Switzerland @ WOMEX 2012

Also faced with financial crises and general strikes, the World Music scene does not lose its esprit. The 18th WOMEX (World Music Expo) opened its doors from 17 to 21 October 2012 in Thessaloniki (Greece).

: 18th WOMEX

With a total of 2.200 professional delegates from 90 countries, almost the same number of people made their way to the city on the shores of the Aegean Sea as last year in Copenhagen (Denmark). Given the difficult political and financial situation Greece has been facing currently, the WOMEX organizers expressed themselves satisfied with this result.

The trade fair visitors did not see much of the general strike from 18 October, which had only been announced three days earlier. The fair as well as most of Thessaloniki’s shops followed their daily work as usual. The demonstrations were concentrating on a few places and streets in the city centre, that one could easily avoid on the way to the expo site. Some flights were cancelled nevertheless, which some late WOMEX guests’ presences impossible. However, the music professionals at the fair were positive: it had been a calmer but cosy WOMEX with interesting discussions and good contacts anyways.

The Swiss performance

: The white tower of Thessaloniki

Switzerland was a little less represented than last year with a total of 19 enterprises (2012: 22), though the number of Swiss delegates had even increased from 23 to 27. The Swiss stand, composed of two different parts, under the label of “music made in switzerland” was situated in the second exhibition hall near the gate to the smaller entrance hall. On Thursday, 18 October 2012, the Swiss/Austrian stand reception – the “Alpine Cocktail” – made the WOMEXicans gather around the two neighbour stands for wine, cheese, schnaps and chocolate. As a special guest the Swiss delegation had the pleasure to welcome Mr. Vassilios Mandilas, honorary consul of Switzerland in Thessaloniki.

: Switzerland @ WOMEX

: Charming Swiss crew

Showcases

The HELEXPO exhibition centre on the edge of downtown Thessaloniki was accommodating the fair during the day but served also as night venue for the showcase concerts, which distinguished themselves once more with a high musical quality. Artists and bands from around 50 countries presented their music on four evenings, and partly also in daytime sessions, to the international audience – a mix of club and festival bookers, music agents, publishers and record labels as well as all other kinds of music professionals. Unfortunately, no Swiss representative had made it to the final selection of the 36 official showcase slots again. With way more then 800 candidatures on the online platform sonicbids.com it had again been a very tough battle for the WOMEX stages though. However, it is worth the effort: scarcely any other World Music event in the world brings as many scouts from the live sector together in one place as WOMEX: “After the WOMEX-gig, international doors were opening at once”, so a Finnish artist, who had had a showcase concert in 2012 already for the second time.