The famous Montreux Jazz Festival is for sure one of the most prestigious music festivals in the world. It’s been around since 1967 when it was founded by Claude Nobs. While the festival originally focused on jazz, it shifted towards pretty much all musical genres.
Throughout its history, the Montreux Jazz Festival has been the stage for incredible performances by legends like Nina Simone, Miles Davis, Aretha Franklin, Ella Fitzgerald, Marvin Gaye, Prince, Leonard Cohen, Radiohead, Kendrick Lamar, David Bowie and Elton John just to name a few. Deep Purple and Prince immortalized the festival in their songs, while icons like David Bowie and Freddie Mercury were so captivated by Montreux’s charm that they chose to live and record albums in the region.
I’ve been lucky enough to have been at the festival several times, enjoying artists such as Stevie Wonder (yes, THE Stevie Wonder), Lizzo, Janelle Monae and Sam Fischer – whom I also had the chance to meet and interview in Montreux. Find the full article here: Sam Fischer Interview in Montreux.
Here are some facts about MJF:
250,000 festival-goers
16 days of Festival
380 concerts, 250 of which are free
11 stages, 6 of which are free
55 bars and stands
Dates: July 5th – 20th 2024
Location: Montreux, Switzerland
Tickets: Montreux Jazz Festival on Ticketcorner
Top-Tier Line-Up once again
This year, the Montreux Jazz Festival promises another extraordinary lineup, showcasing so many great artists across all genres. Be prepared to be wowed. My personal highlights are for sure Raye! I cannot wait to see her again. It’s about time she gets another performance in Switzerland.
More highlights this year are Jamie Cullum, Mahalia, Paolo Nutini, and Jungle. Check out the full program by clicking on the poster:
Free program at Montreux Jazz Festival 2024
The festival doesn’t only have big shows with big names… It also offers Pool parties, silent discos, open-air concerts, jam sessions, workshops, and all-night electro events—every year, you can enjoy up to 250 free concerts, DJ sets, and activities from noon to 5am!
The free shows are held at various scenic venues around Montreux. This initiative reflects the festival’s commitment to inclusivity and community engagement, providing a platform for both emerging artists and seasoned musicians to reach a diverse audience.
The free program was just announced this week. I was super excited to see one of my latest country music obsessions on the list: Dylan Gossett! Check out the song that has been on rotation for the past few weeks:
But there’s a lot more to discover too (click on poster for the full line-up):
Follow Me