Baloise Session returns for its 40th year
Listen Again
Wednesday, 15 October 2025 - 8 minutes
This year marks a major milestone for one of Switzerland’s most iconic music festivals. Baloise Session is celebrating 40 years of bringing world-class artists to Basel. Known for its intimate setting with candlelit tables and an audience that’s up close to the stage, the festival has always offered something truly special. Over the decades, it’s hosted some of the biggest names in music - from Elton John, Tom Jones, and Alicia Keys to Nina Simone and James Brown - all performing in a setting that feels more like a private club than a major festival.
On today's WRS Breakfast Show, Beatrice Stirnimann, CEO of the Baloise Session, joins WRS’s Katt Cullen to talk about the festival’s spirit, what makes it stand out, and how it’s evolved over the past four decades. They discuss the importance of keeping performances intimate, the mix of genres that make up the lineup each year - from rock and pop to soul, jazz, and blues - and the magic of seeing legendary artists perform in such a personal space.
Beatrice also shares which artists have truly taken her breath away on that stage, and what makes her nervous as the festival kicks off...
Baloise Session runs 17 October to 6 November 2025, and the programme this year features Duran Duran, Amy Macdonald, Aloe Blacc and Queens of the Stone Age. Though it's now mostly sold-out, a lucky few can still grab tickets for this Saturday’s show featuring Parov Stelar and Berlioz for a night of electro / electro-swing.
