In 1976 the 1st Jazz Festival took place in the old sports arena in Wiesen.
After steady changes of the location Franz Bogner decided to find an everlasting location for the festivals and bought the real estate in October 1980.
In 1981 the first festival took place on the festival ground that still exists today.
Changes as time goes by ...
In 1982/1983 discarded cars of the Austrian Railway Company were "saved" from getting scrapped. They got redeveloped and were fitted as artist's dressing rooms. The old "marquee" had to be put up and removed every year, however.
In the summer of 1989 the tarpaulins were in need of renewal. Franz Bogner asked himself, if it wouldn't make sense to build a new tent instead of redeveloping the old stuff.
But it was not the idea of just buying a new marquee - a new tent had to be constructed especially designed to fulfil the needs of music festivals: optimized acoustic, comfortable furnishing, best view to the stage and winterproof!
A very unique construction of steal ropes was designed where no columns, ropes or static elements can harm the view to the stage.
The tent today ...
Today the tent is an imposing architectonic sight - an immense accent in the landscape!
The best view to this superbe building you will find coming from Bad Sauerbrunn looking down the valley on the left hand side.
Near the entrance to the car park - framed by dark woods - white, spike-like high towering points of the tent gleam in the valley.
By getting closer, the tent occurs like a sculpture; inside you feel like standing under sails or in the belly of a huge zeppelin that is ready to take off to a journey to the unknown...
