The Montreux Jazz Festival is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year. Festival director Mathieu Jaton told news agency spot on news that the festival on Lake Geneva deliberately resists the logic of the modern concert industry. While other events draw 50,000, 80,000 or even 100,000 visitors daily, the largest hall in Montreux holds only about 4,000 people. Jaton said Montreux cannot compete with the fees of major open-air festivals.
Nevertheless, world stars keep coming to Lake Geneva – this year, for instance, US EGOT winner John Legend on July 9 and British musician Sting on July 4. “We simply cannot afford the fees of many artists. Yet they come to Montreux. Not for the money, but because they want to be part of the festival’s history and legend,” Jaton explained. For many, Montreux is no ordinary tour stop: “They come here, take their time, relax, meet other musicians, maybe do a jam session.”
Jaton sees two opposing trends in the music business: huge entertainment productions on one side and artists who deliberately seek closeness to the audience. Montreux clearly belongs to the second category. British singer Raye opens the festival on July 3 as “Raye & Special Guests.” Jaton emphasized that the festival, as a foundation, does not primarily pursue economic goals. The anniversary edition runs from July 3 to 18.
Source: Stadt München
