The Styrian Sounds Festival is celebrating its 10th anniversary: the Styrian pop culture event was held at the PPC from 11 to 13 April. This year, different bands and artists played on two floors over three days. The idea behind the festival and what happens next.
The bright green light of the headlights filters out through the doors of the PPC. All you hear from inside are the distant instruments. The first people to enter the festival, excited voices are heard – the concert starts with the first band: Buena Banda.
For three days, both stages of the PPC belong entirely to the Styrian artists. Whether young or old, newcomer or celebrity – Styria is the main thing. “The idea is to bring everyone in the Styrian music scene who is anchored in it to the stage in a focused way over one weekend,” explains Dietmar Tschmelak. He is co-organizer of the festival and has been there since the festival. Every year his job is to select bands for the festival who have released something. There are no limits on the content rock to hip-hop to electronic music, there’s a little bit of everything and everyone.
The “Avec” singer during her performance on Thursday – Photo: Sofia Müller Garcia
The dilemma of choice
The most important requirement for the Styrian Sounds Festival: The group or artist should come from Styria or at least have a Styrian connection. “Many of these artists leave Graz at some point, for example to move to Vienna and start new projects there. “Therefore it is important for us not to lose this connection with the outside world and to bring the artists back to Graz,” explains Dietmar Tschmelak.
Another important point is that the artists really deliver performances. Whether it’s an album or a song, it shouldn’t just be live bands that give a concert every now and then – the focus is on groups that can create something and then use the platform to wake up the audience.
The band Umami, presenting their new song “Pink and Blue” – Photo: Sofia Müller Garcia
More than a reason to celebrate
The festival is an opportunity for many bands to celebrate something. Many used it for an album release show, others for an anniversary or maybe for a first live show.
Grand Hotel Schilling was one of the bands that had an album release show. The band Graz, like many others, took the opportunity to present their new album “POLAR” to a large audience. “It describes a number of situations that concern us and today’s generation and it’s not meant to be critical, but to point out different situations,” the band explained in the interview. it was your first time there this year. Two years ago they were allowed to open the second day. For them it’s a dream to play on the main floor of the PPC himself.
The festival is not just about supporting existing artists. Bands playing for the first time also get a stage. Martina, alias Taineh, from Weizer, was able to open the second floor, the PPC bar, on Thursday. This was Taineh’s first live performance. When asked how it was for her, she replied simply: “Mega”. Martina also used Thursday to announce her new song, which will be released in May. Her song “Nightglow” is about certain relationships and a woman’s self-confidence in any relationship, she tells us in an interview.
Grand Hotel Schilling, which presents their new album “Polar” – Photo: Sofia Müller Garcia
future plans
After the festival celebrated its 10th anniversary this year, the question arises: What happens next? When asked if there will be special changes to the festival in the future, Dietmar Tschmelak answers: “So the foundations, Styrian artists: within the field of pop culture, is divided into two level that will be played at the same time, stay as they are. ” The venue will not change at all. Since the beginning of the festival, it has always happened at the PPC, because although it is always sold out, people do not want to move to a bigger place. “Not many people who come to the festival know half of the performances and that’s why I think it’s much more harmonious in a home setting, more intimate than in a big hall where everyone just comes to the main task,” explained Tschmelak.
Cover photo: The main floor of Styrian Sounds Festival 2024. – Sofia Müller Garcia
2024-04-15 23:03:01
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