Culture in Basel; Flannel + Torn Jeans + Worn Boots = Grunge of the 90s

On this week's show, we covered Basel's vibrant cultural scene, highlighting events such as the madcap musical comedy «Pferd frisst Hut» at the Theater Basel – last performance is on May 11th – as well as the Baselstädtischer Schwingertag (Basel's Swiss Wrestling Day) on May 9th and Fantasy Basel – The Swiss Comic Con from May 9th to 11th. We also discussed the Alsace Wine Fair in Guebwiller on May 9th and the English guided tour of the exhibition «Sexy. Driving Force of Life» at the Naturhistorisches Museum Basel on May 12th, among many other events. Listen to the show below for more!

What started as a musical genre, morphed into an entire era of fashion, media and culture. Now known as the grunge movement, it emerged from the Pacific Northwest in the United States, centring around Seattle. Featuring distorted guitars, angst-filled lyrics, and a purposefully unfiltered sound, bands like Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains and Soundgarden (to name but a few) were among the popular pioneers of the genre. If you couldn't play an instrument, you could still flash your grunge street-cred by upgrading your wardrobe to feature a beanie hat, flannel shirts, ripped jeans and a beaten up pair of boots (ideally Doc Martens). The grunge movement eventually came to represent a more laid-back, anti-establishment attitude, focused on individuality and authenticity. References to 90s grunge are still evident today in art and fashion, having had a significant influence on music, fashion and youth culture. We played:

Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit

Pearl Jam - Alive

Alice in Chains - Them Bones

Hole - Celebrity Skin

Screaming Trees - Nearly Lost You

Soundgarden - Black Hole Sun

The Gits - Another Shot Of Whiskey

Veruca Salt - Seether