05.06.2013

Free Free Free!

The Montreux Jazz Festival has a long tradition of free events designed to facilitate access to all kinds of music.  In 2013 we are offering an incredible selection of Swiss and international acts that will have you grooving!

1. New Recruits
 

The Rock Cave (open at 9pm, concerts at 10:30pm)
This shrieking cavern has been loaded to the gills with amazing sounds from the international rock scene:  White Denim (US), The Family Rain (three brothers from England), The Bots (two very young brothers from the US), and the unbelievably energetic JC Satàn (France).  Here at Montreux you will see that Switzerland has its rough edges, with The Awkwards, Kassette, The Deadline Experience and many more proving that you don’t have to visit other countries to hear audacious music.  If you haven’t already danced yourself into a coma during these live shows, you will love the sexy and talented DJs that keep the party going into the wee hours!

Aftershows at the Lab (open when the concerts end)
Calling all night owls!  As soon as the concerts conclude, the Lab opens its doors to all comers until daybreak all week long!  No one will be able to resist the awesome lineup of talented acts, including Gold Panda, Para One, Dixon, Digitalism, Erol Alkan, Flume, Solange la Frange, SebastiAn, and more!  You really only have two options:  jump in one of the new night buses and flee the scene, or else dance ‘til dawn (and the first trains of the day).

Aftershows at the Club (open when the concerts end)
The Club is the place for the kind of surprises that have made Montreux famous.  This cozy, intimate space (only 350 seats) segues seamlessly from concerts to improvised jam sessions featuring headline artists as well as DJs.  Given the small size and capacity of the space, not everyone will be able to get in–entry will be free of charge but limited in availability.

Le Chalet d’en bas : LP mania (3pm-10pm)
This “chalet in the valley” is the temple to the precious Festival archives.  Vinyl is the veritable hero of the day, with sets by major DJs such as Ngoc Lan, Chief, Soul Koffi, and DJ Pharoah, presentations and performances by Tristan Basso & Thomas Koenig, The LP Collection and our very own Fauve, projections of featured Festival artists such as Woodkid and Dieter Meier, and even workshops.  This space features 400 square meters designed to take you on a picturesque and varied voyage through the history of music.  This welcoming chalet will serve as a tribute to Festival founder Claude Nobs, watching over us from on high.

2. Old Favorites

Music in the Park (starting at 1pm)
Rain or shine, wind or snow, since 2000 we have seen every kind of musical ensemble belt out their best in the open-air bandshell situated in beautiful Parc Vernex.  This year, highlights include  singer and actress Patricia Vonne, sister of famous filmmaker Robert Rodriguez, who toured with Tito & Tarantula, featured by her brother in his cult classic From Dusk Till Dawn.  Jean Shy and the Shy Guys (from Chi-town, no less!) will blow you away with a deeply-rooted Soul sound and commanding vocals.  Ghana’s Rocky Dawuni is known in equal measures for the social causes he supports and for his mastery of Afro Roots music.

The Studio (starting at 11pm)
Lovers of unlimited Deep House will trance to the relentless beats of the Studio, located since last year in the Petit Palais.  We have put together a fantastic lineup, featuring the Keinemusik team on 7 July, Berlin’s Andhim and England’s Miguel Cambell on 8 July.  Wednesday July 10 will be Size Matters Night, featuring Stevel Angello’s label and a whole new generation of Swedish and British artists.  At the Studio, Monday is the new Friday for fans of electronic dance music!

El Mundo (starting at 2pm)
The watchword here is “Caliente”!  Every night starting at  8pm you will enjoy concerts followed by local DJs with international reputations like Rodry-go, party-maker #1 for the Reggaeton (16 July), or Grupo Unico, bringing Merengue with the voice of an angel from the Dominican Republic straight to El Mundo.  DJ Rumba Stereo is marking 20 years of DJing in their favorite hot spot!  Zumba classes offered each afternoon from 2-5pm.

Workshops & Compétitions
The Fondation Montreux Jazz 2 knows its business!  This cultural organization has put together unique musical programs in exceptional spaces.  Festival headliners like Vijay Iyer, Avishai Cohen, and Joe Sample will share some of their know-how and perform in more intimate surroundings as part of the series of Workshops in the Petit Palais.  The extremely popular Compétitions du Montreux Palace are a springboard for young talents from all over the world, and the Montreux Jazz Festival lets you spot them before their big break!

The Jazz Strip ties together all of these venues with its busy neon boulevard and series of lakeside terraces.  We have completely reworked the lakefront for ease of access day and night–it’s ideal for a relaxing stroll, the better to lose yourself in the music.
Warning! The quays will only be open for the public from the 5th to the 20th of July, and not for the opening and closing  nights (4th and 21st of July).

Free programme