Cool Concerts in 2014: Best Music Festivals in Switzerland

Cool concerts, indeed! While most of the best music festivals in Switzerland naturally take place during the summer, the festival season begins in April. It doesn’t get much better than being in majestic nature, surrounded by the picturesque mountainscapes of Switzerland, listening to live music, with a hot toddy or perhaps a cold brew in hand! It may still be a bit chilly, but what better way to warm up after days on the slopes than taking off the ski boots and putting on your dancing shoes?

Our picks for the Best Music Festivals in Switzerland to check out in 2014:

SnowpenAir

April 5-6, 2014

At 6,561 feet/ 2,000 meters above sea level, the Snowy Snowpen in Switzerland’s High Mountain Pass of Kleine Scheidegg will shake, rattle and roll with the English rock band Deep Purple and the Swiss dialect rock band Gölä at the SnowpenAir 2014 on April 5. The next day Gölä with his partner TJ Gyger will present the latest Papagallo & Gölä children’s audio book “Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau” for young and old. Previous festivals have hosted the likes of Joe Cocker, Amy Macdonald, James Blunt, Bryan Adams, OneRepublic, and Roxette.

Paleo Festival, Nyon

July 22-17, 2014

Created in 1976 and situated between Geneva and Lausanne, the Paléo Festival is Switzerland’s biggest outdoor music event. Each year, more than 200 concerts and shows are offered to the 230,000 visitors and participants who fill the Festival’s 84-hectare Asse site, situated above the town of Nyon. Paléo Arts and Spectacles is a non-profit cultural association, named after a successful racehorse, promoting music and art via concerts and other events. The festival takes place over six days, promoting a combination of established stars and new talent. Music genres include rock, French chanson, world music, reggae, hip-hop, classical music and street theatre. There is also plenty of food on offer with over a hundred food and craft stalls and restaurants

GurtenFestival, Berne

July 17-20, 2014

This spirited music festival is a highlight of the festival calendar in Berne. Events last for four days and attract thousands of visitors, revelers, and participants. Around 60 DJs perform with tens of bands from Switzerland and around the world, playing a range of music from pop, rock, electro, punk, sol, hip-hop and blues. This year’s lineup includes guitar rock from England, high flyers from Germany, Dublin rockers Kodaline, a concentrated dose of Swiss pop: Placebo, Milky Chance, and Bastian Baker, and more.

OpenAir, St. Gallen

June 26-29, 2014

Imagine watching your favorite band perform on stage from the comforts of your own tent. Yep, it’s possible! Seeing 30,000 visitors each day, festival-goers at OpenAir can choose to camp onsite. This is something that makes the OpenAir St.Gallen unique, not to mention the unique setting in the valley of the river Sitter surrounded by trees. One of the oldest outdoor festivals in Switzerland, it’s close to the city and the second biggest festival in the German part of the country. This year’s lineup includes The Black Keys, Flogging Molly, Imagine Dragons, Casper, and more.

Fete de la musique, Geneva

June 20-22, 2014

Fete de la musique runs annually, taking over the streets and squares of Lausanne for three days every summer. Over fifty podiums show off musicians from across the globe. The music is diverse, ranging from classical orchestras, electro jazz bands to rock, pop, world music and French music.

Festival Jazz, Lugano

July 10-12, 2014

For five days in the medieval town of Lugano, set in the beautiful 19th century Piazza della Riforma, Lugano Estival Jazz is the premier musical event in Southern Switzerland (Canton Ticino). Founded in 1979, and offering 17 free jazz concerts to entertain jazz fans from around the globe, it is now one of the biggest festivals of its kind in Europe. Past performers have included Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Keith Jarrett, Ray Charles, Bobby McFerrin, Herbie Hancock, BB King, Chick Corea, Gato Barbieri, Van Morrison, Buddy Guy, and Taj Mahal.

For more on travel to Switzerland, visit Switzerland.com.

And more on best music festivals in Switzerland, check out the Montreux Jazz Fest in July too.