Before reading, be sure you have half a pack of cigarettes and a full tank of petrol. And put on sunglasses, even though it’s dark outside. Because here’s a music festival to warm Jake and Elwood’s hearts: the Vienna Blues Spring.
- Regular performances throughout this fine blues festival
- Most gigs are at the cult Der Reigen venue (near Schönbrunn palace)
- Both regional and international musicians perform
- 2025 dates: TBA (was Mar 20 – May 31 in 2024)
- See also:
The festival
(Kofi Baker´s CREAM FAITH appeared in 2024; press photo courtesy of and © Kofi Baker)
You can imagine the likes of Beethoven and Mozart appreciating the blues, given the troubles they encountered in their own lives. And Vienna is not short of a few clubs and bars where the Mojo Blues Band and genre colleagues ply their trade.
The Vienna Blues Spring festival brings together local performers and overseas guests in a feast of guitar riffs and whisky-honed voices. Regular performances take place at the Der Reigen venue: a bar, restaurant and venue with a long musical past that dates back to the 1950s jazz scene.
Occasional special gigs also take place at other locations.
One tradition that continued last time out, for example, was “blues unplugged” concerts in the Mozarthaus, where Vienna’s most famous musician once composed The Marriage of Figaro. And Hermann Posch & Band played “Clapton Unplugged” in the Haus der Musik.
(Kevin Gullage & The Blues Groovers performed in 2023; press photo courtesy of and © Zach Tullier)
Though I still put on my best pained expression to Muddy Waters or BB King (who I once indirectly made laugh), I’m no expert on the genre. But you’ll find full programme details at the official website.
Consider the festival an opportunity to enjoy the local blues scene in its most intense form, with a generous number of international musicians to round out the experience.
Dates, tickets & tips
The festival title hints at the traditional timing. I don’t have concrete details for 2025 yet, but the previous event began on March 20th and continued until May 31st.
For individual gigs, you can normally reserve and/or purchase tickets from the venues or through the event website. Der Reigen also sold festival passes in 2024.
How to get to Der Reigen
The main venue is in Vienna’s 14th district, away from the centre, but close to the tourist hotspot that is Schönbrunn Palace (a place better known for music of the classical kind).
Find Der Reigen immediately opposite the Hietzing station, which is a stop on the U4 subway line.
Catch the U4 from, for example, the Karlsplatz and Schwedenplatz stations in the centre of town. Hietzing’s also a stop on the 10 and 60 tram lines, and the 51A, 56A, 56B and 58A bus lines.
Address: Hadikgasse 62, 1140 Vienna (for Der Reigen)