The Montreux Jazz Festival is an annual music festival held in Montreux, Switzerland. It was founded in 1967 by Claude Nobs and directed by Mathieu Jaton since 2013. It has since become one of the most prestigious music festivals in the world.
The festival features a wide variety of musical genres, including jazz, blues, rock, pop, and world music, and has hosted some of the biggest names in the industry, such as Etta James, Quincy Jones, Bob Dylan, Elton John, Ms. Lauren Hill, Aretha Franklin, David Bowie, Kendrick Lamar, Leonard Cohen, Marvin Gaye, Miles Davis, Nina Simone, Radiohead, Muse, Adele and many more.
The festival takes place over two weeks in July and features multiple stages, workshops, and free concerts throughout the city. In addition to the music, the festival also offers a range of culinary experiences, including food trucks and pop-up restaurants.
Overall, the Montreux Jazz Festival is a celebration of music, culture, and community that attracts visitors from around the world.
“Concerts, DJ sets, screenings, jam sessions, pool parties and more: Montreux Jazz Festival’s free programme features more than 450 activities on 11 stages! From 1 to 16 July, enjoy the legendary atmosphere along the quays of Montreux, with its terraces, stands and bars. The packed and varied programme of 11 free stages is aimed at all audiences, with a strong emphasis on emerging artists.”
When Is It?
30 June – 15 July 2023
Where Is It?
The Montreux Jazz festival is a renowned music festival held annually in Montreux, Switzerland, drawing 250,000 music lovers from across the world to the Lake Geneva shoreline.
Montreux Jazz Festival Poster
As the 2023 line up for the festival is yet to be announced, there is no poster that we can share with you. However, we do know that Guillaume “SupaKitch” Grando is designing the poster for the 57th Montreux Jazz Festival!
Who Is Guillaume “SupaKitch” Grando?
Guillaume “SupaKitch” Grando is a French artist known for his street art, murals, and tattoo designs. He was born in 1978 in Paris and began his career as a graffiti artist in the 1990s. Guillaume has collaborated with various brands and artists, including Nike, Swatch, and DJ Snake. He is also a member of the French art collective, Le Cabinet. In addition to his visual art, he has also released music under the name SupaKitch.
Montreux Jazz Festival 2022
There were many artists that you would have heard of gracing the stage last year at the Montreux Jazz festival. For example, Jamie Cullum, Diana Ross, Bjork, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds to name just a few.
We have included the full list below from last year from the Auditorium Stravinski and the Montreux Jazz Lab.
The Nightlife Pass
The Nightlife Pass is a ticket that grants access to all the festival’s late-night shows. It can be purchased on the official Montreux Jazz Festival website or at the festival’s box office.
This offers you priority access in fast lane, the Nightlife Pass guarantees entry to free venues at all times.
Benefits
- Fast lanes + guaranteed access to free venues
- For you + the person of your choice (1 person per evening)
- Valid throughout the Festival
- 10% discount on selected items in the shop
Locations
- Ipanema
- La Coupole
- El Mundo
- Lisztomania
- Terrasse ibis MUSIC
- The Memphis
Price
CHF 250.- You can buy this pass here.
The Nightlife Pass Premium
The Nightlife Pass Premium at the Montreux Jazz Festival is a ticket that grants access to exclusive after-parties and events during the festival. It can be purchased on the festival’s official website or at the festival’s ticket office. It includes access to the Festival’s private VIP lounge, le Bélvèdere.
Benefits
- Access to le Bélvèdere, the private VIP lounge
- Fast lanes + guaranteed access to free venues
- For you + the person of your choice (1 person per evening)
- Valid throughout the Festival
- 10% discount on selected items in the shop
Locations
- Le Bélvèdere
- Ipanema
- La Coupole
- El Mundo
- Lisztomania
- Terrasse ibis MUSIC
- The Memphis
Price
CHF 500.- You can buy this pass here.
You Want More?
You can find out more using the link to the official website here.
What To Expect From Montreux Jazz Festival 2023?
Even though the full lineup hasn’t been officially published, we do know that these names will be performing this year at the festival; Aime Simone, Zed Yun Pavarotti, Laufey, Laura Misch, Yuksek, Charlotte Cardin, Mansur Brown, Mentissa, Miel de Montagne, MonoNeon, Moodymann, Nuit Incolore, Saint Levant, Takuya Kuroda, Yaron Herman, Elina Duni, Favé, Bellaire, Veronica Fusaro, Rounhaa, Naomi Lareine, Skee Mask, David Vunk, Major League Djz, Yussef Dayes, Paula Tape.
The Free Stages
LISZTOMANIA
Created in 2017, Lisztomania pursues its exploration of the most emerging trends, across all styles.
SUPER BOCK STAGE
Parc Vernex is transformed into a Biergarten. The Super Bock Stage offers an eclectic program, both Swiss and international, open to all audiences.
TERRASSE IBIS MUSIC
The atmosphere of the Terrasse ibis MUSIC evolves throughout day: a laidback vibe at the bar during the afternoon, followed by intimate electro-pop live performances in the evening and DJ sets every night.
IPANEMA
A nightclub on the lake, the Ipanema hosts Swiss and international DJs right at the water’s edge. The ultimate place to be for partying at sunset or under the stars.
EL MUNDO & POOL PARTY
From dance classes in the afternoon to wild DJ sets in the evening, Latin rhythms and sounds are celebrated every day at El Mundo. Pool Parties are back every Saturday at the Casino’s legendary swimming pool, to the beat of sun-soaked DJ sets.
LAKE HOUSE
This large three-storey residence, almost a festival in itself, offers a multitude of musical, cultural and festive experiences. Open from 5pm to 5 am, the Lake House invites you to immerse yourself in its many captivating rooms.
THE MEMPHIS SUPPORTED BY JULIUS BAER
A jazz club with concerts from emerging artists, workshops and jam sessions.
LA COUPOLE
DJ sets with funk, disco, house and urban flavors.
LE CINÉMA WITH PLAY SUISSE
Features a selection of movies, documentaries and concert screenings.
LA BIBLIOTHÈQUE
Literary and musical events, book and vinyl record collections.
AUDEMARS PIGUET PARALLEL
The Audemars Piguet Parallel experience will once again take place in an unusual, secret location on the Riviera, headlined by British band Metronomy.
There are 11 free stages, but you can also pay to see the likes of Lionel Richie, Tom Odell or Simply Red here.
Jazz In Motion
Jazz in Motion is a multimedia project that combines live jazz performances with visual art and technology. It is a part of the Montreux Jazz Festival and features collaborations between musicians, visual artists, and technologists to create immersive and interactive experiences for audiences. They promote 6 groups that are representative of today’s jazz, chosen on the basis of musical mastery, quality of the pieces, originality. They are then invited to perform at the festival over 2 days.
Benefits for the 6 chosen groups performing at the festival include; meetings with music industry professionals, and a professional video of their performance, with 3 songs of their choice.
The Montreux Jazz Artists Foundation
The Montreux Jazz Artists Foundation (MJAF) is a non-profit organization that supports and promotes jazz music and its artists through various initiatives and programs. Founded in 2007, the Montreux Jazz Artists Foundation pursues two core objectives: discovering and nurturing talented musicians in the early stages of their careers and making music accessible to all.
The Montreux Jazz Talent Awards
The Montreux Jazz Talent Awards is a music competition organized by the Montreux Jazz Festival to discover and promote emerging artists in the jazz and blues genres. Winners at the Montreux Jazz Talent Awards are chosen by a jury of music industry professionals who evaluate each contestant’s performance based on criteria such as technical skill, creativity, and stage presence. Rewarded are 2 winners, one solo and one band.
Conclusion – Montreux Jazz Festival
As the organizers of the festival say, they want ‘to generate legendary stories and unforgettable moments of togetherness.’ This is such a phenomenal springboard for musicians to perform at the festival and as an audience member, there is no other jazz festival quite like it. I would advise you to buy your tickets now, if you haven’t already. It is an event you do not want to miss. We will see you there.
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