It’s festival season, ya’ll. No time like the present to pack your schedules tightly with concerts and other festival happenings to make your autumn pop, before surrendering to bottomless “Punsch” mugs and cookie comas in the month to come. November is a time for music lovers, concert connoisseurs and festival fanatics. And we’ve got you covered to point you in the right direction with this month’s AUSTRIAN MUSIC HIGHLIGHTS road map. And with that, the November edition’s guiding light is…
Festivals, Festivals, FEstivals!
Open Jazz
Under the umbrella association REBOOT JAZZ 2024 the city of Vienna’s new jazz festival is being launched with the title: OPEN JAZZ VIENNA (OJV). OJV 2024 will be brought to life over 4 days – from November 18th to 21st, 2024. With a diverse and innovative program, this new festival will reflect the here and now of music while looking to the future. The first edition of OJV runs under the motto OPEN UP and celebrates the artistic openness, diversity and cross-genre character of the current jazz scene in Europe. The new spirit of jazz is breaking away from stylistic boundaries – the music itself has become an open and cross-genre art form. The Austrian jazz scene is also at the cutting edge in an international context and will form the basis of the OJV program. Austrian and international musicians participating in OPEN JAZZ VIENNA share one artistic premise: jazz is many things and jazz should be accessible to many people. This openness is reflected both in the programming of the festival and in the character of the locations used, because OPEN JAZZ VIENNA is intended for the jazz crowd as well as for newbies. Check out the full program here.
De/semble
DE/SEMBLE is a Vienna-based festival celebrating jazz and experimental music. At its heart, the festival champions diversity and inclusivity, rethinking the traditional jazz concert experience while exploring the exciting intersections between jazz, multidisciplinary arts, and club culture. With its bold and innovative programming, DE/SEMBLE attracts both devoted jazz lovers and newcomers eager to discover new musical horizons.”We believe in showcasing a diverse range of artists from around the world, ensuring multitudes of voices in jazz receive the spotlight they deserve. Our mission is to break down barriers within the genre, creating a space where innovative sounds and experimental performances thrive.”
In its Fall 2024 edition, DE/SEMBLE brings us another round of exciting performances by local and international artists. Starting on November 13th with a pre-opening event at das Werk (Vienna), the regular festival program begins on November 14th with performances by the Teresa Rotschopf Ensemble, Farida Amadou & Aquiles Navarro, and Susanna Gartmayer & Stefan Schneider. The powerful lineup only goes on from there, including artists such as Mamadou Diabaté, Elias Stemeseder, GLAM, and Artist in Residence: DUMAMA, to name a few. Grab your tickets and immerse yourself in a long weekend of music and community with DE/SEMBLE – Nov. 14-16, 2024.
SONIC TERRITORIES
The 7th edition of the SONIC TERRITORIES (Nov. 12-16, 2024) festival invites its visitors to explore the transformative power of experimental art in creating open, curious, and ever-evolving communities. Since its debut in 2018, the festival has continuously reinvented itself, always in search of new connections and innovative forms of expression. Rooted in a spirit of freedom, each edition has adapted to the changing landscapes of music and art, reflecting shifts in culture, technology, and society. This year’s theme, Breaking Free, is not just a catchphrase—it’s a call to embrace bold new perspectives, forge unexpected connections, and push boundaries. With an emphasis on participation, this year’s festival underscores our commitment to processes that extend beyond the conventional. We view freedom as not only personal autonomy but as an active practice of responsibility, mindfulness, empathy, unity, and celebration. Through festivals, rituals, and communal experiences, we discover the collective strength that brings us together and inspires us. Join us for a week-long exploration, culminating in a 12-hour event at Kulturgarage in Seestadt Aspern. Head to unexplored territories where sound, visual art, and cross-disciplinary creativity intersect with Sonic Territories 2024!
dishes #5
On November 23rd and 24th, DISHES will host a two-day concert series at the former Semmelweisklinik hospital in Vienna’s 18th district. This 5th edition of DISHES promises two days of experimental energy, featuring a lineup of artists pushing the boundaries of audiovisual, site-specific, and performance art. A unique mini-festival, DISHES bridges experimental composition with electronic music techniques, offering an exciting fusion of sound and visuals. Taking place in the non-commercial space of Semmelweisklinik, the event aims to create a hybrid atmosphere that blends the intimacy of a concert hall with the raw energy of a club. With a focus on live performances, DISHES #5 will unfold in the late afternoon and early evening, offering an immersive and dynamic listening experience. The festival brings Abdullah Miniawy, Bianca Scout, Damsel Elysium, Electric Indigo, Joanne Robertson, Kisling, Sky Burrow Tales and Space Africa to the stage for our experiencing pleasure. More info here.
NEW ADITS
The Flechtwerk association and the NEW ADITS Festival were founded in 2010 by Ingrid Schmoliner, Matthias Erian, and Martin Schönlieb. This festival celebrates contemporary music and interdisciplinary art forms. In collaboration with the Innenhofkultur association and Raimund Spöck, New Adits has become a prominent event in the Carinthian cultural scene, attracting music and art enthusiasts alike.
The name New Adits reflects a commitment to innovation, derived from the Latin word aditus, meaning access, approach, or opportunity. The Flechtwerk association is dedicated to providing a platform for internationally acclaimed artists, presenting concerts, video and sound installations, and performances in Carinthia, Austria. “We love innovation, depth, character, diversity, giving a stage to artists… creating an intense experience for the audience in an intimate atmosphere.”
Running from Nov 20 – 23, 2024, the beautifully curated program features artists such as Maria Komarova, Vincent Pongracz / Peter Rom, Lukas Lauermann, and many more. See the full program here.
Wien modern
WIEN MODERN is back, from October 30th – November 30th, 2024. This year’s motto is: “And now everyone, together”. Once again, a huge and dynamic program – featuring performances, talks, installations and premieres, Wien Modern is a staple of the Austrian contemporary and experimental music scene, and beyond. A highly international and broad-spanning curatorial triumph, Fall wouldn’t be the same without this mega-festival. Check out the festival program here, and catch the second half of the month-long festival.
blue bird festival
20 years of BLUE BIRD! In its anniversary year, the Blue Bird Festival (Nov. 21-23, 2024) once again invites a fine selection of songwriters, musicians and bands to Vienna’s Porgy & Bess. FYI: In addition to the three-day passes, it is now also possible to buy day tickets. This year, for the first time, it will also be possible to reserve seats in advance, but only by purchasing tickets directly from Porgy & Bess.
Line Up:
| Thu, Nov 21 | Fr Nov 22 | Sa Nov 23 |
| 20:00 Vera Sola 21:10 A.S. Fanning 22:05 ZINN 23:00 Wallis Bird | 20:00 Edna Million 20:55 Kids With Buns 21:50 Myriam Gendron 22:45 Dan Croll | 20:00 Reveal Party 20:55 Porcelain id 21:50 Clarissa Connelly 22:50 Jessica Pratt |
Ahoi! Pop 2024
Just do it, try everything has long been a guiding mantra in pop culture. True to this spirit, the latest edition of AHOI! POP has taken over the Posthof. With an electrifying lineup and a fearless approach that embraces both the highs and the struggles, the 2024 festival dedicated to club culture has once again set up shop in Linz, ready to ignite the next unforgettable party. Running till December 12th in Posthof, there are plenty of acts to catch, like Camo & Krooked, Salò and Friedberg to name a few.
KICK JAZZ
Time flies! December is coming sooner than you think, and that means that KICK JAZZ is just around the corner. Vienna’s premiere showcase festival for domestically produced jazz will take place this year on December 3rd and 4th. Kick Jazz, the annual presentation of up-and-coming Austrian (and, in one case, Slovenian) jazz acts, is a cooperation between Austrian Music Export and the Vienna club Porgy & Bess. The trio HAEZZ will open the two-day extravaganza on December 3rd, followed by a solo set by double bassist Helene Glüxam, then Beate Wiesinger‘s art-pop/jazz ensemble e c h o boomer. The Slovenian trio Etceteral will close out the first evening. December 4th will open with the Valentin Duit Quartet, followed by Slowklang and Schmack. Both concerts begin at 8:30 p.m. sharp. Save the date and don’t miss it!
Stay tuned for more highlights coming up next month!
Arianna Alfreds