Roy’s duties also include organizing events. The Basel Club Night took place for the first time on 31 January 2025 with one ticket giving access to various clubs. “Of course, the main aim was for visitors to get out of their usual groove and discover new things as easily as possible.” 

From booking to maintenance to the cloakroom, it takes a huge team of staff to organize just one night. “The box office is also a challenge for club owners: if you don’t know how many people are actually going to come, the pressure is enormous. The answer is to use advance booking – after all, it’s only a few clicks!” smiles the passionate concertgoer. 

Are things really so bad for local clubs? “I hate the term ‘club death’. In my opinion, it was invented for the media – because it’s sensational. But the current times are definitely challenging: rents are rising, guests are drinking less and less alcohol. From a social point of view, that’s a nice trend”, he himself hardly drinks any more for health reasons, “but there’s no hiding the fact that alcohol has always been an asset that kept things flowing.” In addition, there are rising fees from international acts with renowned agencies behind them.

The fact that young people have an ever shorter attention span is also not exactly helpful.

Even if Roy works mainly during the day as a night manager, not only abstaining from alcohol, coffee, sugar and tobacco, but also from other drugs, in his eyes you’re missing out if you sleep through the night in Basel. Why? “Because then you’ll miss out on an essential exchange! It just does something to me when I see how much love the artists put into their work on stage or at the decks!”

In a few days, Basel will give you more reasons not to sleep for at least a week: “I am delighted that an event as big as the Eurovision Song Contest can take place in Basel. In my eyes, Basel is predestined for this”, says Roy.

Roy’s favourite thing to do in his free time is to go to rock concerts. “With guitar riffs that last for minutes combined with drums, there’s no stopping me! When I feel this power, I just have to go to the front and dive into the mosh pit”, he laughs.
And his current favourite acts from the region? “Malummi, Nomuel and collectives like Somatic Rituals or Okra Collective.” 

There is no training programme for night managers. However, Roy Bula’s previous work has enabled him to create a nice skillset for this. He grew up in the St. Gallen Rhine Valley. He studied journalism with a minor in business administration and marketing. “I was already working in bars during my studies, back then in Zurich. I’ve always been interested in catering and club culture. This is mainly due to my love of music!”

After work experience at a music agency, where he worked for the management of various bands and was responsible for the Swiss Music Awards comms, among other things, his exciting time at the Holzpark Klybeck followed: “It all started here at the Gannet.” Roy was part of the operating association, booker and communications officer. He was also involved when the former lightship was brought from England to Basel and converted into a concert venue. “It took two years and was loads of fun!”

How does he imagine Basel’s nightlife in 2055? “I can’t and don’t want to imagine what technical advances there will be by then. Despite all these thoughts, I still see our society as going out. Even at night. Because in the end, it’s all about satisfying a sense of community”, he muses, “about completely natural instincts such as physicality and communal exchange. Humans are social beings. And I have great hope that it will always be that way.”

One thing is absolutely clear for Roy: “There will always be live music!”