Nick, I realise you're new to the site, but like the headline says it's worth doing a bit of searching before putting up questions like this that are asked regularly.

This was covered in January in a thread called "Any local bands that are worth checking out?"

Hope this helps, have fun, the local music scene is pretty good especially with all the outdoor concerts coming.

Thanks Nicolas. I saw that thread but I have checked out some of the local pubs and they only seem to have cover music. The Irish pubs, sevenarts, it's all the same stuff. So where are all these great local bands playing?

Well in some ways your question is as much about venues as about bands. The pubs often have cover bands, but then there's more live music in pubs than there used to be.

Try places like Chat Noir in Carouge, the Docks in Lausanne, Chateau Rouge in Annemasse.

In the summer there are loads of local festivals all over the area, anything from small events up to the really big ones like Paleo and Montreux, where some local bands get to play. Also check out the Fete de la Musique in late June.

Another good bet is the Fêtes de Genève in July/August, including the concerts at the parc des Eaux Vives.

You can of course check out the listings, or bands' websites, for one-off concerts.

Thanks. Do people in Geneva really like cover bands so much or do the pubs just not really care what kind of music they offer as long as they have something? I mean, original music is so much better and that's what we go for back home.

Hmmm, not an easy one. My guess is that covers bands are good crowd pullers, and this suits the venues and the bands themselves. It's a safe bet, ie lowest common denominator. You also have to remember that often the gigs are free. Also I find Swiss audiences very conservative in that they'll applaud what they know, rather than what's really good or original.

Let's take an example. In the old days (the 90's) there was a pretty decent Genevan band called Metro, who gigged a bit in the area. Today the same guys play in a covers band called Alepok. My bet is they get more work this way than with their own material.

Actually if you look there are some really decent local covers bands like Time Machine.

Admittedly not as good as many other major cities but :-

http://www.bagblues.ch/

For blues/rock gigs on a thursday

http://www.amr-geneve.ch/

For Jazz

http://usine.ch/

For more heavy stuff, electronica, folk etc.

Most touring bands skip Geneva and hit Zurich if they bother coming to Switzerland at all. The Summer festivals in the area can have a few decent performances. I agree, the local music I have heard here is dreadful cover bands. Usine is your best bet... outside of that ..good luck. This Thursday in Zurich, Portugal. The Man (Portland by way of Wasilla,AK) is playing.  Awesome band.

By way of general information, the musical focus in Geneva is first and foremost serious and classical music:  opera, symphony and chamber, traditional a cappello, choir, etc.  At the other end of the scale, you have the accordion (‘le piano des pauvres’), alpine folk music, music hall, and similar. 

It is only in the past 30 years or so that groups of all kinds have come into their own, ditto even the very existence of pubs (as opposed to bistrots) or other venues for musicians to perform.  Jazz formations were very few and far between. 

As to talent and quality, ‘La Romandie’ (western Switzerland) is a very small geographical area.  French-Swiss musicians often have to migrate to France in order to make a living.  They don’t go to Bern or Zürich, whose own musicians similarly often look towards Germany or Austria for work.

This ‘export’ of Swiss native talent is to be seen in all the arts – as well as many other sectors – and is far from new.

None of this solves your quest, of course, but it might help you understand that the seemingly restricted choice of musical genre is based on historical, linguistic and economic considerations and, until quite recently, the indifference of the ‘authorities’ towards the evolution in the public's musical taste.

All he best, R.

Really depressing. I'm not sure I'll be able to get up to Zurich for the show but thanks for the info, John. Do any of you have any suggestions as to which of the bands that do play at the Geneva pubs are any good? And how do expats here find that out anyway? Is there some site that pubs use to advertise the bands they're having?

As Nicolas said - quite a few nice events this summer. Programm for Montreux Jazz Festival was announced today - tickets are on sale and still available :)

what kind of style are you looking for?

Welcome to Geneva Nick,

There s lot of thing to do here in Geneva but you will discover by yourself it s not that easy to find... unless you really want to then you will discover a great cultural scene here in Geneva.

If you re not afraid to go somewhere else than mainstream places, there s actualy lot of concerts every week. 

Electro, hip hop, pop you can find all kind of music.

I can tell you places to go, but I think it will be more interesting for you to look for it... try to meet local people, they are good help :)

The design is a little wonky, but check this site out for music:

http://www.darksite.ch/ladecadanse/

Click "Agenda" on the top left, then "Cette semaine" under the calendar, and then "Fêtes" in the right-hand column and you can see the shows in Geneva for the week.  Also good for gallery shows and the theatre.