In April of last year, an Upper Austrian festival was transformed to meet the ideals of its new slogan Extending Battle Territories: the Donaufestival. As it used to be a, what its organisers call, representative national festival, it hasn’t lost its rather sophisticated attitude. Yet, the people behind it shifted their project towards the rougher part of pop culture: underground (what a horrible word to use, I’m sorry). The result is different to anything available in this country, in a lot of ways: it’s not just one weekend/week, there are three, there aren’t any big (alternative) pop names, but heroes of scenes of various odd genres. Neither does it restrict itself to music - they try to expand the horizon of the visitor/consumer with theater, performance art, installations, in some cases interaction (now, where did the consumer go?).

As I’m aware that this has limited effect on Vienna itself, especially since it’s explicitly set outside of this city. Prejudiced me still believes that the majority of the guests come from somewhere round here.

Hence, I’m proud to be the messenger of the musical lineup:

April 20th
zeitkratzer meets Keiji Haino, …And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead, Mouse On Mars

April 21st
Zu, Bohren & Der Club Of Gore, Taraf de Haïdouks, The Fantômas Melvins Big Band, Autechre

April 22nd
Stuart A. Staples, Mandarin Movie, zeitkratzer:songs!, Mogwai

April 27th
Sound Body. Curated by David Toop (1), Terre Thaemlitz: K.-S.H.E.

April 28th
Sound Body. Curated by David Toop (2), Vladislav Delay, Dani Siciliano / Matthew Herbert

April 29th
Terre Thaemlitz & Saki, Merz, dieb 13/eRikm/Still/Billy Roisz, Benzo, Peaches

April 30th
Faust, Uniform, Dresden Dolls, Clubnacht (Various Artists)

May 4th
Wolf Eyes, Gang Gang Dance, Battles, Architecture In Helsinki

May 5th
Echo Depth Finders, Kool Keith, Beat Connection Jam, The 45 King

May 6th
No-Neck Blues Band, Kammerflimmer Kollektief, Thee Silver Mt Zion Memorial Orchestra & Tra-La-La Band

Dates in April are in Krems, the ones May are in Klosterneuburg. More about everything, tickets, and the like, on their website. Heck, I’m excited.