15 Years of Uniting Artists

Vienna’s Gürtel, Austria 20251001-04

The second time we have the privilege and honor to cover this beloved and stablished festival. From the deep core local artists to the furthest Faroe Islands and Australia, to name an example, Waves Vienna celebrated their 15th edition with 118 acts from 24 different countries on 11 stages. Numbers are easy to write but the massive work that is behind to make those happen is something worth mentioning and we, more than as press but as music lovers, would like to make shoutout to the Waves team and congratulate them for their fantastic job.

The Autumn has already started and the chills were all around the city. It all started in a cold evening on October 1st, the appointment was at Volkstheater Wien to inaugurate activities of this big time celebration. A small reception was held before the event at the White Room on the first floor of the Theater. A room that might have hosted parties of the bourgeoisie in past times is now the host of this festival, bringing together people and artists from all around. One can breathe a festive and friendly air in the house. We are all excited about the 15th anniversary of Waves Vienna.

The night was hosted and lead by the charismatic and talented Maria Burger, better know for her project OSKA, presenting her latest album “Refined Believer“. With sweet and kind energy, OSKA drove the night smoothly, presenting and interviewing the special guests of the night. The line-up included a variety of artists like the pop singer Josh. and the rapper Teya, to begin with. Followed by the funny and chatty Oskar Haag, whos duo with OSKA was one of my favorites of the night, and the band Hearts Hearts presenting their latest single “Champagne Supernova“.

Next came the rapper Yasmo with her cool attitude and smooth bars, and the singer Hans Platzgumer, Maria’s admiration for their career was palpable and touching. And last but definitely not least, Christina Stürmer and her stage stance and confidence, who gave me the sensation that was passing the baton to OSKA. Coming next, Farce with her vibrant and fresh electro pop project.

A great night to mark the beginning of what was a celebration of togetherness and artists diversity. After this opening night, only more great shows would come, and it did. And here a brief summary and highlights of what we could experience.

Note: This year I tried to focus on the XA Export Awards nominees, an award given to the best performance at Waves Vienna. These artists will be marked with an “*”.

Thursday

Indoor Foxes – @B72

Presented themselves with a refreshed grunge attitude of a late 90s band. Martha Baar is a show-woman in all the definitions of the word, with a natural ability to move the crowd. Powerful and communicative voice range.

Sanna Frankie* – @Coco

A simple single staging, there was no need for more, only her and her beautiful voice. The emotional delivery and voice range are on her side. Touching performance, I would describe it using her words it was an “emotional whiplash”.

The empty threats – @Chelsea

A band of Aussies with all the energy one would expect. Neverminded the jetlag or the tiredness, they’re performing and showing what they are made for. At some point I felt that the venue was slightly small for them as for a couple of songs I had the feeling they needed more space and a bigger sound to fully deliver their energetic show and sound. Anyway, a great set and show that was one of my highlights.

Baby Smith – @Loop

Before the festival started I was reached directly by Rachel to have a look at their set, after listening to their EPs I was convinced to move my schedule, and give them a chance, they didn’t disappoint at all. It was definitely a great discovery. A band settled in Berlin but with notorious Australian roots and influence. They have a sound like a mild wave, tripping in a far-away island but not alone, together with friends.

Beaks* – @B72

A great performance worthy of their XA nomination. The attitude and stage presence was eye opening. Anna, the singer, has a superpower to make all the attention get into her. Then they surprised me with a great cover of a personal favorite “Kids“ by Current Joys, all brought down to earth by the bass player.
In my mind they were a strong contender for the award.

Lovehead* – @B72

Immediately after came the austrian trio with a good connection with an already engaged and joyful crowd, and humble enough to start again when the beat wasn’t right, which requires a lot to admit it. They close their set with a punch that left a good impression. And deliver a cover of a classic “nur ein wort” by Wir sind Helden in a strokes like version.

The Deadnotes – @Carina

A great choice to close the day, simply fantastic. They have the energy of a headliner, with a lot of energy and a stage presence that get everyone craving for more. I felt fortunate to watch them in a venue as small as Carina, they’re surely headline festivals soon. With their upbeat and sometimes crazy energy got all the crowd dancing. At times I got the feeling of an old school rock n roll band from the 80s.

Friday

ildikó – @The Loft Main Floor

It’s always hard to be the first artist at a festival. ildikó started shy at the beginning but song after song she got more confident as the beats were at the right pace backing her rhymes, perfect to warm the crowd. At the middle of the set there was a change of pitch, presenting her second persona as part of a collective of artists presence, it was an interesting move to say it somehow.

DuoLia. -@Loft Wohnzimmer

Next and with a slight overlapping on the schedule, the oneiric softness of DuoLia hypnotized a receptive crowd. The venue gave the sensation to be at a friends place vibing to their lyrics. From the first time I saw them live I got trapped by the simplicity yet fully embodied band, percussions played with a couple of pedals, and voices coming together in a single sweet whisper. A pair of super talented women with a complicit sisterhood that can comfort the souls of whoever’s listening.

Filiah* – @Lucia

Earlier this day Filiah shared a worrying message, she was feeling sick yet she will show up and deliver her best to her excited crowd. Overcoming sickness, with a warm tea and medicine on the stage, Nina delivered her heart and soul in a lovely performance. She wasn’t overselling the “full band act” when we talked in late August (read the lovely interview, here), they all added a defining touch to the setlist full of the recently released songs and some other new, left me impatient for the new album to come. My highlights would be “Mean Something” and “Atlas“, sang along with the crowd.
This titanic effort to present herself with open heart made her worthy of the XA Export Award winning price.

Jo The Man The Music* – @Rhiz

Another XA Award nominee, who I thought was one of the strongest contestants. Jo presented her project with an honest, direct, and heart in hand performance. Humble and sweet with the crowd, Jo created a real connection. I had her on my top contenders for the price as the setlist was flawless with a great closure with “blablabla” and “Skinny Dipping“, her latest released single. I cannot wait for her to release her debut album.

Tough Cookie – @Chelsea

Sleep deprived and hangover, straight out of another gig at their hometown. The Londoners delivered one of the most exciting shows of the day, a flawless grunge set that put everybody to headbang and jump together. The highlights for me would be “paycheck”, played for the first time live, and “Happiness” with post-rock/emo stains all around, the first song of their first album. It was: “Something punk, something poetic”.

Alles Exhausted – @Lucia

My plan for the night was to close it with Alles Exhausted. But even after running to get to the venue I was a too late and I could only listen to the last song only because the crowd asked for it as their set was already over. Too sad I couldn’t see more, I would need to be attentive to their media to catch them in their next show. Hopefully soon.

Saturday

Frachild – @Loop

A soothing start to the fest for me. With an overstimulated mind I was ready to start the last day of the festival, and all the mental noise I had since I woke up dissipated after listening to their smooth harmonies, an auditory hug to the audience and an outstanding ability to build atmospheres that add up to the lyrics and ambiance.

Lucia 17:45

The Guilt – @Lucia

As part of the open door sets that the festival had. The Guilt played an early show to tease the crowd with what is the Swedish queer-punk energy. “We like cats and queers”. The guilt present themselves with the energy of two volcanoes (”red light”) and the fierceness of two lionesses. If you ever thought there weren’t any on Sweden, well I saw them live. They shove their energy and message into our faces, contagious, vibrant, and rebellious energy, that got everyone dancing their assess off (Dance to the revolution).

Zelda Weber – @Carina

The first though I had -What a voice!-. Next thing I noticed was the great band she has behind. Not only the bassist talent but her groove and style, they got me immediately. The projection she can reach is worth noticing, the way Zelda manages her voice between intensities and even styles is astonishing. Highlight: the scat singing along with the sax in the middle of the set. Definitely an artist to have an eye on.

humming people – @Kramladen

I was gladly surprise that the band had a very good reception from the beginning. The venue was to its fullest with people singing and dancing along. The difference of their set was that they turn their duo into a more cohesive band with the help of a live drummer, a great touch to enhance the delivery of the already cool songs.

Sandra Monfort – @Lucia

On my way to the next act on my schedule, I came cross to the sound of Sandra Monfort’s Valencian bachata. This stop was not on my day plan but I would say it was a happy surprise. One of the cool things that Waves Vienna enables, the bar hoping between acts that might caught you off guard.

Aggrasoppar – @Loft Wohnzimmer

Without a doubt one of the most surprising acts I had the chance to attend. I showed up by mere curiosity as when I listened to their recorded music I didn’t understand it yet I got intrigued. There is no way words or recordings can explain what was their show. Pure madness with a motif. Lots of inexplicable fun. If you have the chance to watch them live, do not miss it.

Denevér – @Kramladen

As post-punk as it can get. Call me biased but if someone would bring us cool post punk, it would be a band with a Latino influence. With lyrics that go from reality checks (“Antes todo esto era campo“) to rebellious and angry statements (“Y la rabia como mecanismo“).

The feather – @Rhiz

Another improvised stop on the way to the next show. I was more than caught by the couple of songs I got to listen from them. They reminded me a bit of Foals, maybe because of the voice, maybe due to the bands complex unity, I’m not sure, but I would definitely follow them after this happy accident. The closing with “All my life” ended up to convince me.

Lina-Mariah – @Loop

A bit of sound issues at the beginning served to build the anticipation. Lina-Mariah’s sound to me like Pop-punk with sparks from the early 2000s, a genre that has always been there but she brought it back to a new generation, themes might be similar but the way to talk about them an her openness brings a new layer to this genre that was very necessary. All that without losing the naive fun ideals that we all need and follow when young.

And like this, it goes another edition of one of my favorite festivals. If you are still haven’t attended it, do not doubt to do so any more. Every year is a compendium of hyper diverse artists with different backgrounds and styles to show, yet it still feels like a cohesive hub of contemporary music. Without a doubt I can say this is one of those festivals that need to be on the concert schedule planning of every year. (You can get your early bird tickets, here).

Again, let me congratulate Filiah for winning the XA Export Award, I personally feel very proud and happy for Nina. Congratulations! We cannot wait to see what is to come. If you are in Vienna there is still a chance to see her live on November 4th (tickets here), this time in a solo set supporting Now. together with Ivery.

And lastly, I would like to send a shoutout to my companions of this year Da-beat who has been a great festival companion for years, and Méi Lán who helped again taking some photos (I couldn’t point precisely to hers but I’m pretty sure the best ones are work of her sensitive eye).

See you next year at Waves Vienna 2026.