Austrian Music Highlights: February 2024

February is kind of an in-between month: the holiday hoopla is long gone and we’re left staring down the long, cold, damp tunnel until the weather starts to turn appreciably warmer (climate change notwithstanding). But wait – is that a glimmer of light? …Well, sort of. Rejoice! It’s your Austrian Music Highlights for February.

Anniversaries (and other excuses to celebrate)

Nothing combats late-winter malaise like a party. To this end, we offer a geographically diverse trifecta of upcoming music festivals, starting right here in Vienna…

Jazzwerkstatt Wien: 10×10

The JazzWerkstatt Wien has arguably had more of an effect on the domestic jazz scene in the last two decades than any other group or person, and their going all-out to celebrate the 20th year of their existence: The second event on their slate of anniversary activities happening throughout 2024 is 10 Acts x 10 Minutes, coming to the little big city on the Danube in February. The JazzWerkstatt has fostered countless acts over the last two decades, many of which have become leaders in their field, and the program is accordingly filled with prominent artists: Duo 4675, Rom / Mayr / Koenig, Max Gaier & Willi Landl, Sara Zlanabitnig…it’s a star-studded sampler of the current Austrian jazz scene.

JazzWerkstatt Wien: “10 Acts à 10 Min.“
March 10th, 8:30 p.m. @ Porgy & Bess

MENT Ljubljana

The MENT Festival in Ljubljana is one of Central and Eastern Europe’s leading showcase festivals, and is also celebrating a big anniversary – in their case, ten years. In that decade, they’ve come a long way: in the 2023, the award-winning event drew 76 artists from 20 countries (including four from Austria) to Ljubljana, as well as 700 professional delegates. This year, Austria will be sending three young, creative acts to the event: the genre-demolishing duo ELIS NOA, the otherworldly synth-pop trio oh alien, and the flamboyant Vienna rapper BEX.

aspekte Salzburg

Over more than 45 years, the aspekte festival has developed a reputation as one of Austria’s premier festivals for contemporary classical music. The year’s edition is titled “stimmen” (“voices”); in the words of the program: “the voice comforts, enchants, seduces; it communicates joy and sorrow; it speaks, sings, screams, and whispers; it excites, confuses, and touches.” An opera premiere by the Egyptian composer Hossam Mahmoud and performed by PHACE is among the highlights of the program, as are pieces by Johannes Maria Staud, Beat Furrer, and Maria Gstättner and appearance by star baritone Adrian Eröd and the ensembles NAMES and oenm.

aspekteFESTIVAL
March 6 – 10 @ Szene Salzburg, Mozarteum University, and the Kollegienkirche

Apply yourself

The early part of the year is always a good time to set goals – where will the year take you? Or better yet, where will you take you? In addition to the ever-changing cornucopia of festivals, showcases, and programs to apply for on our Open Calls, Showcases, and Industry Events and Deadlines, two big opportunities are open right now:

NASOM – The new austrian sound of music

Every two years, the Austrian Foreign Ministry (BMEIA) chooses a slate of young Austria-based artists and groups to sponsor in their international endeavors. In the past, acts as diverse as Choub, Kompost 3, Schallfeld, Mynth, Vivid Consort, and AVEC have gotten a leg up on the international stage with the help of the program. Interested in becoming a NASOM act in 2025/26? If you were born after 1990 and play music in Austria, you should really check this out (see the article for further information and how to apply).

NASOM – The New Austrian Sound of Music 2025/26
Application deadline: March 24

Building bridges: Mission Berlin

Building Bridges is an Austrian Music Export pilot project focusing on continuing education and international exchange in the music business; it’s aimed primarily at music business pros – labels, publishers, management, and the like – but is also open to self-managing musicians. The German capital is the center of Austria’s most important international music market, and we want to help open up the existing business network to more people. The mission, happening in April, will include workshops with representatives of Spotify and YouTube, networking events, and a visit to the Spotify event All Music Friday. Check out the full rundown here.

Building Bridges: Mission Berlin
April 17 – 19, 2024
Application deadline: February 28

Live is life

Or possibly “life is life”? Or “live is live”? To be honest, we’ve never really figured out what the heck Opus was getting at. Regardless: we’re here for it, and we’re not the only ones…

Atzur

The Austro-Spanish alt-pop duo is a testament to the positive side of Tinder, and will be guesting at a number of Spanish- and German-speaking venues in the next couple weeks:

Mahan Mirarab

The acclaimed Iranian/Austrian musician is versed in a wide range of musical cultures and styles and has managed (with the help of the Austrian cultural ministry BMKÖS) to put together a European tour in grand style for his stellar band, beginning this week in England and winding up at the end of March in Germany. Bon voyage!

Mario Rom’s Interzone

The members of the trio Interzone, a mainstay of the Austrian jazz scene for over a decade, have been concentrating on other projects for a while – it’s good to see them on the road again. And if you’re anywhere near where they’re playing, don’t miss it. Just follow the crackling energy.

Takeshi’s Cashew

Austria’s favorite psych-global-funk band is on the road again, spending the end of February mainly in Benelux…

Obviously, this is but a sampling of the many Austrian acts currently bringing their music to the world – we suggest checking out our “Artists On Tour” page for more complete listings.

Briefly Noted

That’ll do it for this month! Keep your eyes on the prize, your ear to the ground, your nose to the grindstone, etc., etc…and we’ll see you next month. – Philip Yaeger