Oh, the weather outside is frightful… but… it’s getting hot in here… and… you’re as cold as ice… while… I’m walking on sunshine… The quoting of temperature-related classic-mainstream music lyrics could go on forever when attempting some descriptive summary of the weather of late. Is March the new stand-in for April? Is unpredictability and dynamic chaos our new normal? Whatever is going on outside the window and in the troposphere, at least we know what’s happening down here on the ground: GOOD MUSIC. Check out our pick of Austrian Music Highlights for this month!
Tours and Specials
In April 2025, the renowned Austrian quartet Bilderbuch is set to commemorate a significant milestone – 10 years of Schick Schock! – with major concerts abroad and at home. Setting off on April 10, they will hit the cities of Nürnberg, Basel and Cologne for the continuation of their “Softpower” Tour. Later in the month (April 24) they will celebrate their 20th anniversary and the 10th anniversary of their breakthrough album “Schick Schock” with a grand-scale show at none other than the Wiener Stadthalle in Vienna.
Austrian electronic composer and musician Christian Fennesz is set to embark on an international tour from March to June, bringing his innovative soundscapes to audiences across Europe including performances in Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, the UK, Spain, and Portugal.
Jazz quartet TSOMBANIS4 is set to release their new album this Friday, March 21, coinciding with a live performance at Jazztage Dübendorf in Switzerland. The tour goes on in Switzerland, Germany and Austria. Led by saxophonist Anna Tsombanis, alongside Beate Wiesinger and Andreas Waelti on double bass and Herbert Pirker on drums, the group blends deep grooves with expressive improvisation. Concert-goers can also get their hands on the band’s fresh, colorful vinyl editions of the new release.
Austrian indie-rock duo Cari Cari heads out on an extensive international tour from mid-March to mid-April, promoting their upcoming album, “One More Trip Around the Sun”, released on March 7. The tour includes performances across Europe and North America, with notable stops such as Madame Lou’s in Seattle on March 9, The Empty Bottle in Chicago on March 17, and further shows in NY, Boston and Ferndale, Michigan. Following that, they will head back over the Atlantic to play shows in Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Germany, France and the UK. The duo’s distinctive sound has garnered praise from BBC Radio 1 and Rolling Stone, along with countless other accolades and milestones.
The band Buntspecht will embark on their “Durch die Tür” tour from March to April, performing in several German cities. Tour stops include Stuttgart, Freiburg im Breisgau, Nuremberg, Dresden, Göttingen, Hannover, Cologne, Leipzig, Jena, Mannheim, Bremen, Hamburg, and Frankfurt. The band will showcase their signature mix of rock and pop elements, presenting new tracks from their upcoming album.
Austrian electronic duo HVOB is set to perform three shows in Mexico between March 22 and March 29. The tour kicks off on March 22 at Hipódromo de Las Américas in Mexico City. Following this, they will perform on March 27 in Tulum. The final show is scheduled for March 29 in Puerto Vallarta. Concert-goers can anticipate immersive live performances featuring HVOB’s signature electronic soundscapes.
Renowned Austrian guitarist and composer Wolfgang Muthspiel is set to begin a European tour in April, bringing his innovative jazz compositions to esteemed venues across the continent. Notably, he will perform at Bimhuis in Amsterdam on April 17, at Fasching in Stockholm on April 22, and Jassmine in Warsaw on April 23. Following these performances, Muthspiel will present his latest project, “Touch,” at the Wiener Konzerthaus – Mozart Saal in Vienna on April 24. This project features collaborations with distinguished musicians Linda May Han Oh on bass and Lionel Loueke on guitar, blending diverse musical influences from their respective backgrounds. Audiences can anticipate an evening of virtuosic performances and intricate improvisations from Muthspiel and his fellow musicians.
Lucy Dreams will be hitting the major showcase festivals this spring, from Talinn Music Week (Apr. 3-6), Sharpe Festival (Bratislava, Apr. 24-26) an the Great Escape (Brighton, May 14-17). Onk Lou has three dates scheduled in Germany between April 21-23 as part of his “Midnight Tour”. Get all the info here.
Austrian electronic duo Camo & Krooked have announced an international tour spanning April to May 2025, featuring performances in Australia, Portugal, and the UK. On April 20, they will take the stage in Sydney, followed by a show in Melbourne on April 26. They are also scheduled to appear at DnB Allstars: Portugal 2025 in Portimão on May 2 and at Love Saves The Day 2025 in Bristol on May 24.
Austrian indie-rock band Endless Wellness is extending their “Was für eine Tour 2025” with additional performances across Germany from March to May 2025. The tour features their debut album, Was für ein Glück, released on January 26, 2025, which debuted at number 7 on the Austrian Album Charts.
Eye on the prize
Alessandro Baticci, an Italian composer based in Austria, is one of the three finalists for the prestigious Élan Award 2025, an honor recognizing emerging talent in contemporary composition. Baticci’s innovative approach to sound and his exploration of new musical languages have earned him recognition in the international music scene. His work, which bridges diverse cultural influences, will be showcased as part of the competition alongside two other finalists. The Élan Award, presented by IRCAM and the Orchestre National d’Île-de-France, celebrates the next generation of composers pushing the boundaries of modern music. The winning piece will premiere in June 2025 at the ManiFeste Festival, highlighting Baticci’s place at the forefront of contemporary music.
Festivities
On April 6, the Schallfeld Ensemble, an international contemporary music group based in Graz, will perform at the 33rd Muzički Biennale Zagreb. Their program features “Systema Naturae,” a collaborative work by composers Mauro Lanza and Andrea Valle, inspired by medieval catalogs of animals, plants, and minerals, as well as Carl Linnaeus’s seminal work of the same name. The composition is divided into sections—Regnum animale, Regnum vegetabile, Regnum lapideum, and Fossilia—each integrating traditional instruments with electromechanical devices to explore the natural world’s realms.
On April 10, the Muzički Biennale Zagreb will feature the world premiere of a piece by Vienna-based composer, Margareta Ferek-Petric, performed by the Croatian Radiotelevision Symphony Orchestra, Neue Vocalsolisten Stuttgart, and Austrian pianist Maria Radutu. This highly anticipated work will be part of the “Collage” concert, a program showcasing bold contemporary compositions. Known for her playful yet intricate musical language, Ferek-Petric’s new piece promises a dynamic exploration of sound and texture. The performance will take place at Vatroslav Lisinski Concert Hall in Zagreb.
The Salam Music & Arts Festival in Vienna, running from March 28 to April 6, 2025, is a renowned event celebrating the rich cultural tapestry of the SWANA (Southwest Asia and North Africa) region. Over its 20-year history, the festival has showcased a diverse array of international artists, blending classical, traditional, and contemporary styles.The upcoming edition continues this tradition, offering attendees a vibrant mix of music, visual arts, and performances that bridge cultures and artistic expressions.
The festival kicks off on March 28 with the Meral Polat Quartet, blending Kurdish traditions with blues and rock in a celebration of women’s voices. This year’s program is curated by Omid Darvish, whose projects HUUUM and Kurdophone fuse Iranian folk and Kurdish traditions with jazz and electronic music. Beyond music, audiences can explore interdisciplinary art exhibitions, dialogues and film screenings, fostering cultural exchange and artistic innovation.
Release Radar
Translated from the German mica – music austria original by Arianna Alfreds, authored by Ylva Hintersteiner.
BAIBA – “Darkest Hour” (Super Plus // Release date: 3/7/2025)
Latvian musician BAIBA has been based in Innsbruck since 2014. With “Darkest Hour”, the singer heralds a new phase in her musical career. It is also the first taste of her new album “DELUSIONAL”, which will be released later this year. The single deals with resilience and self-discovery. It combines BAIBA’s singer-songwriter qualities with electronic music. The song was created as a spontaneous jam and was produced from scratch with the help of producer Moritz Kristmann. Only the soul of the original has been retained. The music video with its 90s camcorder look is a visual insight into the artist’s life.
Alicia Edelweiss – “Feminist Girlfriend” (Glitterhouse // Release: 3/7/2025)
With “Feminist Girlfriend”, Alicia Edelweiss releases a humorous, ironic single that also has a serious core. It is about the contradictions that can be found in heteronormative relationships and the importance of women sticking together and having each other’s backs. “I spent too much time with men in my life, so I know it’s women who make me shine,” sings the British-Austrian singer. The lyrics are about the different expectations men and women have of their partners. Especially in left-wing circles, the idea of the perfect woman is often cliché. Beautiful, independent, strong, intelligent and, at the same time, unconditionally understanding and caring – but of course younger than their own mother. If the partner then demands personal responsibility, it’s no longer so much fun having a feminist girlfriend. The idea of the perfect man seems simpler: fragrant, simply not problematic and on an equal footing with his partner. Alicia Edelweiss is not interested in creating a divide between men and women, but simply in pointing out the differences. Musically, the song presents itself as a folky pop song. Her album “FURIE” will be released on 5/9/2025 on the Hamburg label Glitterhouse Records.
Oskar Haag – “He’s Good” (Lullaby / Sony // Release: 3/14/2025)
Oskar Haag only needs four chords and a few interesting effects on his voice for his new single “He’s Good”. The nineteen-year-old pop singer creates a catchy number that gets stuck in the ear for a long time. It is a song that is characterized by melancholy, but at the same time also has a cheerful and positive side. The single was written, recorded and produced by Haag himself at home – following the rule that less is often more. “He’s Good” is the first single for Oskar Haag’s EP, which will be released at the end of April.
Sophia Blenda – “Mein Horizont” (Siluh // Release: 3/14/2025)
In “Mein Horizont” (“My Horizon”), Sophia Blenda invites us to perceive the world from different perspectives and realities of life. She speaks out against an entrenched, binary way of thinking. What is more important is an open mind and the willingness to accept other points of view. The song was written from a queer/feminist perspective and represents an indictment and a feminist wake-up call. In terms of sound, the ballad is carried by the piano, which is mixed with synthesizer sounds. Sophia Blenda’s vocals give the song a weight and heaviness that does not crush, but simply emphasizes the meaning of the song. Sophia Blenda will release her second album “Die Summe der Vereinzelung” on Siluh Records on 4/11/2025.
Arianna Alfreds