2019 another sell-out success for Baloise Session
With concerts by Krokus and Madrugada, the 34th edition of Swiss festival Baloise Session came to a close last night (31 October), bringing the curtain down on three weeks of music.
Baloise 2019 performers included German pop superstar Herbert Grönemeyer, UK soul singer Rag’n’Bone Man, Swiss band Hecht, British pop artist Dido and Northern Irish rockers Snow Patrol. The festival, held indoors in a club-like setting in Basel, attracted 15,500 visitors – another sell-out, replicating 2018’s success.
Other acts who performed over the ten evenings included Brad Paisley, Michael Patrick Kelly, Brittany Howard, Michael Kiwanuka, Wincent Weiss and Tom Walker, as well as newcomers Jazz Morley, Alice Merton and Ward Thomas.
“What a wonderful year! Once more Baloise Session 2019 has closed with fond concert memories, satisfied visitors and enthusiastic bands,” says Beatrice Stirnimann, the festival’s CEO. “That’s exactly what the entire team works tirelessly towards all year long. We are delighted that everything went perfectly.”
As in previous years, Baloise Session 2019’s programming also spread to a few schools in the Basel area. The music workshops, organised by the festival since 2012, were this year devoted to the world of percussion instruments, with the aid of Beat Schürpf of Pro Percussion AG, north-western Switzerland’s largest percussion specialist.
The next Baloise Session will be held from 23 October to 12 November 2020.
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Baloise Session secured until 2025
The future of Swiss festival the Baloise Session is looking bright, as insurance group Basler Versicherungen extends its current presenting contract for another five years.
The deal means the event, which takes place each autumn at Basel’s club-like Event Halle, is secured for the years up to and including 2025.
The sold-out 2018 edition of Baloise Session saw performances from George Ezra, Buddy Guy, Lauryn Hill and John Legend.
“The Baloise Session is unique and brings fresh delights year after year,” says Basler Versicherungen chief executive Michael Müller. “We are proud to be presenting sponsor for the seventh time and to contribute to musical diversity in Switzerland through our engagement.”
“We are grateful that Basler Versicherungen, with whom we share a history that goes back more than 20 years, recognises the power and emotionality of music,” comments Beatrice Stirnimann, chief executive of the Baloise Session.
“The Baloise Session is unique and brings fresh delights year after year”
Stirnimann calls the partnership “a valuable commitment” that gives the Baloise Sessions team “the freedom to add further melodious chapters to the 34-year history of the festival and deliver unforgettable concert experiences to visitors.”
Stephan Werthmüller, chairman of the board of Session Basel, adds that the sponsorship renewal is “a testament to a solid partnership based on mutual trust and appreciation.
According to the chairman, “such a long-standing collaboration is extraordinarily important in the field of culture.”
The 2019 edition of Baloise Sessions takes place from 12 to 31 October. The line-up for this year’s event will be announced on Wednesday (21 August), with ticket sales beginning on Wednesday 28 August.
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