Deep Purple, Sting and Lenny Kravitz will return to the Montreux Jazz Festival this year, while Duran Duran will close the Swiss event with its first participation, the organizers announced on Thursday.
“This 58th edition preserves the values that make the Montreux Jazz Festival unique
,” declared general director Mathieu Jaton.
“Our intimate stages, the constant search for an optimal musical experience for both festival-goers and artists, and our musical DNA, mixing established artists and new trends, remain at the heart of our objectives
. ”
Other big acts at the festival, which runs July 5-20, include Dionne Warwick, The Smashing Pumpkins, Massive Attack, Air, Kraftwerk, PJ Harvey, The National, Andre 3000, Paloma Faith and Loreen. For more than half a century, Montreux has attracted big names in the music industry as well as rising stars. Since the first edition in 1967, the festival has retained its jazz label while considerably expanding its repertoire.
Around 250,000 people are expected at the festival, which occupies a large part of the waterfront of this picturesque town on the shores of Lake Geneva in western Switzerland. British hard rock veterans Deep Purple will perform for the tenth time, continuing their deep ties to the city: their famous hit
Smoke on the Water
recounts how they witnessed the 1971 fire that destroyed the Casino from Montreux. For his eighth appearance, Sting will perform for the first time as a trio, a guitarist and a drummer joining the singer and bassist.
Artists will perform in double concerts. Alice Cooper will be joined by Deep Purple, Editors by the Smashing Pumpkins, jazz singer-pianists Diana Krall and Jamie Cullum will perform on Saturday at the halfway point, while Soft Cell and Duran Duran will close the festival. The French duo Air will play their entire debut album,
Moon Safari
, with Massive Attack.
“The 2024 edition preserves the values and specificity of the Montreux Jazz Festival in its programming choices, its intimate locations and the quality of the listening experience
,” declared the organizers.
“True to its musical DNA, the festival continues to explore the heritage and current status of American and British music, which represents more than 70% of the program”
.
In total, 64 shows are planned on the two paying stages: the Lake Stage, open air, with a capacity of 5,500 people, and the Casino Stage, which can accommodate 1,300 people standing and seated. There are 13 other free scenes. Tickets went on sale this Friday from 10 a.m.