Stipsits & Band - Austropop lives!

In June 2025, a warm-up was held for the first time. Thomas Stipsits gathered his "team" at the Vienna Orpheum to perform a few "warm-up concerts" for the stadium spectacle by Seiler & Speer on July 19 at the Happel Stadium. However, it was already clear at the Orpheum that this was not a cover band at work, but highly motivated musicians who would breathe new life into a music genre - Austropop. This was to be impressively demonstrated at the stadium concert. Numerous bands were engaged to warm up the fans for Seiler & Speer's "main act." The Schick Sisters were hired along with the Opus band, Wolfgang Ambros and the Nr. 1 from Wienerwald, as well as comedy legend Otto Waalkes and his Friesenjungs. This fantastic opening act took place in the afternoon in front of around 40,000 visitors. At 4:30 PM, Thomas Stipsits's band took the stage: Christina Zauner, keyboardist and "leader" of the band; Thomas Hechenberger (electric guitar/backing vocals); Raphaela Fries (drums); Michael Mozeth (bass/backing vocals); Chris Harras (acoustic guitar/backing vocals). As the first notes of "Ollas Leiwaund" were played, crowd favorite Thomas Stipsits stormed onto the stage to thunderous applause from the fans. What followed was a brief high mass of Austropop, full of joy and energy. In fact, it was a teaser for the high mass that the band will celebrate in the future, and that will ultimately lead the audience to unanimously declare: Austropop lives!