Classical music has this air of elitism about it. With a vision to break down these social and intellectual barriers, conductor experienced the Detect Classic Festival in Germany.
In 2025, together with the team behind Detect Classic Festival, Brönnimann & Heri brought the idea to Switzerland. The first edition was launched in Hölstein, close to Basel, under the name Between Mountains, taking place at Holdenweid in close collaboration with the Impulszentrum Holdenweid.
But Between Mountains is not a pure classical music festival. It opens up the space between the classical and the electronic to create atmospheric and experimental live performances. Or as they beautifully write:
"We’ll explore classical and ambient music, electronic and contemporary sounds, avant-garde, beats, rhythm and spatial acoustics, blurring the boundaries between open-air concerts, raves and the philharmonic."
The second edition promises an experience that is promising and diverse: Acid Pauli, Stimming, Robot Koch, and Earth Trax are scheduled to perform. And you'll have the chance to see a few unique collabs live like the exploring sounds of the band AFAR in conversation with pianist Kai Schumacher.
Or Tillmann Ostendarps kleine Band, where the Swiss musician and producer brings along Justine Tornay (trumpet), Elio Amberg (Alt-sax), Paul Amereller (Drums), and Arthur Hnatek (Drums) to blend improvisation and electronic textures.
You can discover the full line-up here.
Between Mountains is not your typical festival, and it is certainly not for everyone. It is its own universe filled with enchanting live performances that might challenge your perception of sound and music. It is a deep pool for you to immerse yourself, explore with curiosity, and escape the everyday reality. A multi-sensory journey.
