Authentic music, Austrian humour and stories straight from real life:

When Schwanara at the artists’ place at the arte Hotel Salzburg, modern Austropop meets the special atmosphere of our hu:goes14 rooftop bar. High above the rooftops of Salzburg, the Austrian musicians perform as an intimate acoustic duo, bringing their songs to where music sounds best: right up close to the audience.

The story of Schwanara began in 2017, when singer Fabian Schwan and guitarist Tommy Wenig discovered their shared passion for music. With the addition of bassist Manuel Kurz and drummer Johnny Gungl, this evolved into a four-piece band whose members hail from Upper Austria, Vienna, Lower Austria and Burgenland. Four distinct personalities united by one thing above all else: a love of music and the joy of sharing their stories with others.

Even the band’s name reveals a lot about the musicians. The Austrian word ‘schwanern’ means something like teasing someone playfully. A touch of self-deprecating humour, a good dose of wit and the ability to laugh at themselves are simply part and parcel of Schwanara.

Musically, the four of them move between modern Austropop, catchy pop-rock and soulful melodies. Their lyrics, written in dialect, tell of love, friendship, relationships and all the moments – big and small – that make up life. Sometimes humorous, sometimes thoughtful, but always authentic. Songs such as ‘Afoch’, ‘Nie anders’, ‘Spezi’ and ‘Tabea’ demonstrate just how versatile Schwanara’s sound can be. With more recent releases such as “Ganz genau”, “Besa Hos” and “Lieblingsscheibn”, they are consistently pursuing their musical path.

With our concert series artists’ place, we aim to create a space at the arte Hotel Salzburg where music isn’t just a backdrop, but becomes the centrepiece of the evening. A place where artists can tell their stories, reveal new musical sides to themselves and engage in direct interaction with their audience.

That is precisely why Schwanara are such a perfect fit for this format. Because behind their catchy melodies and humorous lyrics lies far more than just good entertainment. Their music draws on personal experiences, genuine emotions and the special connection between people on and off stage.

For their performance here, Schwanara are leaving their full band line-up behind and presenting their songs as an acoustic duo. Stripped back to the essentials, the melodies, lyrics and voices are given even more space to unfold. Familiar songs reveal a new, perhaps even surprising side and create precisely the sense of intimacy that our artists’ place stands for.

On the 14th floor of the arte Hotel Salzburg, our Rooftop Bar regularly becomes a meeting place for music enthusiasts, curious listeners and people who enjoy experiencing culture in a relaxed atmosphere. Whilst elsewhere you might enjoy the view over Salzburg whilst having a drink, at artists’ place the focus is on the music and the people behind it.

Instead of a vast distance between the stage and the audience, we focus on intimate concert moments, casual encounters and the chance to experience music in a truly immediate way. Over a good drink, with a unique view and perhaps even a story or two between the songs.

With Schwanara, we can look forward to an evening that embodies precisely this spirit: authentic Austropop, likeable musicians and songs that invite you to listen, sing along and smile.

We’re looking forward to Schwanara at artists’ place – to some Austrian banter, big emotions in an intimate setting and a concert evening that will, we hope, be remembered for a long time to come.

Admission is free!