Montreux Jazz Festival

The Montreux Jazz Festival has evolved into Switzerland's foremost yearly event with 2 weeks of scheduled performances, workshops and competitions for guitar, solo piano and voice. In addition, there are nearly 300 free concerts across three main stages and a variety of improvised acts throughout the town of Montreux.

Passionate about Jazz and whose idealism never rests, Claude Nobs, then employed by the tourist office, created the Montreux Jazz Festival in 1967. On this first occasion the event lasted just 3 days. In 1973 Claude was made director of the Workshop on Experimental and Efficient Algorithms (WEA) in Switzerland. The 1977 Montreux Jazz Festival set the duration record, lasting 23 days, thanks to an impressively eclectic programme that has remained an ideal for subsequent festivals. With his flair, passion and youthful spirit, Claude Nobs has made it possible for the festival to quickly gain a renowned International reputation, so much so that after 47 years of organising the festival, his enthusiasm and dedication has remained unchanged.

The 2019 performing artists included Terence Blanchard, Sting, Joan Baez, Bobby Mcferrin, Billy Cobham, Randy Brecker, Snarky Puppy, Ivan Lins, Vendredi, Robben Ford, Melody Gardot, Tower Of Power, Tom Jones, Bang Bang Romeo, Anita Baker, Nicola Cruz, Fatoumata Diawara, Joe Jackson, Elton John, Ramin & Reda, Red Axes, Gerd Janson, Christian Scott, Atunde Adjuah, Floorplan, Janet Jackson, George Ezra, Blackwave, Rival Sons, Slash, Myles Kennedy And The Conspirators, Chilly Gonzales, Lewis Capaldi, Jessie Reyez, Dermot Kennedy, Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band, Zz Top, Khruangbin, Cat Power, Coladera with Marcos Suzano, Masego, Clara Luciani, Melvin Taylor, James Blake, Andrea Belfi, Thom Yorke, Tomorrow's Modern Boxes, David August, Jasper Steverlinck, Dennis Lloyd, Rag'n'bone Man, Queenie, Worry Blast, Eddy Ray Cooper, Rocksoniq, Yann Tiersen, Loyle Carner, Tom Misch, Julien Baker, Bon Iver, David Minster, The Moonlight Gang, The Sugarpie & The Candymen, Brass Machine, The Chemical Brothers, Blind Boys Of Alabama, Rita Ora, Gyedu-Blay Ambolley, Jacob Collier, Mac Demarco, Crazy Pony, Yellow Dogs, Janelle Monae, Braxton Cook, the E-Collective, Panama's Jazz Band, Pichette New Orleans Band, Macadam Jazz Band and many more.

The 2019 Festival of Jazz Montreux was held June 28 to July 13.