Yep I don't use it, irritating notifications for gigs i wasn't interested in or that were not anywhere nearby.

Small venues are great, but major artist won't play tiny venues, unless they do secret gigs! I love seeing unknowns at small venues and have got to discover some really cool bands even here in Zürich. But one of the best gigs i've been to was Nick Cave last November at Hallenstadion, admittedly I was near the stage. My point is that even big venues can be fantastic, but probably not from the back or sitting in the gods.

Iron & Wine - 2nd Feb - X-TRA

Belle & Sebastian - 12th Feb - X-TRA

Franz Ferdinand - 11th March - Halle 662

G3 Tour (Satriani, Petrucci, Roth) - 11th April - Volkshaus

David Byrne - July 17 - Theater 11

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Bit of 90's retro for anyone who's interested...

The Charlatans - Mascotte, Zurich 24 Feb 2018

http://www.mascotte.ch/nu/events/event_details/7881

I've just done a search to see what kind of gigs are of interest to this community - and I found to my horror and disappointment that nothing has been posted about El Lokal for more than five years! El Lokal, pretty much the centre of town, is in my view the best and most atmospheric place in Zurich to see invariably great bands in an intimate - and bizarre - setting. Their style generally ranges from Americana to Folk, Garage rock and Africana. Well worth going there just on the off-chance - I always do when I'm in Zurich: http://www.ellokal.ch/?lang=en&details=9

I disagree it's a terrible music venue, they do get good artists but it never does the music justice. I have been many times and I am always disappointed by the venue and the crowd tend to not be interested in the music, just stand around talking.

Oh dear! This truly is not my experience. On the contrary, Viktor has a militant policy of throwing out any talkers at gigs, sometimes physically.

That's not quite true

ha! that didn't come up in my search - sorry.

No need to apologize - EF search function is a gamble.

Aye. I was born a shade too late to be there at the heyday of the British Punk scene. Ah well. For me, one of the best things about the smaller venues is the feeling of being "in the music". Not just "there". Really "in it". And then there is the energy of it. And the possibility of getting to know the people behind the music. That's what i'm usually after.

A bit harsh calling it terrible. The layout isn‘t conventional but the sound‘s good, the artists top class and bar staff speedy. Talking at concerts isn‘t unique there; if anything it‘s better than elsewhere IMO. It‘s often a bit of a sausage fest but sadly that‘s also true at live concerts throughout the city. Am no fan of that cheat Maradona's portrait painted over a beautiful old chart of the British Isles

I‘m a fan of the Salzhaus in Winterthur: having a dedicated lounge and bar area away from the stage / dancefloor works well and the place is the Goldilocks size.

They' re meant to be on top form again.

agree as regards Salzhaus. And your comments on El Lokal - though my cheating heart has a soft spot for that Maradona portrait, if not the man himself.

Winti has some really cool venues. Gaswerk, Lokwerk, Kesselhaus (when they do something), sometimes Albani. Besides all the other cool stuff they do. Winti Musicfestwochen is by now almost known to everyone. Then there is the Kurzfilmtage and so on. Culturally they are quite up there, even though the place is rather small compared to Zürich.

PS: I like El Lokal. Its different. Like the Rote Fabrik. And it works. Most times.

18.03.2018 FU MANCHU in Mascotte Zürich


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ReHVEV81Ifw

If anyone wants to meet up at X-Tra tonite for Iron and Wine, drop me a line (PM) :-)

Steve Earle's playing at Volkshaus on 11 July. His last couple of albums might have been not quite up to previous standards, but I reckon he's still well worth catching live. I met him once and came away with tons of stories. His son, Justin Townes Earle, recently made a fabulous new album, too, by the way.

Not a Swiss gig, but one that some in Ticino might think is worth the trip. John Cale is playing OGR Turino this Saturday night. The gig has been badly promoted and I only found out about it by accident. Managed to get seats in the front sector of the hall for €34.

Sleaford Mods

Neuchâtel Case à Chocs Thursday 26th April
Zurich Mascotte Friday 27th April

Thursday, 26th April (Neuchâtel)

Friday, 27th April (Zurich)

^^Thank you!

Ty Segall and the Freedom Band

Salzhaus Winterthur Sunday 27th May



In marveling at the sheer volume of Segall’s discography, it’s easy to overlook his growth as a writer. He’s often slotted alongside peers like Thee Oh Sees and King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard in the pantheon of garage-rockers with exploratory impulses and little regard for traditional promo cycles. But it’s more apt to mention him in the same breath as musicians like Robert Pollard, Ted Leo, or Elliott Smith—expert melody-makers who borrow liberally from the classic-rock canon, but reshape and demystify it in their own eccentric image. And on Freedom’s Goblin, the tuneful sensibility that Segall has been nurturing since 2011’s Goodbye Bread fully blossoms into sky-high hooks and rich, resonant lyricism, all while keeping his primordial spirit intact. - Pitchfork review