The Vienna Jazz Festival, a fixed item in the annual festival series, offers more than the eponymous cool sound. A range of genres including soul, funk, pop, electronic and ethnic sounds are on the program – and all in the best venues.

An opening concert with the pianist Ludovico Einaudi will be held in the Wiener Stadthalle on 9 June. The Vienna Jazz Festival proper begins on 29 June with Ulrich Drexler performing solo on the basset horn at the Altes Rathaus. His performance is an homage to jazz legend Thelonious Monk, who would have turned 100 years old this year.

Leading acts at the Vienna State Opera

The sounds at the Vienna State Opera are the very best there are: Opera star Thomas Quasthoff meets pop star Max Mutzke, who is one generation younger. Their common denominator is soul music.

The master pianist and twelve-times Grammy winner Herbie Hancock stands for many fine developments in the field of jazz. He practiced complex hard bop as well as fusion, funk and electro. Worldwide hits included “Cantaloup Island” and “Rockit”.

Two charismatic jazz singers give a double concert: Dee Dee Bridgewater pays tributes to her city of birth, Memphis, at this year’s Vienna Jazz Festival. She goes on the trail of soul legends such as Al Green and Ann Peebles. Madeleine Peyroux effortlessly combines classical pop and jazz.

Guitar virtuoso George Benson is just as much at home in high-speed jazz as he is in rhythm and blues. “Give Me The Night” and “Turn Your Love Around” are just two of his world hits.

Open-airs and jazz clubs

Probably the most important jazz musician in Europe performs in the colonnaded courtyard of Vienna City Hall on 8 July: Jan Garbarek. The Ladies, a female all-star band with singer Cécile McLorin Salvant can be heard the next day.

At Porgy & Bess, an established Viennese jazz club, the double-bass player Miles Mosley, who was born in 1980, performs on 3 July; the versatile jazz star Ben Wendel on 5 July. The overall program of the Vienna Jazz Festival offers even more – from jazz legends to shooting stars. Let the summer of festivals roll on!

Vienna Jazz Festival 2017

29 June – 10 July 2017
various venues
www.viennajazz.org
Tickets: www.wien-ticket.at

The Music Film Festival at City Hall Square is one of the most enticing offers in Vienna during the summer. Something to suit every taste is also offered by the 25 or so international leading gastronomers on site as well as by the music film program, which covers every genre and is shown on the giant open-air screen.

Netrebko to the Rolling Stones

Visitors can look forward to concert recordings with stars such as Anna Netrebko, Plácido Domingo, Elīna Garanča, Juan Diego Flórez, Anne-Sophie Mutter and Lang Lang. The who’s who of conductors and orchestras is once again amply represented in the program: Zubin Mehta, Gustavo Dudamel, Sir Simon Rattle, the Vienna Philharmonic, the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra and the London Symphony Orchestra, to name just a few.

Of course, fans of opera and classical music aren’t the only ones to get their money’s worth: Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, Miles Davis, Quincy Jones, George Michael, Diana Krall, Depeche Mode and the Rolling Stones provide modern tones from jazz to rock.

A tip for jazz fans: The Jazz Frühschoppen on eight Sundays, at which Viennese jazz bands perform live and for free at lunchtime.

27th Music Film Festival 2017

30 June – 3 September 2017
Admission is free!
Information and program: www.filmfestivalrathausplatz.at
Film starts: daily at nightfall
International cuisine: 11.00 am – 12.00 midnight

Danube Island

For those who cannot do without a day at the pool, despite taking a city holiday, the 21 kilometer-long Danube Island offers pure beach pleasure: here, free sand and gravel beaches, sports facilities, restaurants and bars increase summertime enjoyment. Danube Island is the most popular local recreation area amongst the Viennese and can be reached in just a few minutes from the city centre on subway line U1. Further information

Old Danube – Gänsehäufel

On the banks of the Old Danube there are not only nostalgic summertime pools, but also boat rental points and the occasional restaurant terrace. Popular pools are the Old Danube lido and the Gänsehäufel lido: with pools, three natural beaches for bathing, a nudist section, wellness area and numerous showers on an area of 300,000 m², it is one of the biggest in Europe.

Pools with a view

The Döblinger Pool, Schafberg Pool and Krapfenwald Pool offer a wonderful view of the city. At the Döblinger Pool, the lawns in the large orchard are a great place to unwind. The Krapfenwaldl Pool on the edge of the Vienna Woods draws the smartest crowd. The facility still exudes the nostalgic flair of the 1930s. The Schafberg Pool offers action for the whole family.

Badeschiff

A boat in the Danube Canal with a pool on top: The Badeschiff offers the best way to go swimming in the middle of Vienna. The floating pool is 30 meters long and open until 8.00 pm. Swimmers can also find a cozy spot in the restaurant or at the bar in between dips in the pool, or afterwards.

Neuwaldegger Pool

Idyllic pool in the style of the 1920s, with many attractive, shady trees. The buffet is a secret tip, where the pool’s owner does the cooking herself.

Schönbrunner Pool

An imperial swimming school was located here around 1900. Today, one of the city’s loveliest summertime pool draws people here to an oasis of peaceful lawns, swimming pools, fitness and wellness areas (sauna) and a restaurant.

Stadium Pool

The extremely extensive pool complex in the Prater offers seven different pools for all sorts of activities, from splashing around to sporty lane swimming. At 165,000 square meters, it is one of the largest pool complexes in Europe.

Outdoor area of Therme Wien

The new Vienna thermal pool (Therme Wien) is the perfect place to enjoy an outdoor swim in summer: Sun worshipers will enjoy a 25-meter lap pool, a natural brine pool and a 13m-wide spring water pool. The other attractions include a beach volleyball court, boccia alley, hundreds of sun beds, outdoor massages and a summer bar.

More public baths in Vienna
You can find an overview of natural bathing spots in Vienna here (german)

From 23 to 25 June, Vienna’s Danube Island becomes a mega-party site for around three million visitors. Musicians of all categories will offer 600 hours of concerts at the Danube Island Festival. There’s entertainment on various themed islands to suit every age and taste. Numerous food and drinks booths ensure that no-one goes hungry or thirsty, and – a first this year – there are two gourmet zones called Island Gardens.

200 live acts, eleven stages, 16 islands

The line-up of the top acts for the 34th edition of the Danube Island Festival will be finalized by mid-May. One thing is sure – there is a tremendous choice: Rock, pop, alternative, indie, punk, hip hop, oldies, electro, German-language pop, folk music, cabaret and readings. Here’s an overview of some of the highlights:

• Falco Tribute Concert: Falco’s legendary 1993 Danube Island gig will be re-enacted with the original band. Gianna Nannini, Skero, the German hip-hop band Fettes Brot, Julian le Play and Georgij Makazaria of Russkaja have already confirmed their attendance.
• The Swedish rock-pop band Mando Diao, US singer Michael Bolton and the German pop band Sportfreunde Stiller are also among the headline acts. Moop Mama from Munich will also definitely be there.
• DJs will create a great atmosphere for dance/electronic fans, including Sweden’s Mike Perry (“The Ocean”) and the Austrian Rene Rodrigezz (“Rave it”).
• Two thirds of the acts come from Austria, including Rainhard Fendrich and the singer-songwriter and author Der Nino aus Wien. The chanson singer Norbert Schneider will present a tribute to the late Austrian pop legend Georg Danzer, who died ten years ago.
• Swing comes in the form of Marianne Mendt (with Ella Fitzgerald hits) as well as Alkbottle front man Roman Gregory (with Dean Martin evergreens).
• The legendary skier and German-language pop star Hansi Hinterseer will make his Island debut this year, while Marc Pircher from the same genre is already a regular performer here.

Sport, Action, Fun

Island visitors young and old can refresh themselves in the cool water of the Family Island: The water slide is 70 meters long. On the Action & Fun Island, a number of challenges await the brave, such as the inflatable obstacle course “The Beast”, and the “Bag Jump”, a ten-meter jump into a gigantic air cushion.

34th Danube Island Festival

23-25 June 2017
Information and program:
www.donauinselfest.at