It’s September… stress levels have risen, but so has the bar. Festivals, releases, prizes and tours are popping up everywhere. Feeling overwhelmed? We hear you, we see you, we kinda feel the same. But let us help… Check out this month’s round-up of stand-out events, releases and special-specials, and see you at the next show!
VERY Festive
From September 11–14, Šibenik’s historic setting will once again host the SHIP Festival, bringing together nearly 50 artists and over 100 industry guests for concerts and talks across the city. Among the international lineup, Filiah and Lucy Dreams will showcase their sounds against the striking backdrop of the Adriatic, adding an Austrian note to this coastal gathering. Links to the concerts can be found here (Lucy Dreams) and here (Filiah).
AUSTRIAN HEARTBEATS Reception & Austrian Bands at Nürnberg Pop: The Nürnberg Pop Festival returns from October 9–11, transforming churches, clubs, museums, and other city spaces into concert venues. As part of the program, AME will host a reception and present 8 Austrian acts – Anna Buchegger, Dani Lia, Laurenz Nikolaus, Magdalena Wawra, NAPAEA, Sharktank and Wallners – offering audiences and professionals a chance to connect with the diverse sounds coming out of Austria today.
Bludenz Days for Contemporary Music (Sept 18–21): This year’s Bludenzer Tage Zeitgemäßer Musik runs from September 18–21 under the artistic direction of Mirela Ivičević. The festival continues its tradition as a “place of freedom and experiment,” bringing together premieres, cross-disciplinary projects, and adventurous programming in an intimate Vorarlberg setting.
Seba Kayan at VISA FOR MUSIC in Rabat: From November 19–22, Rabat will host VISA FOR MUSIC, a showcase festival that brings together artists and industry professionals from across the world. Seba Kayan is part of this year’s lineup, presenting her work to an international audience in Morocco.
ORF musikprotokoll at steirischer herbst once again serves as Austria’s key festival for cutting-edge sound art and contemporary composition. The 2025 edition features a broad spectrum of international and local voices, reaffirming its role as a hub for the newest developments in experimental music. The 58th edition of steirischer herbst returns to the festival’s antifascist roots. Its starting point is the satirical play Nie wieder Friede (1934–36) by the German-Jewish writer Ernst Toller.
From October 9–12, 2025, DE/SEMBLE returns—four days where sound moves freely, where jazz bends the rules, and where music invites us to experience the world a little differently. DE/SEMBLE and all of its national and international artists are excited to bring boundary-pushing sounds and impulses to various stages throughout Vienna. Some program highlights include Helene Glüxam, Yvonne Moriel, Vincent Pongracz and more.
I shall be released
On October 14, Lucy Dreams unveil their new concept album VVVVV with a special release show at the Wiener Konzerthaus (Berio-Saal). Known for their futuristic mix of dream pop, synthwave, and striking visuals, the trio of Zero, One, and their digital bandmate Lucy promise an immersive performance. After tours across Europe and beyond—and fresh from winning the XA Export Award—the concert marks a bold new chapter for the Austrian outfit.
Eyht and Jahson the Scientist – “Gold”: Eyht teams up with Jahson the Scientist to deliver “Gold,” a track that blends sharp lyricism with soulful energy. The official video captures the duo’s dynamic presence, pairing striking visuals with the song’s vibrant sound. “Gold” is featured on the upcoming album Culture, set to drop on October 3rd. With its rich production and thought-provoking verses, the single sets the tone for what promises to be a powerful, genre-bending project.
A bittersweet mood sets the tone in du küsst jetzt jemand anderen :/, the latest single from Dani Lia in collaboration with JAS. Released on August 8, 2025, the song dives right into the ache of seeing someone you care about move on, blending Dani Lia’s emotive vocals with JAS’s atmospheric touch.
Musically, the track balances delicate electronic production with pop sensibilities—soft synth pads meet crisp beats, and emotional lyrics about love lost resonate without becoming melodramatic. The accompanying official video, released around the same time, visualizes that tension with subtle imagery and intimacy. For fans of Dani Lia’s vulnerability and storytelling, this one lands as a potent snapshot of heartbreak in motion.
Sharktank’s new single Crash lands as a shimmering and urgent blend of synth-pop and indie energy, unveiling their latest sonic chapter. With raw live textures and soaring hooks, the track balances emotion and momentum—emphasizing mood over bombast. Released recently across all platforms, Crash sets the stage for the band’s upcoming album 3 and their EU/UK tour, offering listeners a strong taste of what’s to come.
“Ego has no place on stage.”
– From our interview with Sharktank, read the full mica – music austria article here.
Magdalena Wawra’s new single “Neongrün & Rosarot” dropped on September 12, bringing together dreamy colour-pop textures with lyrical intimacy. Joined by Ariel Oehl and Markus Perner, Wawra weaves soft synths and vivid melodic shifts into a track that feels both nostalgic and fresh — one foot in indie pop, the other in modern electronic flair. If you’re curious about early previews, Radio FM4 had an exclusive listen the night before release, setting the vibe just right.
Anna Buchegger is set to unveil her second album on Friday, October 3, 2025—arriving just in time to soundtrack the autumn season and almost exactly one year after her acclaimed debut. The release highlights her remarkable pace and creative momentum, showing that she is not slowing down after a breakthrough year. Fans and critics alike are eagerly anticipating how Buchegger will expand her sound and vision, with this sophomore effort promising to deepen her artistic identity while capturing the reflective and atmospheric mood of fall.
On October 17, 2025, Austrian-Czech jazz quartet Purple is the Color will release their third studio album, Unbemanntes Raumschiff, on Unit Records. Inspired by their time as the stage band at Vienna’s Porgy & Bess, the album blends modern jazz with rich storytelling, showcasing compositions by Simon Raab, Štěpán Flagar, and Martin Kocián, with Michał Wierzgoń on drums and guest guitarist David Furrer. Recorded at Wavegarden Studios and featuring artwork by Severin Koller, the album promises an organic, free-flowing sound and will be available on digital platforms and vinyl.
Klangforum Wien will perform Georg Friedrich Haas‘ piece 11,000 Strings at the New York Armory on September 30, bringing cutting-edge contemporary music to one of the city’s most atmospheric venues.
Special SPECIALS
20 Years of Fettkakao! Vienna’s independent label Fettkakao is marking its 20th anniversary this year with a series of concerts, exhibitions, and events across the city. Known for its DIY spirit and eclectic roster, the label has been a fixture of Austria’s underground music scene. A mention in the AME highlights would be a fitting way to celebrate two decades of creativity and collaboration.
Franz Hautzinger – Austrian Art Prize for Music: The Federal Ministry of Housing, Arts, Culture, Media, and Sport announces the winners of the Austrian Art Prize 2025 and the Hans Hollein Art Prize for Architecture 2025. This year, the Austrian Art Prize goes to six artists and two collectives.Trumpeter and improviser Franz Hautzinger has been awarded the Austrian Art Prize for Music 2025, honoring his decades of boundary-pushing work in contemporary jazz and experimental sound. Known for expanding the trumpet’s vocabulary into uncharted textures, Hautzinger remains one of Austria’s most internationally visible musical innovators.
Klangforum Wien – Austrian Music Theatre Prize: At the Austrian Music Theatre Prize ceremony, Klangforum Wien received the Special Orchestra Award. The ensemble’s fearless approach to contemporary repertoire and collaborations across opera and theatre has long made them a crucial force in pushing music theatre into new territory. Read more about it here.
Angelica Castelló – Ernst Krenek Prize 2025: Composer and sound artist Angelica Castelló receives this year’s Ernst Krenek Prize. Her work—often blending field recordings, electronics, and unconventional instrumentation—has become a fixture in contemporary music circles, praised for its poetic intensity and subtle exploration of identity, memory, and space. Read more about Castelló and the renowned award here (in German).
airborne extended – Outstanding Artist Award: The ensemble airborne extended has been honored with an Outstanding Artist Award 2025, highlighting their commitment to contemporary chamber music. With recorders, harps, flutes, and voice, they’ve carved out a distinctive place in Austria’s new-music landscape, balancing bold experimentation with refined artistry. Read more about the award and ensemble here (in German).
to everything tour, tour, tour
Anda Morts is hitting the road this fall, touring across Germany and Austria from late September through October 2025. Fans can look forward to her signature blend of intimate, powerful performances and a chance to hear new material live for the first time. With stops in cities like Nuremberg, Leipzig, Graz, and Vienna, this tour promises a captivating experience.
The Wallners‘ End of Circles Tour is set to continue its journey across Europe in late 2025, following the release of their debut album on February 7, 2025. The tour will feature performances in cities such as Essen, Leipzig, Heidelberg, and Vienna, offering fans an opportunity to experience the band’s unique blend of dreamy indie pop and dark romanticism live. The Wallners, consisting of siblings Anna, Laurenz, Nino, and Max, have been captivating audiences with their emotive sound and Anna’s warm, nostalgic vocals.
The Leftovers are embarking on their highly anticipated Alles endet tour across Germany and Austria in late 2025. Following the release of their third album on October 11, 2024, the Vienna-based band is set to showcase their evolved sound—blending high-energy rock with introspective lyrics—on stages from Berlin to Graz. Whether you’re in Vienna or Berlin, this tour offers a chance to experience The Leftovers’ dynamic live performances and their latest musical evolution.
Buntspecht, the Vienna-based indie-pop band known for their genre-blending style and energetic live performances, is embarking on their Durch die Tür tour across Europe in late 2025. Following the release of their latest album, Konstrukt 5, in March 2025, the band is set to bring their unique sound to audiences in Austria, Switzerland, Germany, France, the Netherlands, and Belgium. The tour kicks off on September 20, 2025, at Arena Wien in Vienna and includes notable stops such as Dachstock in Bern, Salzhaus in Winterthur, and Kuppel in Basel. Fans can expect a dynamic mix of their new material and beloved classics, delivered with the band’s signature intensity and artistic freedom.
Austrian indie rock duo Cari Cari is set to embark on their One More Trip Around Europe tour this fall, bringing their signature blend of cinematic rock and desert noir to audiences across Europe. Following the release of their album One More Trip Around the Sun in March 2025, the duo—comprising Stephanie Widmer (vocals, drums, didgeridoo) and Alexander Köck (vocals, guitar)—will perform in 16 cities across 9 countries, including Germany, the Netherlands, France, and Denmark. The tour kicks off on October 3, 2025, at Dinzler Kaffeerösterei in Irschenberg, Germany, and concludes on December 6, 2025, at Kuppel in Basel, Switzerland. Known for their energetic live shows, Cari Cari promises an immersive experience with their unique sound and dynamic performances. Tickets and full tour details are available on their official website.
Austrian indie-pop duo Cousines Like Shit are embarking on their Avant Trash tour across France, Germany, and Switzerland this October and November 2025. Following the release of their synth-driven album Permanent Earthquake in March 2025, the cousins Hannah and Laura Breitfuß will deliver high-energy performances that blend punk, lo-fi pop, and witty, satirical lyrics. The tour kicks off on October 21 in Troyes, France, and includes stops in Kusel, Sion, and Barberaz, promising fans a dynamic mix of new tracks and fan favorites infused with the duo’s signature humor and charisma.
Arianna Alfreds