Rumours are a part of life. They can be entertaining and informative, but they can also be negative and misleading. This section contains local scene rumours, short infos and some insider tips. All from an informative perspective, therefore our SDS Fact Checker will focus on true informations.
◉ She Past Away just announced their 2025/2026 tour, and no Swiss dates appear on it. But what if we tell you that there will also be a SPA show in Switzerland in early 2026? And this is not a rumour, it’s a fact! So stay tuned…
> This event is not yet on our calendar.
◉ Very soon there will be news about an unprecedented concert in a cemetery. We’ll keep you updated…
◉ The Young Gods will play at the Bad Bonn Kilbi Festival in Düdingen on September 4. This will be the first of 8 concerts in Switzerland presenting their new album Appear Disappear.
> This event is not on our calendar.
◉ This Saturday (16.8) DarkAppeal will be holding a DarkAppeal Session – a dark party for the first time at the legendary Madeleine Club in Luzern.
◉ How about some post-punk and punk contrast? Emily Kinski’s Dead and The Escalator Haters live on November 22 at Royal Baden. (Aftershow Punk DJ)
> This event is not on our calendar.
◉ Ulysse Marshall is looking for a backing vocals female singer/musician – bass or synth (Darkwave / Post-Punk / Synthpop). Next shows: Lausanne and Paris.
◉ On today’s Swiss national day listen to “Helvetia” by Verbrennung 3. Grades – Salomé Käsemodel reflections on Switzerland are taken from the album Die unsichtbare Hand des Marktes würgt mich (ohne Konsens).
◉ If you are into Shoegaze, on September 12 at the Lustwerkstatt in Burgdorf, DJ Tristesse will be in charge of the sound at the Nachtflug party, which this time will be in the style of shoegaze, dreampop and other distorted sounds.
> This event is not on our calendar.
◉ Today (30.7) begins the delivery of Plague Pits new vinyl album Escalator to the Abattoir. Limited edition of 250 copies – orders via Bandcamp.
◉ For those into experimental post-industrial wave, Phytia’s Cables has released the new album The Swing Door via Bandcamp.
◉ One of the most promising bands on the current local scene: Tomorrow’s Ghost will be performing live on July 31 at Eldorado Bar in Biel – with Björn Peng and Unhaim.
> Not on our calendar.
◉ For those cassette nerds out there, Lebanon Hanover tape Asylum Lullabies can now be ordered via Bandcamp. Additionally, the band has also made available some cassette reissues of some of their various albums.
◉ If you are preparing for the Amphi Festival, Hell Boulevard will be playing on Saturday on the main stage, and Dunkelsucht – with special guest Marion (Metallspürhunde) will be performing on Sunday on the theatre stage.
> Not on our calendar.
◉ Blanche Biau will release her new album Heartcore with a listening party at Kioskio in Zürich on July 16 (17:00 – 20:00).
> Not on our calendar.
◉ This July, Swiss Dark Nights will be releasing Ash Code new album Synthome, as well as the second press of Ductape album Ruh.
◉ Regarding the previous insider tip “Take note of this band’s name: Corlyx. There will be news soon…”
> Confirmed, Corlyx will play in November at Der Schwarze Ball.
◉ As a tribute to Damian Weber (BAK XIII) who sadly passed away last Saturday (14.6), DJ Herr Liebe will be playing a special set dedicated to “Dada” tomorrow (Friday 20.6) from 20:00 on Promenade de St. Antoine 8, Genève (Fête de la Musique 2025).
And on Saturday (21.6) there will be an 80’s disco tribute to DJ Dada @ La Parfumerie in Genève.
> Not on our calendar.
◉ Some cinemas in Aarau, Basel, Winterthur, Bern, Solothurn, Zürich, St. Gallen, Brugg and Wettingen will be announcing their programming for the film Mutiny in Heave (Nick Cave and the history of The Birthay Party).
In the Romandie, the film will be shown in September. No infos yet for Ticino.
◉ The Young Gods released today their new album Appear Desappear. Unfortunately, there are technical problems with some tracks on streaming platforms. The band celebrates 40th anniversary by presenting their new album and a European Tour, including 7 shows in Switzerland: Genève, Zürich, Biel, Bern, Basel, St. Gallen and Luzern.
◉ Take note of this band’s name: Corlyx. There will be news soon…
◉ Twin Tribes returns this year for their 2025 European tour. Their only show in Switzerland will be in Bern.
◉ For those who won’t be attending WGT, here’s the calendar with the events for this weekend, which starts tomorrow…
◉ For those attending WGT, the Geneva band Lone Assembly will perform on Sunday (8.6) at 17:30 @ Parkschloss.
Laura Krieg will be performing live this weekend in Bern, Basel and also at the Gothic Pogo Festival in Leipzig.
And if you missed Darkways in Zürich, Patriarchy in Aarau, and French Police in Luzern, they will also be performing at WGT.
◉ Thomas Rainer (Nachtmahr and L’Âme Immortelle) will be DJing at the upcoming Abyss Calling party. Local DJs Silent Batbeat (Dunkelsucht) and Anubis complete the lineup.
◉ This weekend two local dark music radio shows will air on the same day and at the same time: Saturday (24.5) Leo Swiss Radio and Schwarzlicht Radio. You can listen to both (podcasts).
◉ Regarding the previous insider tip “A Scandinavian band will arrive at the end of the year…”
> Confirmed – The Norwegian band Mayflower Madame (Post-Punk, Shoegaze, Psychedelia) will be performing for the first time in Switzerland at Der Schwarze Ball.
◉ Mottentanz cancelled The Last Exit for the Lost. The reasons were not explained, but it seems that the label will present some of the announced bands next year.
◉ This Saturday (17.5) DJ Voodoo from the legendary Big Apple Club (the first dark club in Zürich) will be performing alongside DJ Subton at the aftershow party following the IAMX and Ductape concert in St. Gallen.
◉ A Scandinavian band will arrive at the end of the year to play a single concert in Switzerland.
◉ Regarding the previous insider tip “A new DJane will make her debut at More than Mode.”
> Confirmed, Azrabelle will be present for the first time at die legendäre MTM vor Auffahrt (Floor: Post-Punk Division). DJ Grau & DJ Majka (also for the first time @ MTM), and DJ Subton complete the line-up (28.4).
◉ Regarding the previous rumour “Apparently, at the end of the year the singer of a local band will be celebrating his birthday with a live show + Party in Zürich.”
> Partially correct rumour. It’s about Patrick Näf (Dunkelsucht) who will be celebrating his 30th birthday on 13.12 with the organisation of the new Festival: Let Your Darkness Out! Featuring bands like Nachtmahr, Cygnosic, Metallspürhune and Dunkelsucht. This new festival will take place at Musigburg in Aarburg.
◉ A new DJane will make her debut on May 28 at die legändere MTM vor Auffahrt (Floor: Post-Punk Division). We will soon know the name… (8.5).
◉ Nico Amara – a new artist from Lugano based in Basel releases her debut album Constraints on May 9.
◉ Regarding the previous insider tip “A well-known couple on the Zürich scene will be behind the turntables for the first time at More than Mode.”
> Debut confirmed. On May 28 DJ Grau & DJ Majka will be behind the turntables for the first time at die legändere MTM vor Auffahrt (Floor: Post-Punk Division)
◉ Regarding The previous insider tip “An English synthpop band with over 30 years of experience will play in Switzerland this year.”
> Confirmed. The Bristol band Mesh will perform as Headliner on November 8 @ Der Schwarze Ball in Zürich.
◉ Regarding the previous insider tip “Apparently, Diary of Dreams will return to Switzerland after a couple of years to perform live at the end of the year…”
> Confirmed. Diary of Dreams to play on November 8 @ Der Schwarze Ball.
◉ One of the scene’s best-kept secrets – an Italian-Swiss goth band from the Lombardy Ticino region.
> Exactly 40 years ago The Dead Relatives recorded their first production: Commentarius In Apocalipsin – a cassette recording from 4 decades ago with a gothic and post-punk sound, but also with elements of deathrock.
◉ Apropos decades… an English synthpop band with over 30 years of experience will play in Switzerland this year.
> We will reveal the name of the band very soon (24.4)
◉ Apropos 30 years… apparently, at the end of the year the singer of a local band will be celebrating his birthday in Zürich.
> The plan is for the band to perform live, followed by an after-show party. The program has yet to be finalized. We will be on the lookout… (6.5)
◉ Apropos birthday… DJ TOM-I (The Bat Scene) celebrates his 50th birthday.
> On June 27 at Photobastei Zürich, Tom will be celebrating his birthday with a concert and party. Live on stage: Joy Disaster + Djane Medusa.
◉ Apropos X-TRA… Genève band Haneke Twins to play Der Schwarze Ball on November 11.
> Confirmed. The Swiss-Greek band will play in Zürich for the first time this year. Haneke Twins is made up of colleagues from CERN Genève (each member of the band holds a doctorate degree in physics).
◉ Apropos Greek ancestry… Larissa Georgiou (Larissa Iceglass) is coming home.
> After 10 years, Lebanon Hanover to play in Larissa’s hometown St. Gallen (10.5). They will also perform in Genève (8.5).
◉ Apropos Swiss singer with Greek ancestry… the enigmatic singer of SIIE is also Swiss and she has also Greek ancestry.
> That’s true, but as long as the duo don’t reveal their names officially, we won’t either. When it is known many people in the Swiss scene will be pleasantly surprised.
> Btw, on May 2 SIIE will release the deut album “ACMÉ” through Cold Transmission.
◉ Apropos masked artists... the singer and drummer of Blackbook are Albert Den Dekker and Matthias Kräutli.
> Well, that’s already known (although maybe not by everyone). Both musicians are the former singer and drummer of the band My Name is Georg.
> Btw, Blackbook has released a new single: “Suffer in Silence”. The duo will perform at Super Schwarzes Dortmund alongside Diary of Dreams.
◉ Apropos Diary of Dreams… apparently (and this is more than a rumour) the German band will return to Switzerland after a couple of years to perform live at the end of the year…
> We will be on the lookout… (23.4)
◉ Apropos German bands… Wolfgang Flür of Kraftwerk, along with Peter Hook (Joy Division / New Order) and Boris Blank (Yello), will release a cookbook.
> Ok, ok 😀 The truth is that Wolfgang Flür has released (28.3) his latest album: “Times”. He produced one of the songs with Peter Hook, and another: “Global Youth” with Boris Blank.
◉ Apropos legendary bands… Grauzone will play in the Netherlands this 2025.
> Nope, that’s not true. The Dutch festival Grauzone posted on its social media accounts that Grauzone would be performing at the festival this year. In reality, it was an April fool’s joke.
> What many don’t know is that Martin Eicher has written new songs for a new Grauzone album, so sooner or later it will be released.
◉ Apropos April… next week, April 12, the first Schwarzlicht Radio show will be broadcast.
> Every 2nd and 4th Saturday of the month from 21h to 23h on Radio RaBe (Bern). The Schwarzlicht Radio show will air with dark music (classics and current tracks) and also interviews. The show is hosted by DJ Hecura and R.O.X.Y. MonoXyd. You can listen to the shows online.
◉ Apropos dark radio and Grauzone… Marco Repetto, experimental musician (ambient electronica…) and also founder and former drummer of Grauzone – the interview.
> Vinylirium is the radio show hosted by Roman Tschopp that constantly features topics and interviews about the local scene. So Marco will be one of the next guests on Radio Kanal K.
> Btw, Roman is also looking into the possibility of organizing events with bands and DJs in front of an audience live at Radio Kanal K.
◉ Apropos Repettos… Marco’s son Angelo Repetto has a new project.
> Six months ago, Angelo, under his latest project Konstant (with Nicolas Balmer) released “Unbändiger Kinder”. The album features an electro sound with elements of New Wave, Post-Punk, and Krautrock.
◉ Apropos sons… Adrian Marin (DJ Dustform) son of our late friend Jesus Marin (DJ Jesus 66) has started his own label.
> ExAnima Prjct is Adrian’s new party label (based in Luzern and Zürich).
◉ Apropos new projects based in Luzern… the DarkAppeal label is working on a new project.
> Apparently it seems to be a festival in Luzern. Meanwhile, DarkAppeal will be holding a party every month until the end of the year at Wunderbox in Zürich. Next party (25.4).
◉ Apropos labels… Gothic Romandie organises Gothic Romandie 2 in Lausanne.
> The event consisted of a retrospective exhibition, roundtable debate, live shows, party and dark market. Several guests will participate including Mona Soyoc (KaS Product), Matt Baumann (Future Faces), DJ SpiderB, DJ Antz, Miguel Angel, Sandrine Pelletier, Yann Courtiau, MXD, and Tomorrow’s Ghost as local hero.
◉ Apropos Tomorrow’s Ghost… the Lausanne band will play in Aargau for the first time.
> The concert will be on May 10 in Musigburg. The Romand band will open the night for This Eternal Decay.
> In our opinion, Tomorrow’s Ghost was the revelation band of 2024. We saw them at their first gig in Zürich in a cold basement in front of 20 people (that’s how those stories begin…) Don’t miss it.
◉ Apropos first time… a well-known couple on the Zürich scene will be behind the turntables for the first time at More than Mode.
> On May 28 is der legendäre Mittwoch vor Auffahrt. So as usual there will be around a thousand people spread across three floors, but this time with special guests spinning on the Post-Punk Division floor. The line-up will be announced soon.
◉ Apropos May… May will see a record break for the number of dark events in a single month in all of Switzerland.
> So far there are 41 events scheduled – 24 concerts with 31 bands (10 local bands / 23 international bands) and 17 parties with 41 DJs.
◉ Apropos DJs… DJ jYGi (Death by Unicorn) and DJ Subton (More than Mode) have threatened to play a tennis match.
> We had already heard about that match, but the DJs say the necessary conditions aren’t right yet (the weather and also because they still can’t find any black tennis clothes (hmm…). Anyway, it seems that the match will be this summer, so there will be signs, and there will certainly be videos to see their cute white legs 😀
> By the way, DJ Subton also has a tennis match on standby with Minu-Schirin, the singer of Delta Komplex. We’ll be on the lookout.
◉ Apropos black clothes… everyone knows some stores and brands where you can buy dark clothing and accessories, but there are also local brands from people in the scene who design their own creations.
> We’re talking about Mephista (Bern), Twisted Ego (Vaud) and Blaubluth (Zürich). Not all of them serve in stores, but you can find their catalogs online.
◉ Apropos stores… for record lovers, we recommend one record store in particular.
> It’s 16 Tons in Zurich. There you can find all kinds of music, but it’s also one of the few stores where you can find records by local scene bands from the ’80s.
◉ Apropos records… and what about records and virtual albums by current local bands?
> In that case, we recommend the labels Swiss Dark Nights, Roosevelt Records, Cold Transmission, Young & Cold, and Manic Depression. Obviously, many bands sell their music independently, so check out also their own Linktrees.
◉ Apropos local bands’ records… Karl Kave to release a new vinyl album.
> On April 25 Karl Kave, this time in a duo with Julia Toggenburger, will release the album “Blauer Planet”. A recommended production for fans of minimal wave and synthpop. More information on his social media.
◉ Apropos social media… follow us on our new Instagram account: swissdarkscene – and don’t miss a glimpse of what’s about yet to come…!!!
◉ Ok, that’s all for now. But we’ll be adding more content constantly…
