On Saturday 2 August, Defected In The House host day and night parties at the Zurich Street Parade, one Europe’s biggest and most respected dance events. Here, Defected’s Ben Lovett looks at the history of the parade over the last two decades, and looks ahead to this year’s event.
You might not realise it but the Street Parade, held annually, in Zurich is Europe’s biggest ‘techno-parade’. It wasn’t always so, Berlin’s higher-profile Love Parade viewed as the pinnacle of open-air, mobile partying. Alas, the event ceased to be in 2010 when massive overcrowding caused the death of 21 attendees and injury to over 500 more. And so clubland’s attention turned to Switzerland.
That’s not to say the Street Parade hasn’t made any noise before now. Zurich’s mid-August carnival began in 1992, just three years after the inception of its Berlin equivalent. And like the Love Parade its origins lay in political demonstration, adding undeniable gravity to the cutting-edge electronic music on offer. The first event took place on 5 September, 1992, instigated by a student. Marek Krynski, and officially dubbed ‘The Demonstration For Love, Peace, Liberty, Generosity and Tolerance’ (Demonstration fur Liebe, Frieden, Freiheit, Grosszugigkeit und Toleranz). Roughly 1,000 revellers took part, celebrating behind just two parade trucks – or ‘Love Mobiles’.
By 2000, the Street Parade had swollen to 750,000 supporters and last year, the figure stood at a staggering 1,000,000 (dancing to lines of Love Mobiles). Despite the event’s rapidly snowballing size and the commercial deals and interests that inevitably follow rapid expansion, it has successfully retained its socio-political motivations. Last year’s Parade was subtitled ‘Dance For Freedom’ and the idealistic motto really, still, meant something.
Toni Bolli, a prominent promoter in and around Zurich, elaborates. “The Parade is incredibly important for local people, because it’s actually the only day of the year we’re allowed to host an open-air party during the daytime. The Swiss government is incredibly strict; they don’t allow any parties or loud music during the day...things can feel a little restrictive. During the Parade weekend, over 100 parties happen – that’s an amazing display of feelings and emotions. It’s an amazing event.”
Vincenzo Busceti, another key promoter who works regularly with Bolli, adds: “Switzerland is a complicated country. I mean, there are three main regions and three main languages. At the same time our country is non-EU and sat in the middle of big countries that are EU members. There’s always strong interest in the Street Parade, particularly from abroad, because it’s a special day bringing many people together. Because of the circumstances I’ve mentioned, this coming together has an even more profound effect.
“At the same time, the Parade’s political heritage cannot be forgotten. This was a demonstration against cultural strictness that has grown over 20 years. And it was a platform to show that house and techno music have something to say. Our scene is not just drug-addled kids; it is about love and respect. Its voice should be heard.”
Bolli is heavily involved with one of Zurich’s premier clubs, Plaza, at which Defected will host a unique party during this year’s Parade, 2 August. The stylish Defected In The House blowout will run 11pm to 6am, featuring funky label mainstays Noir and Sam Divine, as well as local spinners Muri, George Lamell, Herr Vogel, Jonas, Dario D’Attis, and Bolli himself, as Tony Smash FX. Earlier in the afternoon, Defected plays slick city bar-restaurant Quai 61, which, at the edge of Lake Zurich, marks the end of the lakeside Parade route. The 2-11pm gathering features Noir, Divine, Muri, Lamell, Vogel, Smash FX and Sons Of Aoide.
Busceti has specifically promoted Defected parties across Zurich for the past four years; and parties in general for 16. “It’s a nice location, Zurich. It’s a compact city with so much energy” he indicates. “I think Defected fits in well here and, personally, I’m looking forward to hearing Noir next month. I’m not the only one. There’s been a lot of interest in Noir and the overall party for a while now. Defected has a great reputation in Switzerland...it offers the right kind of house music. To be honest, people were approaching us for updates on Defected’s Parade parties back in March. These are massive events requiring many months of planning. It’s a lot of effort but so, so worth it.”
Bolli is particularly excited about playing both. “They sit against the backdrop of an open-air parade that keeps getting bigger and bigger, and more and more special” he enthuses. “The atmosphere over the weekend is great and everybody knows it. It’s great to be playing in such a place. Remember that Zurich doesn’t have the capacity for big open-air parties of 3,000 people or so. Our Parade parties will accommodate around 800 people. That actually means things are more exclusive. Don’t get me wrong, anyone can come but they need to plan in terms of getting tickets and so on. I think Quai 61 will prove particularly special. It’s the coolest venue...built on the lake and with an amazing rooftop. You can see the lake, Zurich and the Swiss Alps. It’s a seriously stunning setting.”
Many associate the beginning of Zurich’s dance music scene with electronic duo Yello, who peppered the Eighties with monster singles like I Love You, Lost Again and The Race, and have continued to record to the present day. Others, however, would point to the rise of out-and-out Swiss house producers Oliver Stumm (remember H20 feat. Billie’s Nobody’s Business?), Jamie Lewis (Purple Music boss) and Djaimin (producer behind chunky 1996 gem Hindu Lover) during the following decade as the defining historical moment. Stumm, in actual fact, was playing Chicago house in Switzerland throughout the late 1980s. Whilst clubs were thin on the ground, the result of Zurich’s intense socio-political conservatism, the house sound was able to spread – a rave revolution leading directly to the protesting origins of the Street Parade.
Whilst Busceti speaks of his country’s growing ‘cultural strictness’, he acknowledges that an electronic scene has been allowed to spread across Zurich. The Parade remains an important outlet for the city’s musical expression but there is plenty going on around and beyond it. “When you look at the tiny size of our country and see how many dance artists we have produced it is incredible” he urges. “Deetron, Ripperton and Adriatique are big names these days. And we have a lot of small, but important underground clubs. We’re punching hard for our weight.”
One should also point out the impact of DJs Antoine, Andrea Oliva. Luciano and Michel Cleis as relevant to Busceti’s argument. “Our scene is very healthy, I think” Bolli says. “The key thing to note is that Zurich doesn’t go for the big acts; the focus is on local DJs and encouraging a new level of talent. The crowds in Zurich appreciate local artists. Clubs like Plaza have some more commercial elements to them but there are other venues such as Hive which really focus on underground house and techno and run their own label for local artists. There’s a lot of momentum in the city.”
This ‘independent’ momentum has gradually (and carefully) built in the Street Parade’s slipstream, complementing its endeavours whilst enhancing Zurich’s overall dance music standing. It was former ‘Noughties’ era spaces Rohstofflager and Dachkantine that catalysed the emergence cult local label Drumpoet Community and kingfish promoters Cityfox; not to mention subsequent clubs such as Zukunft, a regular home for Derrick May and Andrew Weatherall. More recently, Busceti has established his own “project” Zoo Club. The venue, 25 minutes’ drive west of Zurich, is shaping up nicely according to its founder.
“As I keep saying, Switzerland is so small that word quickly gets round about these new, small underground places” he explains. “I’m wary of telling you where Zoo is because we’re just getting started and I want to take care to nurture the local talent. This is a small but really pretty, beautiful thing.” Over the coming months, Busceti promises to programme local DJs alongside special guests Marcus Worgull (Innervisions) and André Hommen (Objektivity): “I want to offer the best electronic music experience. I want to really take care of the DJs and deliver quality above everything else. That’s the recipe for a great party and it largely, I think, applies to Zurich too.”
Immediately, however, Busceti’s efforts are being aimed squarely at the Parade and its flagship Defected parties. “Fortunately, the Parade parties are getting easier to plan” he indicates. “Our team have a good understanding of things. But the process still takes six months or so. We need to find the best venues every year, and speak to a lot of people – managers, local authorities.... There are still a lot of hurdles. And that’s not forgetting the promotion of our events, which has to start early. But we love it!”
Bolli concurs: “Defected is the perfect label for Zurich and for the Parade. The music is so good and so consistent. There’s a real appetite, I think, to have fun and experiment, and we feel much the same here. The Street Parade is a special thing; you really need to be here to understand it. After that you’ll want to keep coming back.”
Words: Ben Lovett
Defected In The House is at the Zurich Street Parade on Saturday 2 August - click for tickets
