Summer Blues in Basel
At the 15th Glaibasler Bluesfescht—the biggest open-air blues festival in Switzerland—the blues will be playing in all the alleyways and courtyards of the Kleinbasel old town for one summer evening. More than 15,000 blues fans make the pilgrimage to Basel every year, transforming the festival area into a large, atmospheric open-air blues club. On this evening, there will be over 50 hours of high-quality live blues, for free! Thirty-three bands from all over the world will play on five main stages in the old part of Kleinbasel, between Claraplatz and Theodorskirchplatz, as well as on the seven alley venues for the “Blues uff der Gass” (Blues in the alleys), including at the Rheingasse, Färbergässlein, Hermann Hess-Platz, Silberberg/Zum Lamm, Reverenzgässlein, Oberer Rheinweg, and Riehentorstrasse. Last year’s successful "Blues'n'Dine" will be back on “Du Pont,” the terrace above the Rhein at the Mittelere Brücke, where soul food will be served alongside acoustic blues from Stompin Blues Buddy. And new this year, the Rhein will become a veritable “Swississippi,” with “Blues uff em Bach” on the MS Rhystärn (the ship docked at Schifflände), where the Marco Pandolfi Duo and the Black Stompers will be providing a top blues mood on board.
Some of the highlights of this 15th edition include “Ladies Sing the Blues,” a highly exciting mix of retro meets blues at the Waisenhaus, one of the most beautiful courtyards in the entire festival area!; the “Best of Swiss Blues” where the finest blues meets a good portion of rock by three standout bands from the illustrious Swiss blues scene at the Theodorskirche venue; and “International Blues Stars” where The Charlie Morris Band (USA/CH), the Stefano Barigazzi Trio (ITA), and The Bluesanovas (DE) will play at Claraplatz.
Visit their website and click on “Programm 2024” for a complete list of the times and bands playing on the various stages. Don’t miss this truly fabulous event! Just stroll over and enjoy the music and the great atmosphere; there will be food and drink stands and bars set up throughout the concert areas.
All concerts on the evening are free!
Website
summerblues.ch/