Montreux Jazz festival line up released
Yes, it's that time of year when all the summer festival line ups are being announced and as ever the Montreux Jazz Festival has managed to secure an amazingly varied line up of live music.
The festival which takes place in err...Montreux on the edge of Lac Leman (just over an hour's drive from the likes of Chamonix, Morzine and Verbier) and the atmosphere in town is really upbeat and fun throughout the festival, which runs from 3rd to the 18th July 2009.
In total, the 16 day festival will see over 1000 musicians playing over 1000 hours of music spread mainly between the Auditorium Stravinski and the Miles Davis Hall. There is also a whole 'street village' which sets up on the lakeside walk with food stalls, band and entertainment stages and market stalls to keep you entertained.
We've had a little look through the programme as it stands so far and picked out a few interesting sounding gigs:
Auditorium Stravinski:
04/07 - Chickenfoot supergroup starring Joe Satriani, Sammy Hobar and Micheal Anthony from Val Halen and Chad Smith from the Red Hot Chilli Peppers
06/07 - Black Eyed Peas
07/07 - The Klaxons and Lily Allen
03/07 - Underworld
04/07 - Mos Def
18/07 - Simian Mobile Disco
Tickets cost between 90 and 220chf (eek!), but you will be seeing some top name bands in relatively small-capacity venues where you can get close enough to see how much slap Lily Allen has on or just how hairy RHCP drummer Chad Smith really is.
The programme of free events will be released at the end of May. There are also special Boat Parties with Salsa, Flamenco and Jazz cruises for 55chf and even Jazz train journeys from Swiss towns such as Gstaad.
You can read the full line up, all the latest news and book tickets online with a 'print at home' service at the Official Montreux Jazz Festival website. Tickets are also available from FNAC
