherstrasse 79, 4058 Basel

Contents Page Media text long 3 Media text short 5 List of concerts and admission prices 6 Advance ticket sales 7 Artist photos 7 Website 7 Social Media 7 Sponsors / Media Partners 8 Herbert Grönemeyer / Jazz Morley / Alice Merton 9 Brad Paisley / Ward Thomas 11 Michael Patrick Kelly / Wincent Weiss 12 Rag’n’Bone Man / Raphael Saadiq 13 Hecht / 77 Bombay Street 14 Dido / Lighthouse Family 15 Michael Kiwanuka / Brittany Howard 16 Snow Patrol / Tom Walker 17 Krokus / Madrugada 18

BALOISE SESSION 2019 12 – 31 October 2019 2

Media text long

Baloise Session 2019 – Where the Magic Happens

From rock, neo-soul and local dialect through to country stars featuring big names like Herbert Grönemeyer, Brad Paisley, Rag’n’Bone Man, Dido, Michael Kiwanuka and Krokus: From 12 to 31 October, the Baloise Session offers magical moments in an intimate setting.

«As a boutique festival running over two and a half weeks, we want always to offer the broadest possible range of musical genres, and on top of that each evening aims to tell a musical tale», says Beatrice Stirnimann, CEO of the Baloise Session. «A great deal of blood, sweat and tears go into creating our programme, but our work is only done when the last artist bows before the public and leaves the stage happy.»

On not one, but two «Opening Nights» the bill is topped by superstar Herbert Grönemeyer on 12 and 13 October. «Männer brauchen Geborgenheit» («Men need comfort») he sang in one of his greatest hits – and his fans will certainly experience this while seated around candle-lit tables in a club-like setting. Both concert evenings will be opened by two new female discoveries: On 12 October by English singer-songwriter Jazz Morley with her mix of pop songs and electronic elements; the next evening is opened by the German-Canadian rising star Alice Merton with her dynamic voice, rock-tinged dance- pop and her hit «No Roots».

«This Is Country Music» stars American Brad Paisley playing for the first time in Switzerland on 15 October. After appearances in the venerable Grand Ole Opry, twelve albums and countless chart hits, one of the greats of the US country scene is coming to Basel. He shares the evening with «Britain’s first country stars». The rock-pop influenced songs of twin sisters Catherine and Lizzy Ward Thomas appear regularly in the country charts.

On 16 October, musicians with a flair for big emotions meet to conjure up «The Magic of Songs». On the one hand Michael Patrick Kelly, who as creative head of the Kelly Family retired to a monastery to escape the trappings of stardom and grew from a musician to an impressive songwriter. On the other hand Wincent Weiss, the young artist from Bad Oldesloe, who is a shining example of how to forge an alternative musical career: first as a candidate on the German talent show «Deutschland sucht den Superstar», and afterwards as a YouTube star.

On 17 October the «Soul & Blues Train» stops at the Baloise Session with two huge voices on board. With his deep baritone, heavy beats and an exciting mix of soul, blues and hip-hop, the Brit Rag’n’Bone Man is on the brink of breaking the YouTube sound barrier of one billion views with his mega-hit «Human». First to take to the stage is the American R'n'B artist Raphael Saadiq, who has already worked with stars such as Mick Jagger, Joss Stone and Mary J. Blige as a producer, musician and songwriter.

BALOISE SESSION 2019 12 – 31 October 2019 3

«Hopp Schwiiz» on 18 October presents two bands that thoroughly enjoy making music and are bound by a long-standing friendship. Hecht is proof that dialect rock made in Switzerland also appeals to the masses. 77 Bombay Street first drew attention to themselves with their single «Up in the Sky», and since then have established themselves as a staple ingredient of Switzerland’s musical scene with their positive indie-folk rock.

25 October features English pop times two. The Lighthouse Family conquered the world with songs like «Lifted» and «High». Sixteen years after their split, they are back with a new album and will be giving an exclusive European concert at the Baloise Session. «Welcome Back» also applies to the second star of the evening. «White Flag», «Here with me» and «Life for Rent» are her greatest hits, and her debut album «No Angel» sold 22 million copies worldwide. In 2019, after a six-year creative break, Dido presents her new album «Still On My Mind».

29 October promises to be a musical journey through time. He is from London, she is from Athens in the American south. With their charismatic voices, they have found a similar language in which to say what moves them. The «Golden Voices» evening starts with Brittany Howard, singer of the legendary «Alabama Shakes» for the past ten years, who will be releasing her solo album «Jaime» in September. Then it's the turn of British shooting star Michael Kiwanuka with his warm-timbred voice and personal lyrics. This is how brand- new music sounds in 2019.

On 30 October, «Celtic Songwriters» delivers the soundtrack to the British North. The evening kicks off with Tom Walker, whose single «Leave A Light On» caused a sensation in 2017 and who demonstrates the breadth of his singing talent from laid-back to energetic. He then hands over the sceptre to Snow Patrol whose mega-hit «Chasing Cars» stayed in the UK charts for 166 weeks. And timed just right for the Baloise Session, they have now released their new the EP «Reworked».

The closing evening «Rock On and Off» on 31 October promises to raise the roof. After 44 years of hard graft, countless tours and a return to the original line-up in 2007, the time has come for Krokus to «Rock off» – Switzerland’s most successful rock band says farewell in the intimate setting of the Baloise Session. Ahead of this, Madrugada will shake the rafters of the Event Hall of the Basel Fair with hard rock and melancholy lyrics. After a ten-year break, for the Norwegians it's once more time to «Rock on».

All concerts are held in the Event Hall of the Basel Fair and start at 8 pm. The concert performances are recorded and broadcast to more than 140 countries on five continents. More information on the programme and ticket sales is available online at baloisesession.ch.

Advance ticket sales start from around 8 am on Wednesday 28 August 2019, via baloisesession.ch and all Ticketcorner ticket offices as well as ticketcorner.ch, Tel. 0900 800 800 (CHF 1.19 per min.).

Signs: 5’813

Basel, 21 August 2019

For further media information, contact: Session Basel AG, Beatrice Stirnimann, Grenzacherstrasse 79, 4058 Basel, Switzerland +41 61 686 44 98, [email protected], baloisesession.ch

BALOISE SESSION 2019 12 – 31 October 2019 4

Abridged media text

Baloise Session 2019 – Where the Magic Happens

From 12 to 31 October 2019 the Baloise Session once more presents first-class musical entertainment in a scaled-down setting. That's when music fans can enjoy Herbert Grönemeyer, Brad Paisley, Rag’n’Bone Man, Dido, Tom Walker, Krokus and other acts up close and personal. On ten concert evenings, characterful voices deliver great songs in an intimate club-like setting:

Sat 12 Oct. Opening Night Herbert Grönemeyer / Jazz Morley Sun 13 Oct. Opening Night II Herbert Grönemeyer / Alice Merton Tue 15 Oct. This Is Country Music Brad Paisley / Ward Thomas Wed 16 Oct. The Magic of Songs Michael Patrick Kelly / Wincent Weiss Thu 17 Oct. Soul & Blues Train Rag’n’Bone Man / Raphael Saadiq Fri 18 Oct. Hopp Schwiiz Hecht / 77 Bombay Street Fri 25 Oct. Welcome Back Dido / Lighthouse Family Tue 29 Oct. Golden Voices Michael Kiwanuka / Brittany Howard Wed 30 Oct. Celtic Songwriters Snow Patrol / Tom Walker Thu 31 Oct. Rock On and Off Krokus / Madrugada

All concerts start at 8 pm. All concerts are held in the Event Hall of the Basel Fair.

Advance ticket sales start from around 8 am on Wednesday 28 August 2019 via baloisesession.ch and all Ticketcorner ticket offices as well as ticketcorner.ch, Tel. 0900 800 800 (CHF 1.19 per min.).

Sings: 1’284

Presenting Sponsor Basler Versicherungen

Principal Sponsors Basler Kantonalbank, Novartis, Dufry, AMAG, Cornèrcard, IWB

Principal Media Partners Swiss Radio and Television (SRF), Schweizer Illustrierte, Basler Zeitung

For more information visit baloisession.ch.

Basel, 21 August 2019

For further media information, contact: Session Basel AG, Beatrice Stirnimann, Grenzacherstrasse 79, 4058 Basel, Switzerland +41 61 686 44 98, [email protected], baloisesession.ch

BALOISE SESSION 2019 12 – 31 October 2019 5

CONCERTS AND ADMISSION PRICES

(incl. advance sale fee & VAT, excl. service charge of max. CHF 1.90)

All concerts are held in the Event Hall of the Basel Fair.

Prices in CHF Cat. 1 Cat. 2 Cat. 3 Sat 12 Oct. 2019 OPENING NIGHT Herbert Grönemeyer / Jazz Morley 200 180 150

Sun 13 Oct. 2019 OPENING NIGHT II Herbert Grönemeyer / Alice Merton 200 180 150

Tue 15. Oct. 2019 THIS IS COUNTRY MUSIC Brad Paisley / Ward Thomas 130 110 90

Wed 16 Oct. 2019 THE MAGIC OF SONGS Michael Patrick Kelly / Wincent Weiss 110 90 70

Thu 17 Oct. 2019 SOUL & BLUES TRAIN Rag’n’Bone Man / Raphael Saadiq 130 110 90

Fri 18 Oct. 2019 HOPP SCHWIIZ Hecht / 77 Bombay Street 100 80 60

Fri 25 Oct. 2019 WELCOME BACK Dido / Lighthouse Family 130 110 90

Tue 29 Oct. 2019 GOLDEN VOICES Michael Kiwanuka / Brittany Howard 100 80 60

Wed 30 Oct. 2019 CELTIC SONGWRITERS Snow Patrol / Tom Walker 120 100 80

Thu 31 Oct. 2019 ROCK ON AND OFF Krokus / Madrugada 120 100 80

BALOISE SESSION 2019 12 – 31 October 2019 6

ADVANCE TICKET SALES

Advance ticket sales start from around 8 am on Wednesday 28 August 2019.

Tickets are available from:  baloisesession.ch  Ticketcorner advance ticket sales offices  ticketcorner.ch  Tel: 0900 800 800 (CHF 1.19/Min.)

ARTIST PHOTOS

 Promotional artist photos can be downloaded from baloisesession.ch under «Media». You will receive your personal media login by e-mail. Please include the photo credit provided in the file when using the photos.

 Live photos can be ordered from our festival photographer Dominik Plüss.

Contact: Photo Plüss Productions Office: +41 61 373 83 10 Mobile: +41 79 606 71 59 E-mail: [email protected] Website: photopluess.ch

Website

For more information about the Baloise Session, visit baloisesession.ch. Click through the individual evening concerts at this year's festival and enjoy the artists’ song clips. Browse our Multimedia platform festival history, filled with thrilling concert clips and dramatic photo galleries.

SOCIAL MEDIA @baloisesession

The Baloise Session is also on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

instagram.com/baloisesession facebook.com/BALOISESESSION twitter.com/BALOISESESSION

We would be grateful if you could use our official hashtags #baloisesession and #baloisesession2019 when posting on social media channels and tag us via @baloisesession.

BALOISE SESSION 2019 12 – 31 October 2019 7

SPONSORS / MEDIA PARTNERS

 Presenting Sponsor Basler Versicherungen

 Principal sponsors Basler Kantonalbank, Novartis, Dufry, AMAG, Cornèrcard, IWB

 Principal media partners Swiss Radio and Television (SRF), Schweizer Illustrierte, Basler Zeitung

 Co-sponsors Valencia Kommunikation AG, Andreas Messerli AG, Clear Channel Schweiz AG, Merian Iselin Klinik, Confiserie Sprüngli, Birkhäuser + GBC, Obrist SA, Café Royal, Bucherer Fine Jewellery, Isaac Dreyfus Bernheim Stiftung, Swiss Prime Site, Swisslos-Fonds Basel-Landschaft, Swisslos-Fonds Basel-Stadt

 International media partner ARTE

 Regional Media Partners Telebasel, Radio Basilisk

 Other Media Partners TV24, TV25

 Product Sponsors Adcom Event AG, AudioRent Clair AG, Bacardi-Martini (Schweiz) AG, Bongénie Grieder Basel, Corporate Fashion International AG, Dobler Gärtnerei, Dyson, Eptinger Mineralwasser, Fleurs des Rois, Garage Schmid Reinach, Gelati Gasparini, Grand Hotel Les Trois Rois, Hotel Euler, ICSystems + Support AG, JMT Mietmobiliar, lucentive, Novotel Basel City, Nüssli (Schweiz) AG, Papyrus Schweiz AG, Ramseier Suisse, Stoffler Musik, Unser Bier,Weber Floors, Yamaha, Zweifel

 Benefactors «Friends of the Baloise Session», President: Bruno Dallo, Basel

BALOISE SESSION 2019 12 – 31 October 2019 8

OPENING NIGHT / OPENING NIGHT II Jazz Morely CH-Exclusive

HERBERT GRÖNEMEYER / JAZZ MORLEY / ALICE MERTON

Saturday 12 October 2019, 8 pm, Event Hall of the Basel Fair Sunday 13 October 2019, 8 pm, Event Hall of the Basel Fair

2005 was a landmark year for Germany: Cardinal Ratzinger was elected as the first German pope, Angela Merkel became the first female Chancellor of Germany - and Herbert Grönemeyer celebrated his debut at the Baloise Session. Not as a singer, however, but as a programme maker, presenting exciting newcomers from his London label «Grönland». Fourteen years on, Ratzinger has abdicated, Merkel is in the autumn of her chancellorship, and Grönemeyer returns to Basel, stronger and more topical than ever.

Background: In 2005 he promised festival-goers he would return and perform on stage himself. True to his word, this exceptional artist, who regularly sells out arenas overnight, this year presents his music and songs exclusively in the intimate club-like setting of the Baloise Session. And he does so on the opening two nights of the festival. These two concerts promise to be very special, because it's not often one can experience Herbert Grönemeyer so close up. How will he adapt his powerful voice, which is so suited to big- venue performances, to the intimate candle-lit setting of the Event Hall of the Basel Fair? How will his emotive ballads like «Der Weg», «Halt mich» and «Warum» touch the listener in such close proximity? As an actor, who brilliantly played the role of «Leutnant Werner» in the epic film «Das Boot», he understands the art of drama. And as an artist who, despite his lofty status in the German-language worlds of music and culture, has always been keen to experiment in his quest for the new, he will doubtless appreciate the two young newcomers who are bold enough to open the evening for him.

On 12 October it will be the turn of English singer-songwriter Jazz Morley, who according to Elton John represents «the future of music» because, like him, she has an infallible feel for wonderful melodies and uses electronic instruments turns them into catchy pop songs.

On 13 October the German-Canadian newcomer Alice Merton provides the warm-up for Grönemeyer. Anyone familiar with her earworm hit «No Roots» knows that this lady with her characterful voice can create a real party mood with her rocking dance-pop. These two ladies may well prove to be a match for Herbert Grönemeyer’s prodigious creativity.

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The festival would like to thank the «Friends of the Baloise Session» for their valuable support in engaging Herbert Grönemeyer.

Zeno van Essel

 Ticket prices: CHF 200 / 180 / 150  www.groenemeyer.de  www.jazzmorley.com  www.alicemerton.com

Please include the following photo credit when using photos of Herbert Grönemeyer: Photos 1 - 2 © Ali Kepenek, Photo 3 © Anton Corbijn, Photos 4 – 11 © Antoine Melis

Please include the following photo credit when using photos of Jazz Morley: © Jack Margerison

BALOISE SESSION 2019 12 – 31 October 2019 10

THIS IS COUNTRY MUSIC Brad Paisley CH-Exclusive

BRAD PAISLEY / WARD THOMAS

Tuesday 15 October 2019, 8 pm, Event Hall of the Basel Fair

The American guitar virtuoso Brad Paisley and the British duo Ward Thomas demonstrate just how wide-ranging the field of contemporary country music is.

Like the blues, country goes back to the very dawn of American musical history, and has long been established as a musical genre throughout the world. Country music styles vary widely: the spectrum runs from patriotic hits to schmaltzy numbers, from conservative traditionalism to the revolution spearheaded by creative musical virtuosos. Brad Paisley from West Virginia is a modern country artist who knows his craft inside out. Born in 1972, the musician emerged as a talented songwriter even back in high school. In 1999 he produced his first solo album, which immediately caused a sensation in the US charts with four tracks simultaneously storming the hit parade. Only a year later he stood on the stage at the Grand Ole Opry, the famous cathedral of country music in Nashville, Tennessee. At the same time the man with the Fender Telecaster – so typical of the genre – gained a reputation as a wizard on the strings. His extremely fluid, unrestrained and accomplished guitar playing made him a regular feature in the guitar magazines of the world. Since then Paisley has recorded twelve studio albums, on all of which he demonstrates the breadth of his musical horizons. He dazzles with instrumental numbers influenced by jazz and world music, and raises the roof with solid, hard rock – and his scorching classic country licks are virtually unparalleled. A standout artist who is performing for the very first time in Switzerland.

Dubbed «Britain's first country stars», twin sisters Catherin and Lizzy Ward Thomas, who open the evening, grew up on a farm in rural Hampshire. When it comes to singing, naturally the two harmonise perfectly. But they also have the knack of writing laid-back rock and pop songs that come over as extremely natural, atmospheric and contemporary. Their three albums climbed in no time at all to the Number 1 position on British country charts.

Christian Platz

 Ticket prices: CHF 130 / 110 / 90  www.bradpaisley.com  www.wardthomasmusic.com

Please include the following photo credit when using photos of Brad Paisley: © Jeff Lipsky

Please include the following photo credit when using photos of Ward Thomas: © Damien Fry

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THE MAGIC OF SONGS

MICHAEL PATRICK KELLY / WINCENT WEISS

Wednesday 16 October, 8 pm, Event Hall of the Basel Fair

Often it's the simple songs that have a magical resonance. And often it's the unassuming artists that write them. Two artists with very different backgrounds come together: Michael Patrick Kelly, ex teen idol of the Kelly Family, and Wincent Weiss, former talent show candidate.

What happens to a boy who has eight siblings and was born into a musical family that makes its living busking around the world? One who has lived in a band bus, a houseboat and finally in a castle and travelled through Holland, France, Spain, Germany, Belgium, Ireland and the USA? And whose clan metamorphosed from wandering hippies to media superstars? In the case of Michael Patrick Kelly, former musical head of the legendary Kelly family, you retire to a monastery to switch off, retreat from the world and find yourself. But the musician in him drew him back to public life – not so much to the limelight or the media, of which Michael Patrick Kelly has seen enough in his life. But a concert at the Baloise Session, where the audience actually listens rather than going wild, and where his delicate tones and deep messages are absorbed: this is the kind of setting in which this gentle poet can conjure up the magic of his songs.

The same goes for Wincent Weiss, the first act on this evening. The songwriter from north Germany is also one of the more reclusive stars, despite hits like «Feuerwerk» or «Musik sein» having become true anthems. For Wincent Weiss, YouTube was initially the window to his fans. On the piano, he recorded a cover version of Elif Demirezer's song «Unter meiner Haut». Two years later, DJs Gestört aber GeiL and Koby Funk produced a remix of the song at a festival, which in July 2015 promptly rose to No. 6 on the German single charts. Even better: The single stayed in the hit parade for more than a year and won three gold discs. After that, the move to a recording contract was merely a formality. But commercial success came at a price: the constant pressure, lack of privacy. «In the past two years I contemplated chucking it all in and giving up my career. A love affair that ended in a break-up, my family whom I rarely saw. So little time to myself that I neglected relationships that were important to me. Sometimes you ask yourself if it’s all worth it», says Wincent Weiss. For his new album this self-effacing poet has returned to his recipe for success: allowing songs to germinate in peace and quiet, formulated in messages that endure, provide food for thought and ultimately move the heart and soul. For him, this is also what «The Magic of Songs» is all about.

Zeno van Essel

 Ticket prices: CHF 110 / 90 / 70  www.michael-patrick-kelly.com  www.wincentweiss.de

Please include the following photo credit when using photos of Michael Patrick Kelly: Photos 1 - 5 © Andreas H Bitesnich, Photos 6 – 12 © Andreas Nowak

Please include the following photo credit when using photos of Wincent Weiss: © Christoph Köstlin

BALOISE SESSION 2019 12 – 31 October 2019 12

SOUL & BLUES TRAIN Raphael Saadiq CH-Exclusive

RAG’N’BONE MAN / RAPHAEL SAADIQ

Thursday 17 October 2019, 8 pm, Event Hall of the Basel Fair

Both are ambassadors for a better world: Rag’n’Bone Man, the Brit with the preacher's voice who advocates humanity for himself and all outsiders, and Raphael Saadiq, the young man from the ghetto of Oakland CA, who became one of the most successful producers of black music.

Rag’n’Bone Man, from Sussex, England, is twenty years younger than 53-year-old Raphael Saadiq. A bearded, tattooed giant, he is blessed with a preacher's sonorous voice. But his message is the same, as conveyed in his hit «Human»: «Don’t put your blame on me, I’m only human after all!». Rory Graham (Rag’n’Bone Man’s real name) was the child of divorced parents and his sister has Down’s syndrome, and the baggage he carries acts as inspiration for his songs. Musically he is influenced by the blues as well as soul and RnB. His songs are driven by heavy beats and the message is pressed home by his hymnal voice.

Drugs, violence and a daily fight for existence marked the beginning of Raphael Saadiq’s journey through life. His mechanism for survival in this world was music. Saadiq's school was the church and gospel music, his university was Prince’s band, where he played bass. Saadiq knows pop music and the music business inside out: some 1,000 songs are attributed to him, he composed and produced for Erykah Badu and Snoop Dog, played bass for the Rolling Stones and Lady Gaga, and at the same time created his own sound. Three Grammys are testament to his success. Now, eight years after the last CD «Stone Rollin’», his latest album has come out. On «Jimmy Lee», Raphael Saadiq looks back at his youth, with pensive lyrics, groovy beats and catchy tunes.

The cardigan-clad hulk from a small town in England and the slim, bespectacled and besuited black intellectual from California, are ambassadors that remind us through their music of our responsibility as members of the human race!

Beat Blaser

 Ticket prices: CHF 130 / 110 / 90  www.ragnbonemanmusic.com  www.facebook.com/raphaelsaadiq

Please include the following photo credit when using photos of Raphael Saadiq: Photos 1, 3 & 4 © Aaron Rapoport

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HOPP SCHWIIZ

HECHT / 77 BOMBAY STREET

Friday 18 October 2019, 8 pm, Event Hall of the Basel Fair

Two of the best Swiss live feel-good bands meet up: The rockers of Hecht, from Lucerne and Zurich, and the indie folk rockers 77 Bombay Street from the Swiss canton of Grisons. Their friendship goes back a long way: Hecht boosted their career as a warm-up act for the boys from the Grisoners.

Time was when rock music in Switzerland was a form of rebellion against the establishment: a musical expression of otherness, a sound that earnestly and critically took up the call for «Meh Dräck» («More grit»). Then came a new generation of rock bands that made music simply for the fun of it. The aim of the concerts was not primarily to change the world but simply to have a great party.

The two Swiss bands that share this evening are dedicated protagonists of this new rock genre: Ten years ago, 77 Bombay Street conquered the scene with their fun take on rock, their witty costumes and cool quotes. It was almost an overnight success for the four brothers from Basel, who had travelled around half the world with their parents before ending up in their grandparents’ chalet in the Grisons municipality of Domleschg and forming a band. Only a year later they won the MyCokemusic Soundcheck newcomer contest, were awarded the Prix Walo in the «Band» category, and signed a recording contract. Now it's almost impossible to listen to Swiss radio without hearing their sound. Songs like «47 Millionaires», «Long Way», «I Love Lady Gaga» or the quirky upbeat «Up In The Sky» regularly top the charts. Along the way, Matt, Joe, Esra and Simri-Ramon Buchli inspired a young band called «Seng» from Seetal, canton Lucerne, that delivered music to party to. After moving to Zurich and adding two more members, the band renamed itself Hecht and specialised in groovy songs sung in dialect. The sound fitted perfectly with that of 77 Bombay Street, so the band from the Grisons took the boys from Lucerne and Zurich along with them on a tour of Switzerland. The concerts grew to become exuberant rock parties. Hecht’s debut album «Wer zerscht s’Meer gsehd» entered the Swiss charts, and the young band was awarded the Swiss Music Award in the «Best Talent National» category. But Hecht are not so much interested in awards that collect dust, as in regaling their fans with catchy hits like «Kawasaki», «Charlotta» or «Tanze, Tanze»; and by turning out fantastic live parties like the one at the Baloise Session in Basel, where they meet their «midwives», 77 Bombay Street. A reunion with rocking fireworks!

Zeno van Essel

 Ticket prices: CHF 100 / 80 / 60  www.hechtimnetz.ch  www.77bombaystreet.com

Please include the following photo credit when using photos of Hecht: Photos 3 - 4 © Julius Hatt, Photo 5 © Nicole Rötheli

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WELCOME BACK Lighthouse Family CH-Exclusive

DIDO / LIGHTHOUSE FAMILY

Friday 25 October 2019, 8 pm, Event Hall of the Basel Fair

The art of sophisticated pop-song writing has long been highly appreciated and valued in the United Kingdrom. Dido and the Lighthouse Family duo are masters of this metier. And at last they are once more gracing the stages of the world.

Born on Christmas Day, 1971, in the London district of Kensington, she was rather splendidly christened Florian Cloud de Bounevialle O’Malley Armstrong. But the world knows her better under her stage name of Dido. Her older brother Rollo Armstrong is also a professional musician: among other things, the producer and multi-instrumentalist was a founding member of the band «Faithless». Dido first achieved recognition as the guest singer for this group. Her first solo album «No Angel» was released in 1999. All the lyrics were written by her, with various co-authors contributing to the music. The album became a huge international success, selling 22 million copies. After four productions she took a lengthy creative break. Her latest album, «Still on My Mind», was released at the beginning of 2019 and has been a massive success. And now she is coming to Basel with this fresh programme.

They got to know each other in Newcastle upon Tyne, in the north of England, at the end of the 1980s, when both were working as bartenders while studying there. In 1993 the singer Tunde Baiyewu and keyboarder Paul Tucker formed the group Lighthouse Family, which will perform this evening before Dido. Two years later they achieved their big breakthrough when the title track of their first album «Ocean Drive» and the song «Lifted» became huge hits. After releasing two more albums to even greater acclaim in 1997 and 2001, the group disbanded in 2003 and for several years the two devoted themselves to solo projects. In 2010 they got together again for various stage performances, announcing in TV interviews that they had written tons of new songs. But it was another eight years until these songs were recorded. This year, the album «Blue Sky in Your Head» was released – and the Lighthouse Family is finally touring again and coming to Basel for an exclusive European concert.

Christian Platz

 Ticket prices: CHF 130 / 110 / 90  www.didomusic.com  www.thelighthousefamily.co.uk

BALOISE SESSION 2019 12 – 31 October 2019 15

GOLDEN VOICES Michael Kiwanuka & Brittany Howard CH-Exclusive

MICHAEL KIWANUKA / BRITTANY HOWARD

Tuesday 29 October 2019, 8 pm, Event Hall of the Basel Fair

They come from different corners of the world: one from the bustling big-city jungle of London, the other from the rural south of the USA. But they have found a similar language to tell others what moves them: Michael Kiwanuka, soul singer from England and Brittany Howard, front woman of the «Alabama Shakes». And the way they do this? With charismatic voices!

«Retro» is the word that comes to mind when listening to Brittany Howard. And the same goes for British singer Michael Kiwanuka, because his music has its roots in the 1970s, the era of Marvin Gaye, Otis Redding and Richie Havens. But his voice and his excellent guitar playing are timeless, as are his songs. Michael Kiwanuka sings of himself, as a «Black Man in a White World», portraying his world tenderly yet powerfully and without any hint of mawkishness, even though he is no stranger to adversity. Michael Kiwanuka has already released two CDs: the first, «Home Again» (2012) catapulted him into the mainstream of British pop music, and «Love and Hate» (2016) achieved recognition far beyond the borders of the United Kingdom.

Somehow Brittany Howard seems like someone from a 1960s film: horn-rimmed glasses, bouffant hair, flowery dresses that emphasis her full figure – here is a woman who goes her own way! Now in her thirties, she knew from an early age that she would become a musician. Her late older sister Jamie taught her the basics of guitar laying and song-writing. Her versatile voice, at times soft and low, at times loud and rasping, is a natural gift, and it all came together in «Alabama Shakes», the band with which Brittany Howard has been touring for almost ten years. But now it's time to go her own way: In September her solo CD appeared, entitled «Jaime» in memory of her sister. The track «Stay High» is a huge promise that will surely be kept!

Two acts featuring music between tradition and the future, American and British, female and male, always in step with the times, relevant and totally captivating!

Beat Blaser

 Ticket prices: CHF 100 / 80 / 60  www.michaelkiwanuka.com  www.brittanyhoward.com

BALOISE SESSION 2019 12 – 31 October 2019 16

CELTIC SONGWRITERS

SNOW PATROL / TOM WALKER

Wednesday 30 October 2019, 8 pm, Event Hall of the Basel Fair

Ireland’s and Scotland's music are like their landscapes: mellifluous yet shot through with rugged riffs. Down-to-earth but imbued with a yearning for faraway places. The cult band Snow Patrol and newcomer Tom Walker translate deep feelings into songs full of power and timeless beauty.

There are songs that irrevocably trigger nostalgia when one listens to them. «Chasing Cars» is one of them. The hit by Irish band Snow Patrol, which rocketed up the international charts 13 years ago and remained in the British Top 100 for 166 weeks, became a timeless classic of rock history. On the one hand this is due to the luminous voice of front man Gary Lightbody, with its timbre tinged with melancholy. On the other hand, the power of Snow Patrol’s music is rooted in the fact that the band was formed in 1994 and its music was able to grow and mature in the Scottish indie scene, like a good whisky aged in oak. It took another 10 years until, in 2004, Snow Patrol finally achieved a commercial breakthrough with its single «Run». This was followed by seven triumphant years on the back of three hit albums and major tours with U2, among others. The next seven years saw the band take a break while its members pursued their own projects. Finally, to the delight of their fans, Snow Patrol released the long-awaited new album «Wildness» in 2018. The album shot up the charts and has given Gary Lightbody and his mates a significant shot in the arm. Now, just in time for the Baloise Session, the EP «Reworked» has been released.

Scottish song-writing characterises the music of Tom Walker. The 28-year-old singer- songwriter is of a younger generation than the members of Snow Patrol, and his success is not measured in record sales but in streams, of which his hit «Leave A Light On» alone has clocked up 244 million. But his songs convey the same hymn-like melancholy that is so characteristic of the music of Snow Patrol. With Tom Walker, however, there is the added element of Brit-pop: small wonder, since the Scottish-born musician grew up in Manchester and attended the London College of Contemporary Music. Despite this, his music remained more instinctual. His songs warm the heart and touch the soul. And his lyrics, too, reflect his quest for authenticity. «I write about things that happen in my life. If I can’t relate to a theme, it feels false».

Zeno van Essel

 Ticket prices: CHF 120 / 100 / 80  www.snowpatrol.com  www.iamtomwalker.com

BALOISE SESSION 2019 12 – 31 October 2019 17

ROCK ON AND OFF

KROKUS / MADRUGADA

Thursday 31 October 2019, 8 pm, Event Hall of the Basel Fair

Two hard rock formations present themselves on the last evening of the festival: tough old hands Krokus from Switzerland, and the melancholy Madrugada from Norway. The Baloise Session could not have wished for a better finale to the festival.

Rocking hard, straight as a die, technically perfect: when it comes to rock, Krokus is a byword for true Swiss quality. Formed in Solothurn in 1975, the band has now been going for 44 years. In 1979 its album «Metal Rendez-vous» was an instant hit, catapulting the band to another level – to the international Olympus of hard rock. Between 1982 and 1988 they enjoyed huge successes, rocking around the world almost to the point of collapse. From 1988 to 2006 they carried on with ever-changing line-ups. But in 2007 they reunited, and the original formation was once more. Now Krokus is on a farewell tour, and as the second act this evening at the Baloise Session they are saying goodbye in a setting that is much more intimate than this great band is used to. Rock off.

To open this evening Madrugada, from Stokmarknes in Norway, bring a darker rock climate to Basel. Their songs are intense, pensive and melancholy. The members of the group have known each other since their youth, and have played together in various different formations since 1993. Six years later they came up with the name Madrugada – the Spanish term for the hours between midnight and sunrise. Their first two albums, «Industrial Silence» and «The Nightly Disease» were already dark. Hard rock saturated with blues and lyrics full of melancholy became the band’s recipe for success. In 2007 guitarist Robert Burås died, and in 2008 the band split up to take some time out. Ten years later they regrouped, and now they are once more on tour, stronger than ever. So: Rock on!

Christian Platz

 Ticket prices: CHF 120 / 100 / 80  www.krokusonline.com  www.madrugada.no

BALOISE SESSION 2019 12 – 31 October 2019 18