«Mein Wohnzimmer ist dein Wohnzimmer» («My living room is your living room»). This is the motto that brought Tim Bendzko such huge successes this year in Germany. The concept is based on concerts given in a small, intimate setting: a tradition the BALOISE SESSION has been following for years. That’s why Tim Bendzko is such a perfect fit this year in Basel, with his expressive German pop.

Max Giesinger is a German singer-songwriter. He came in popularity with his single “80 Millionen”, earning him a second position in the German Charts. His music is noted to be a culmination of Pop and rock pop.

Reykjavik-born Ásgeir has two albums under his belt, and the 25-year-old singer’s new album «Afterglow» is a mesmerising mix of other-worldly folk-pop and expressive vocals coloured with idiosyncratic, quirky timbres. Typically Icelandic!

Clean Bandit are a British electronic music group formed in Cambridge in 2008. The band consists of Grace Chatto, and brothers Jack and Luke Patterson. In 2015, „Rather Be“ , their first UK chart topping, won the Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording. The band mixes electronic music with classical pieces by composers such as Mozart and Shostakovich. Some of their music also involves tongue-in-cheek humour.

Imelda May, is an Irish singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist: Described as „a unique vocal talent,“ May is known for her musical style of rockabilly revival and has also been compared to female jazz musicians such as Billie Holiday. Her fifth studio album, Life. Love. Flesh. Blood was released worldwide on April 21st 2017. She collaborated with American musician T Bone Burnett on the record, who was the sole producer on the album. Throughout the creative process, May received guidance from U2 vocalist Bono.

Culture Club were one of the biggest pop bands of the 80s, racking up seven straight Top 10 hits in the UK and nine Top 10 singles in the US. Central to the band‘s appeal was the flamboyant front man Boy George, whose cross-dressing and heavy make-up created an image which was completely unique on the pop scene. After a break-up in 1987, Culture Club reunited in 1998. They were the first band since The Beatles to achieve three top 10 hits from their debut album on the Billboard chart.

Donavon Frankenreiter is an American musician and surfer. He is a long-time friend of Jack Johnson and his debut self-titled album was released in 2004 on Johnson‘s Brushfire Records through Universal Music.His new album, „The Heart“, officially marks the start of the singer-songwriter‘s second decade as a solo recording artist. It‘s been over ten years since the release of Frankenreiter´s debut, and in that time he has grown, not only as a musician, but also as a man. He‘s raising a family and nurturing two creative careers-one onstage, one in the wavesbut on top of all that, he‘s still learning what makes him tick. And so, naturally, he named his album after his ticker.

Emeli Sandé is a Scottish recording artist and songwriter. With hits like «Heaven», «Daddy» and «Clown», Emeli Sandé has sung her way into the hearts of millions, her emotional voice radiates the warmth of her personality. The album “Our Version of Events“ spent seven non-consecutive weeks at number one and became the best-selling album of 2012 in the UK, with over 1 million sales. In 2012, she performed in both the Opening and Closing ceremonies of the London Olympics and she won two Brit Awards at the 2013 ceremony, Best British Female Artist, and British Album of the Year.

Jeff Beck is an English rock guitarist. He is one of the three noted guitarists to have played with The Yardbirds (the other two beingEric Clapton and Jimmy Page). Beck also formed The Jeff Beck Group and Beck, Bogert & Appice. Much of Beck‘s recorded output has been instrumental, with a focus on innovative sound, and his releases have spanned genres ranging from blues rock, hard rock, jazz fusion, and an additional blend of guitar-rock and electronica. He recorded two hit albums (in 1975 and 1976) as a solo act, and appears on albums by Mick Jagger, Tina Turner, Morrissey, Jon Bon Jovi,Malcolm McLaren, Kate Bush, Roger Waters, Donovan, Stevie Wonder, Les Paul, Zucchero, Cyndi Lauper, Brian May, Stanley Clarke, Screaming Lord Sutch and ZZ Top.