If you’re looking for a concert or any good live music, Basel is the place to find it. It’s very welcoming to musicians of all kinds, from street musicians playing Strauss on Freiestrasse, to independent singer-songwriters at the corner café, to famed bands like Journey at Pratteln’s Z7 Konzertfabrik (Concert Factory). Here are some places you might catch a favorite artist, or discover the next big act in Basel and beyond.
Venues
Z7 Konzertfabrik
A venue for bigger names like Swiss acts Adrian Stern and Plüsch as well as international bands like Porcupine Tree and Iron Butterfly. Also features harder rock and metal bands.
Kraftwerkstrasse 7 • 4133 Pratteln, Basel
Tel: +41 61 821 48 00
www.z-7.ch
Parterre Kultur
One of Basel’s exclusive restaurants and live music venues, Parterre features musicians and singer-songwriters from all over the world for an up-close-and-personal concert experience. Also hosts Open Mic Nights on Wednesdays.
Tram 8 to “Kaserne”
Klybeckstrasse 1b • 4057 Basel
Tel: +41 61 695 89 91
www.parterre.net
Sommercasino
Münchensteinerstrasse 1 • 4052 Basel
Tel: +41 61 313 60 70
www.sommercasino.ch
Kuppel
Another of Basel’s unique venues, complete with disco balls, a sparkling chandelier right above the audience, and a bright, glowing dome topping the building. The lineup is eclectic and inclusive, offering New Wave, Pop, Rock, Disco, Electro, Glam, Indie, and more. Performers include Swiss singer-songwriter legend Roli Frei and Britain’s The Drops.
Binningerstrasse 14 • 4051 Basel
Tel: +41 61 564 66 00
www.kuppel.ch
Avo Session
THE music festival in Basel. Each year, it welcomes some of the top names of all time to its Festival Hall at Basel Fair: Mary J. Blige, Liza Minnelli, P!nk, Tom Jones, Paul Anka, and KT Tunstall to name just a few. This unique festival gives you the chance to see artists up close in a relaxed candle-lit atmosphere, and with only 1,500 seats, you may want to buy your tickets far in advance!
Festival Hall, Basel Fair
Grenzacherstrasse 79 • 4058 Basel
061 686 44 44
www.avo.ch
Stoffero
A well-known café serving up cappuccinos, sandwiches, and fresh daily specials, Stoffero also holds live music certain nights of the week. Although quite small, it’s an ideal venue for smaller and acoustic acts from all over the world. Be sure to try their famous panini!
Stänzlergasse 3 • 4051 Basel
Tel: +41 61 281 56 56
Open Air
Summer is a prime time for live music in Basel. The weather is perfect for open-air concerts, and music festivals spring up all around the country like wildflowers. On the steps by the Rhein or on the grass under the stars, you’ll hardly find even one night without music. Some events are free…although a generous tip is always welcomed.
Im Fluss
Each year from about the last week of July to the middle of August, a barge is set up on the Rhein for Im Fluss Open-air Concerts, featuring a different band each night. The concerts center around local and national acts, though some of the artists come from as far away as the UK, Canada, and the US.
The Rhein River (Outside Café Spitz and Best Western Hotel Merian)
Rheingasse 13 • 4058 Basel
Tel: +41 61 681 80 90
www.imfluss.ch
Kaserne
One of the best known places in Basel for all varieties of arts and culture, music, theater, and dance, and a top venue in the city for summer open-air concerts. Their neighboring restaurant, the KaBar, is a popular stop for lunch, evening apéros, and ‘Snack Attacks.’
Klybeckstrasse 1 • 4057 Basel
Tel: +41 61 681 47 17
www.kaserne-basel.ch
Very useful blog. Keep up the good work.