Media Script 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.