Thanks to the training project “Next Generation 2021”, Kunz and his band are finally back on stage after 1 year. He is actively supported in the preliminary program by the Aargau siblings ZIBBZ.
Closing education gaps
The event industry was hit hard by the corona pandemic. It has been closed for a year due to the ban on major events. Concert halls, clubs and bars are closed. There is no end in sight.
Due to the ban of events, the basic vocational education of students in the “Event Specialist EFZ” course also suffers. That is why the Swiss Association of Technical Stage and Event Professions (svtb-astt), together with the partner association artos and the training companies as well as the support of the federal government and cantons, has launched the Education Showcase “Next Generation 2021” project, which aims to close the gaps.
From 20 February to 18 March a total of nine major events will be organised in Switzerland and Liechtenstein by the trainees. The events are professionally staged with light and sound by the young people in the industry. Zibbz and Kunz rock the stage at Trafo Baden.
Zibbz encourage the offspring
Somehow the Zoom chat doesn’t really want to keep me in tonight. The program throws me out of the live stream at least 2-3 times. Is it me? Is it on the other end? Fortunately, everything seems to be as it should when the show starts.
The large, luminous Zibbz lettering is emblazoned in the background above the two musicians on the LED wall. In the foreground singer Corinne “Co’s powerful voice, the siblings start their show with“ Undun ”. Stee acts as a band and all-rounder and supports Co with driving beats and synths.
This is Zibbz’s first live performance since their show at the “Blue Turtle” at the Bernese Oberland Blausee last August. What to do if a musician is not able to perform for half a year (or even longer)? Sometimes they maybe wish to run away, like in the song “Run”. But you can probably find a lot of musicians at the moment somewhere in a rehearsal room or studio tinkering around and being creative.
Zibbz, too were thinking a lot too during this whole pandemic and lockdown time, and recorded it in the form of music. How will it go on? What will the world look like for the youngsters when it’s all over? In Zibbz ’case, for Co’s almost 2-year-old son and Stee’s still unborn daughter (she should arrive this spring). The result is the current, beautiful ballad “Will Flowers Grow?”.
Speaking of offspring, Co not only uses the free time for her family but has also recently been talking to presenter Fabienne Wernly about being a mum on the podcast “Two Moms”.
This was followed by a nice, quiet “Campfire Moment” for which the duo sat down with acoustic guitar. Co & Stee haven’t played the Janis Joplin classic “Me & Bobby McGee”, which their grandmother requested, for a long time. The only thing missing was the fire.
As you don’t know Zibbz any other way: The siblings who lived in Los Angeles for years always show themselves to be combative and positive. They prove it this evening with their ESC final song “Stones” and the catchy “You And Me Against The World”. Zibbz encourage the learners who are in the background to ensure that this event takes place at all, not to let their heads down. They are confident that there is a future for the industry.
This is how Zibbz end their set with “Children of the sun”, in keeping with the current technical masterpiece of the project with live streams and the whole alternative solution:
“…We are, children of the digital and we won’t back down, we won’t remain invisible..”.
Zibbz – Children of The Sun
Support alternative formats
During the “changeover”, setting up the stage for the next band, there are short interviews with Aargau government councilor Alex Hürzeler and Christine Davatz, Vice Director of the Swiss Trade Association sgv. They welcome and support alternative formats such as the “Next Generation 2021” project.
In addition, the viewers at home get a glimpse behind the scenes through pictures of the set-up. Because you are sitting at home and not standing directly on the edge of the stage, you naturally notice much less how many people are scurrying across the stage and how fast everyone is working so that the next act can go on within a few minutes.
Finally live again
The second part of the concert evening starts with “Musig”, the first single from the upcoming new Kunz album “Mai” (release 12 March 2021). Somehow, Kunz and his band seem pretty fidgety. It is obvious that the joy of finally being able to play on a real stage again after a year is unbelievably great.
So it goes over into “Marie” and “Seisch e Gruess” with just as much pep. The longing to step out into the world, to make music again and to inspire an audience is absolutely palpable. So mandolin and violin drive the “Möuchstrass” energetically word for word.
With the stage fittingly bathed in pink light, the band sends a lot of “L.I.E.B.I” – LOVE – over the www into the living rooms with the next title – including a big red heart on the screen and a kiss from the front man. Enthusiastic and thankful words come back via the chat function of the live stream.
Continuing with “Vierwaltstättersee” and Schellen-Ursli soundtrack “Chlini Händ”, the livestream viewers are invited to sing along. How would that have sounded if the admin had just opened all the microphones? The couch potatoes are asked to dance along during “Räubertochter”. If you briefly scroll through the whole zoom chat window, you can also see that some don’t have to be asked twice and jump up immediately, if they are not already busy moving.
Kunz’ Set is a great mix of the previously released albums plus the new songs that have already been released. A set full catchy good mood songs. And at the end the band really hits it again with “sGröscht” and “Üs ghört d Nacht”. Small laughs from Covid word games included. Yes, you need an extra dose of humor to get through this pandemic.
People like…
This evening ends with “Lüüt as mir” – people like us. In the following interview, Kunz didn’t actually have to mention that playing live is their passion and that they burns for it. You can see and feel that clearly this evening.
Unfortunately, part of the upcoming “Mai” tour had to be postponed already. But the fans don’t have to do without Kunz completely until the next possible concerts. From 3 March the musician can be seen on 3+ in the 2nd season of “Sing my Song”. And the album “Mai” is in the starting blocks.
Yes, with “Lüüt so wie …” – people like these bands, event technicians, organizers and supporters such beautiful projects get created.
You can find information about the other “Next Generation 2021” shows HERE.
Read the article about the evening with Rääs and Megawatt here
