Guide to Graz, with Concise
Graz DJ, producer and promoter Concise on the city's drum and bass scene: its venues, crews and parties, and the artists you should be watching.
Graz's drum and bass scene punches well above its weight, and few people have shaped it faster than Concise. We sat down with the DJ, producer and promoter to talk the city, its venues and crews, his Park And Bass parties, and the artists you should be watching.
Who is Concise?
My name is Concise, aka Lukas, a drum and bass DJ, producer and promoter from Graz. In just two years I became one of Graz's best-known DJs in the local DnB scene, and launched five event series.
How would you describe Graz?
The city feels like freedom. Once you move here, it's hard to ever leave.
Where and how did the drum and bass scene start and flourish in Graz?
I strongly believe Strictly Beats was one of the first crews to really push Drum & Bass in Graz and help lay the foundation for the local scene. Since I joined in 2024, it's always been clear that there'd only be one party per crew on Fridays and Saturdays, so we wouldn't split the crowd between events.
What's the best venue to visit in Graz? And which room is your favourite to play, and why?
Definitely Postgarage. It's one of the key venues for Drum & Bass in Graz and has played a huge role in shaping the local scene over the years.
My favourite room to play is the 2nd Floor at Postgarage. I've played bigger stages, but the atmosphere there is something special. The crowd is close, the energy is intense, and the connection between the DJs and the audience is hard to match.
Who's doing the best nights in Graz right now? Any collectives or promoters people should have on their radar?
In terms of bookings, I'd say Industry One (I.One) is doing an outstanding job right now, consistently bringing strong national and international acts to Graz.
If you're looking at the scene as a whole, I'd keep an eye on I.One, Schallware and Happy Hertz for mainstream Drum & Bass. For the heavier side, especially Neurofunk, Dark Matter is definitely one to watch. And if you're into more underground sounds and community-driven events, Ehrliches Bum Bum and Massive Playgrounds are doing great work, bringing their own unique flavour to the scene.
Park And Bass. Tell us about this one. What was it, what's the vibe?
Park And Bass is one of the events I run. The original idea was to give hidden gems and up-and-coming artists a platform, offering them the chance to play at Parkhouse, another great venue in Graz.
Over time the event grew far beyond what I expected. The crowd kept getting bigger, the energy more intense, and it developed its own identity. When you go to a Park And Bass event, you know you're surrounded by people who genuinely love Drum & Bass and are there specifically for the music. That creates a unique atmosphere and a vibe that's hard to replicate.
The 24H Rave on June 6th was incredible. The crowd was amazing, the sound system was on point, and everything came together perfectly. There were a few challenges along the way; some DJs had to cancel at short notice. But that's where the strength of the local scene really showed. We're all well connected, and several DJs immediately stepped up to fill the slots. That sense of community kept everything running smoothly and made the event a huge success.
Are there crews or collectives building the culture in Graz?
That's a tough question, because I don't want to leave anyone out. If I had to pick a few names, I'd say Zethos and White Locusts from I.One, Concise and RoBbe from Schallware, Stryke from Massive Playgrounds, and Geostatic from Ehrliches Bum Bum. There are also a few people like Flexoo, who's in a crew called Happy Hertz, and Niesenberger, who organise some big events like RitC.
That said, it's easy to just throw names out there. The reality is the scene is built by far more than a handful of DJs. Every crew, and all the people working behind the scenes, organising events, promoting shows, setting up stages and supporting the community, play a vital role in keeping the Graz Drum & Bass scene alive and growing.
Who from Graz should people be listening to right now? Anyone coming up who you rate?
We have a bunch of incredibly talented producers here in Graz. If you're looking for artists to check out, I'd definitely recommend VENTEX, Geostatic, Moekel and Zeep. Their productions are consistently high quality, with great sound design and a strong identity.
On the DJ side, some personal favourites of mine are Callisto, Lil Zee, SO:NA, CreekZ and Redliner. That said, the standard of DJs in Graz is incredibly high across the board. So many talented artists, each bringing their own style and energy to the scene.
What's one track that, when you hear it, takes you straight back to a night in Graz?
I'd personally say Rock It (Wilkinson Remix). For me it's one of those timeless Drum & Bass tracks that perfectly captures the energy and emotion of the genre. Even years later it still hits just as hard, and it remains a track I can always come back to.
Who's inspiring you at the moment, in music or beyond?
My biggest inspiration has always been, and probably always will be, A.M.C. It's not just because I consider him one of the best DJs in the world, but because of the way he carries himself as a person. From everything I've seen and heard, he's always approachable, respectful and down to earth. He doesn't act like a superstar, and treats the people around him with genuine respect.
Of course his technical ability behind the decks is on another level, but what inspires me just as much is his attitude and personality. For me, A.M.C is the complete package: an exceptional DJ and an even better role model. That's something I deeply admire and try to bring into my own journey as an artist.
