Basel Culture and Britpop

One of our German phrases this week was the uplifting «Leben heisst nicht, zu warten, bis der Sturm vorbeizieht, sondern lernen, im Regen zu tanzen.» It means «Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, but about learning to dance in the rain.»

That's an appropriate message for this stormy week. And we have just what you need if you're hoping to do a little dancing outside, or if you just want to turn up the volume to drown out the sound of rain on the windows.

Our musical theme is Britpop, which offers a nice oasis from the dreary weather. With our unbelievable playlist, the storms will pass in a blur. (Just don't wear your suede outside until the sun comes out.) It's great listening for all you radioheads. So great, you might start a teenage fanclub.

Okay, maybe some of these puns were a bit of a stretch...like elastica. If you're looking to make plans right here, right now, there's music in the air this week.

LIEDBasel is on this week. And if the multi-day celebration and study of the art form of the song is too much to take in, there's a 60-minute summation on Thursday night.

Friday night 31st of May, Arab Strap, a classic band from the '90s that's back making new records, is playing Kaserne.

If you want to go further back in your musical journey, check out the classic cars («old-timers», in German) and rock and roll music at Rock This Town in Solothurn. While you're there, you may hear a few collectors using the term «cherry» to refer to cars in great condition.

If you want the other kind of cherry—the literal kind—then there's the Kaiserstühler Kirchenfest over in Germany this weekend. If you like your fruit more fermented, there's a rosé tasting Friday and Saturday.

For your theatre fix, head to the Gay Beggars's production of Tom Stoppard's «Arcadia», starting May 24th. Keep dry and get the other kind of tipsy with the Bildrausch (drunk on images) Film Festival, which runs Wednesday through Sunday, 29 May to 2 June. And if the weather clears up, you can go out and live the parklife.  

Our Britpop playlist this week:

Suede - So Young

EMF - Unbelievable

Edwyn Collins - A Girl Like You

Lush - Hypocrite

Elastica - Waking Up

Suede - Animal Nitrate

Sleeper - Inbetweener

Jesus Jones - Right Here Right Now

Blur - Song 2

Pulp - Common People