About Us
The band Rotosphere has long been a fixture at the Blues Festival Baden (Switzerland). Led by guitarist and bandleader Nic Niedermann, they have shaped the legendary Late Night Jam Session since 2005, sharing the stage with artists such as Magic Slim, Susan Tedeschi, Coco Montoya, Justina Lee Brown, and Chicago blues harpist Matthew Skoller.
A special moment occurred in 2021 when Mark Slate took the stage: The charismatic blues and soul singer captivated the audience with his powerful voice in no time. Slate, who toured for years with the "Joe Cocker Tribute Show," embodies the raw, earthy blues. Together with Rotosphere, they deliver original compositions bursting with musical power – pure energy and a guaranteed listening pleasure!
Line-Up 2025
Nic Niedermann (guitars)
Gregor Loepfe (keyboards)
Mischa Frey (bass)
Eddie Miles Walker (drums)
Special Guest
Marko Schiefer aka Mark Slate ( vocals)
News
Dezember 2025
Winner Swiss Blues Challenge 2024 &
Finalist European Blues Challenge 2025
Soul. Blues. Rock. Pure and Authentic.
Mark Slate & Rotosphere celebrate the release of their new live album.
The album features 13 brand-new original compositions by Mark Slate & Nic Niedermann, with heartfelt lyrics penned by the singer. These are stories of love, everyday life, freedom, and inner peace. Bluesy, honest, and moving. Sometimes old school, sometimes modern—always captivating and full of groove. These are songs that stick with you. Songs with hit potential. Recorded live in front of an enthusiastic audience.
Mark Slate, the charismatic blues and soul singer, instantly mesmerises the audience with his powerful voice. Slate, who toured for years with the "Joe Cocker Tribute Show", embodies the raw, earthy essence of the blues. Together with Rotosphere, they deliver original material brimming with musical power. The band Rotosphere, active for years under the leadership of guitarist Nic Niedermann, regularly accompanies national and international stars such as Coco Montoya, Magic Slim, Matthew Skoller, Susan Tedeschi, and many others at the renowned Blues Festival Baden. Three years ago, Niedermann brought Mark Slate onto the stage during a jam session—and the audience was instantly electric. Since then, the verdict is clear: Mark Slate & Rotosphere is an explosive combination. Fresh, gripping songs blending Blues, Rock, and Soul.
The Success Story
2024, Mark Slate & Rotosphere won the Swiss Blues Challenge at the Blues Festival Sierre. In 2025, they represented Switzerland at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis and shortly thereafter played their way into the Top 4 in Europe at the European Blues Challenge in Split/Croatia.
The next milestone followed in September 2025: Their first record deal with the prestigious Blues & Roots label Dixiefrog/Rock’n’Hall in Paris—home to global stars like Popa Chubby and Eric Bibb. The new live album will be released and promoted across Europe.
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Band
Nic Niedermann
Guitars, Songwriting
Born in 1963 into a bilingual family of six (Switzerland/Belgium).
Studied at the Swiss Jazz School in Bern from 1985 to 1992. Graduated with diplomas in composition, arrangement and pedagogy.
With Tonic Strings since 1990. International career with tours all over the world and four CD productions.
Freelance projects with various artists from different countries and backgrounds, including Eric Assante, master drummer from Ghana; Tobias Morgenstern, accordionist from Berlin; and Daniel Küffer, Swiss jazz saxophonist. Composition commissions for the play "Hinterhof" (Backyard) by the "Claque" theater in Baden; and the "Kran" circus theater and the "Palais de Foux" circus theater in Germany.
Since 2014, musical director of the concert series “After Work Live Music” at Club Joy (now: Coco) in Baden.
2018 – 2024
Bandleader, co-songwriter and producer of the Justina Lee Brown Band:
– 2nd place European Blues Challenge 2022
– Best Self-Produced Album Of The Year 2023
– Swiss Blues Award 2024
Mischa Frey
Bass
Mischa Frey (*1991 in Baden) began playing the double bass during high school, first playing the guitar and electric bass. From 2012, he studied jazz double bass at the Zurich University of the Arts (ZHDK), where he took lessons from Dominique Girod, Christian Weber, Rätus Flisch, and Chris Wiesendanger, among others.
Mischa Frey plays and has played as a freelance electric and double bassist in various projects and formations such as the Konrad Bogen Trio, Twilt, Gnome, Sad Pumpkins, Billiger Bauer, Konkolo Orchestra, Caroline Ferrara Quartet, Alice Paroissien, Silent Neighbour, Lucerne Jazz Orchestra, Fraktal, Bernadett, Swing Thing, Bendorim, Ulrich/Gross/Frey, Jessica Cadau Quartet/Octet, Jürg Solothurnman's Next, Devi Reith Band, Brandy Butler, Jorge's Conexión, Timo Wild Quartet, David Regan Orchestra, Zürich Jazz Orchestra, Salvi/Frey/Wild, Café Montmartre, and Elian Zeitel. In addition, he occasionally records for film and theater, as well as various spontaneous jazz formations.
Gregor Loepfe
Piano, Keyboards
Born in 1971 in Zurich.
After graduating from high school, he studied at the Basel Music Academy (classical teaching diploma in 1995) and then at the Conservatoire de Lausanne (Diplôme supérieur, 1er Prix de Virtuosité avec félicitations).
Various master classes and lessons in jazz piano and theory with Cedar Walton, Kenny Barron, Enrico Pieranunzi, Hans Feigenwinter, Thierry Lang, Vince Benedetti and others. Studies at the Berklee College of Music in Boston.
Extensive experience as a pianist in classical projects, in bands ranging from pop to jazz, musicals, cabaret, and theater. Composer in the fields of jazz, funk, soul, singer/songwriter, musicals, ballet, and theater. Plus his own band projects such as the Gregor Loepfe Trio and Catmosphere.
Collaboration with Pepe Lienhard, Freda Goodlett, Peter Finc, Gunvor, Anna Känzig, Yumi Ito and others.
Voluntary activities as president of the Neue Kurkapelle Baden association and the Pro Argovia cultural foundation.
Teaches piano at the Cantonal School of Baden.
Eddie Walker
Drums
Born in Aldershot, Hampshire (UK) on March 22, 1966. 12 years in England,
2 years in the USA and since 1979 in Switzerland.
At 16, the Englishman began lessons and continued his training over the years in workshops with renowned international drummers. Since his beginnings, Eddie has gained experience on stage and in the studio in countless bands – all experiences that shape his current work and style. In addition to his musical work as the drummer for Rotosphere, Eddie Walker has played with and still does, in some cases, play with the following bands/artists (an excerpt, live and/or in the studio): Back From Mars, betterworld, Tumah (formerly: Linah Rocio), Gigi Moto, Martin Schenkel, Justina Lee Brown, Jack's Surfboard, P-Jay, Nuel, Newland, Cyrano, Myrto, For Joy, Griot, Jeff Siegrist, Yvonne Moore, Guido Ettlin (funk project with Manfred Mann singer Noel McCalla), Andy White, Rhonda Dorsey, Hendrix Ackle, Knecht, Peter Finc and others.
Mark Slate
Vocals/Songwriting
The German-Swiss blues, rock & soul singer, songwriter, lyricist & music producer Marko Schiefer alias MARK SLATE now lives in the canton of Aargau.
Anyone who has ever seen him live in concert will be captivated and will return again. Mark Slate has a powerful and smoky voice that is unparalleled in its recognisability.
Mark has been a support act with national and international megastars such as;
He has toured Europe with artists including Chris de Burgh, Joe Cocker, James Brown, Jennifer Rush, Söhne Mannheims, the Grönemeyer Band, and many others. He has also collaborated with major and well-known songwriters and producers on various music and studio productions from Los Angeles to Tokyo and from Sweden to Lisbon.
Since 2019, he has lived in the Baden area of Switzerland and feels at home there. Having traveled almost all over the world during his more than 25-year music career, living mostly out of a suitcase in various hotels, Slate once said in an interview: "I'm very happy to have found a permanent home and a wonderful family, and I have both feet firmly on the ground."
Gallery
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