The WAVES FESTIVAL is the city’s first club- and showcase festival and takes place now for the 13th time from the 7th to the 9th of September, 2023. Numerous international emerging alternative, electronic, rock, and club acts will be performing around Vienna’s Gürtel area.
Everything new with 2023
Most people already know, but after 7 really nice years Waves is breaking down the tents in the old main venue, WUK, and moving on. So, in 2023 Metropol in Vienna Hernals will be the new main location and numerous venues on the Gürtel area will be part of Waves Vienna 2023. But also, graphically, a small relaunch is planned. Take a look at the new website and get a first taste of how Waves will shine this year in September.
Some other big announcements: the guest country this year: Switzerland, and the first acts of the festival have been announced! Read more below!
first acts announced
It’s springtime again and that means we have got the first 13 acts for the 13th edition of Waves Vienna! Here they are:
Ada Oda (BE)
Charlotte Fever (FR)
Cousines like Shit (AT)
Dolphin Love (DE)
ELAV (AT)
Filly (AT)
Gents (DK)
Lahra (AT)
Nina Kohout (SK)
Oopus (EE)
Sam Quealy (AU)
Shelf Lives (UK)
Turfu (FR)
FOCUS ON SWITZERLAND, CURRENT TRENDS AND PROVEN FORMATS
We are pleased to be able to take an in-depth look at our westernmost neighbour, Switzerland, for the first time at this year’s conference. Like Austria, Switzerland is part of the GAS region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) and is confronted with the advantages and challenges of larger neighbouring countries. There are also numerous cultural and structural similarities, but also differences. In presentations and networking sessions we will learn from each other and discuss ways for more exchange and joint ventures.
As part of the focus on Switzerland, we have also launched a networking mission to Switzerland together with Austrian Music Export, which will start on 23 March at the m4music Festival in Zurich as part of Building Bridges: Mission Switzerland and is intended to lay the foundation for intensive cooperation this year.
“We are really looking forward to the Swiss focus at Waves! Finally, the long-planned cooperation between the two neighbouring countries is working out. Austria and Switzerland have so many similarities in terms of size, structures in the music business but also in terms of difficulties. A close exchange makes a lot of sense,” says Jean Zuber of Swiss Music Export.
We have received great feedback for the new peer-to-peer learning formats, so learning at eye level in exchange with international colleagues will again be a focus of the conference programme.
Thematically, some of the programme items will reflect the festival leitmotif Diversity and in particular this year’s meta-theme Unconcious Bias. For example, we will deal with diversity in the line-ups or touring with children. Current trends such as AI, data analysis tools or artist services will be addressed in workshops and presentations. Panels in cooperation with VTMÖ and Impala as well as the VCC will address current concerns of independent labels and the club scene.
Upbeat at Waves
Absolutely cool news: Waves, the ever-evolving event, now includes UpBeat as part of a unique EU project; showcases featuring emerging ‘world music’ artists from around Europe: really? Well yes! Be prepared to be blown away by the range of music and experience that definition includes. It’s far more than you might think, covering elements of electronica / tradition / dance / songwriter and much more. Sheer quality, new vibes, new sonic adventures and experiences here at Waves: get ready!
OPEN CALL ON GIGMIT
As of now, the application for one of 10 slots, advertised via Gigmit, is open. In addition to a fixed fee of 300 EUR, you will also receive access to the entire festival and conference program as well as catering and, if applicable, an overnight stay on the day of the show. The registration at Gigmit and the application for one of the slots is completely free of charge.
GET YOUR TICKETS!
Festival Pass € 39 (Festival only, 3 days)
Conference Pass € 42 (Conference only, 3 days)
Pro Pass € 69 (Festival and Conference, 3 days)
