Montreux Jazz softens the mood

Faithful as a Swiss watch, the second largest jazz festival in the world returns to the shores of Lake Geneva, from 30 June to 15 July. With, in its bag of tricks, something to enchant many ears.

The lake and the mountains as a backdrop, the tenors of the world jazz scene as a cornerstone. From Keith Jarrett who came to the first edition (1967) to Björk, Diana Ross and A-ha who were invited to perform in 2022 in front of nearly 250,000 people, the biggest names of the international music scene have followed one another on the Montreux stages over the years. Even the annual poster calls on celebrities: Jean Tinguely, Andy Warhol, Niki de Saint-Phalle, David Bowie and Phil Collins have all been there...

The impossible is not an option. The favourite saying of Claude Nobs, the emblematic founder of the festival, who died just a decade ago, has never been appropriate. An eternal dreamer, passionate, the man succeeded many times in doing the impossible. Did he not meet the Beatles and the Stones before they exploded? Didn't he lure legends like Nina Simone, Ella Fitzgerald, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross and Prince to Switzerland and launch a stage on the waters of Lake Geneva?

In the wake of the myth, the 2023 edition promises to be a heavyweight event, once again, with a dreamy opening line-up: Simply Red, Bob Dylan, Chris Isaak, Lionel Richie. No, this is not a wish list, but the order of appearance of the first four concerts! Lil Nas X, Sam Smith, Iggy Pop, Gilberto Gil, Norah Jones and Seal will follow, in a festival that will, as always, oscillate between icons and stars in the making. The programme of free stages will be unveiled on 1 June. On the menu: 400 more concerts!

montreuxjazzfestival.com