SME @ Bad Bonn Kilbi Düdingen 31 May – 2 June 2018
Anyone who has ever been to Bad Bonn in Düdingen will never forget the place. Driving through the soft green hills in rural canton Fribourg, it is easy to think that you’re lost. It seems utterly impossible that a music venue serving up avant-garde indie sounds might have landed UFO-like in such idyllic surroundings. But it is true. Situated near an impossibly pretty lake, Bad Bonn, which was once part of a spa, is a hugely popular stop-over for the more adventurous-minded bands of all styles on their trek through Europe. Once a year, however, Bad Bonn celebrates its “Kilbi” – which is Swiss German for carnival. For three days, the fields around the venue become the site of a bijou festival featuring an exceptionally diverse programme full of surprises.
Now in its 28th year, Bad Bonn Kilbi once again features several artists who come highly recommended by Swiss Music Export.
Alois: an extraordinary trio from Lucerne with a line-up of guitar, bass, drums – and no vocals. Some might call it “prog”, but it’s prog with an exceptionally light and lyrical touch. Part of the Red Brick Chapel collective, the band’s debut album was released to great acclaim last autumn.
Jimi Jules & Kalabrese: Jimi Jules is no stranger to international dance audiences, having reached number 15 in the UK pop charts with his powerful 2014 collaboration with Oliver $, “Pushing On”, released on Defected Records. In Bad Bonn, Jimi Jules will be teaming up with producer and multi-instrumentalist Kalabrese.
Melissa Kassab: The young singer/songwriter from Geneva is blessed with a voice that seems to glide across her subtle melodies with no effort whatsoever, calling to mind the likes Alela Diane and Agnes Obel.
Reverend Beat-Man: The truly unique Reverend Beat-Man, self-anointed “King of Primitive Rock’n’Roll and Gospel Blues Trash” and founder of the legendary Voodoo Rhythm label, is a force of nature. He appears at the Kilbi with his astonishing new band, The New Wave, comprising the Californian singer Nicole Izobel Garcia, the avant-accordionist Mario Batkovic, the percussionist Julius Sartorius, and multi-instrumentalist Resli Burri.
Other Swiss acts taking part in this year’s Bad Bonn Kilbi are Bonaventure, Peter Conradin Zumthor, Gibraltar Vacuum, Ester Poly, Lautsprecher Orchester Freiburg, La Tène + guests, Harvey Rushmore & The Octopus, Hanreti, Pony, Savage Grounds, and East Sister.
Bad Bonn Kilbi
Alois
Jimi Jules & Kalabrese
Melissa Kassab
Reverend Beat-Man
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