Zermatt Unplugged
Zermatt Unplugged is a Swiss music festival in Zermatt where the artists only use acoustic instruments . The Zermatt Unplugged first took place in 2007 and is the only music festival of its kind in Europe . It is supported by personalities such as Urs Leierer (Blue Balls Festival), Anni-Frid Lyngstad and Dieter Meier . Jon Lord and Claude Nobs were patronage members from 2008 until their deaths .
More than 200 helpers, the vast majority of whom work voluntarily and unpaid, ensure that around 140 tons of material are set up and dismantled and the event runs smoothly.
history
Founded by Thomas Sterchi and Marco Godat as a singer-songwriter festival, Zermatt Unplugged developed into a music event with up to 30,000 visitors within a few years. The festival takes place in mid-April at fourteen different venues in Zermatt and in the ski area and lasts five days. With 2,000 seats and a diameter of 48 meters, the tent stage is the largest round tent in Switzerland. In addition to the main tent, other major concerts take place in The Alex, at the Sunnegga Sessions and in the Winkelmatten chapel.
At the “New Talent Stages” introduced in 2011, musical discoveries will mainly come from Switzerland, but also from France, Germany and Great Britain. Since 2011, more than one hundred young bands have played the off-stages in the Alex, the Blue Lounge, the Taste Village, the CERVO and the Pink. For the 7th edition, two more stages were opened in 2014 with the Gandegghütte and the tennis hall of the Hotel Alex (1,000 seats). The Gandegghütte is played every day of the festival by the "Ronnie Scott's All Stars", the house band of the Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club .
For the 10th anniversary, the Taste Village, a new culinary festival center was created in front of the main tent.
In 2009 the administration of the municipality and the organizers of the festival could not agree on a common date, which is why there was a one-year break. In autumn 2009, long-term financial and logistical support from the community was agreed. The budget of Zermatt Unplugged, which is carried out by Tom Talent Entertainment AG, is around 3.1 million Swiss francs . Thomas Sterchi founded Tom Talent in 2007 after selling his internet portal jobs.ch.
Since 2017, the paid Unplugged Pass has been required to visit the Taste Village, the foyer tent, the side stages and the after parties . A concert ticket only allows access to the festival area and the concert on the day booked. Children and teenagers up to the age of 16 do not need an Unplugged Pass.
Program (extract)
- 2019
At the 12th edition, over 30,000 guests attended concerts on 10 stages on which a total of 80 shows took place. Boy George gave his Unplugged premiere with Culture Club .
- 2018
There were concerts by Kodaline , Sarah Connor , Hudson Taylor , Emeli Sandé , The Kooks , Norah Jones , Selah Sue , Brett Dennen , Dabu Fantastic , Jake Bugg , Blanco White , Lianne La Havas , Mighty Oaks , Fetsum , Klingande , Antihero , La Nefera , Max Prosa , Marey and Violetta Zironi .
- 2017
The tenth edition of Zermatt Unplugged included Stephan Eicher , Graham Candy , Nelly Furtado , Matt Simons and Michael Bolton as guests. Located right next to the main tent, the “Taste Village” offered offers from Zermatt restaurateurs and various festival partners for the first time. At noon, concerts could be attended at the “New Talent Stage” set up there. 80 concerts on 14 stages and a good 30,000 festival-goers set a new record.
- 2016
In the ninth edition, over 50 concerts took place on 13 stages. In addition to James Morrison , Juanes , Simple Minds , Chris Cornell , Angus & Julia Stone , Max Herre , Lisa Stansfield , Xavier Rudd , Alex Clare , Johannes Oerding , Andrew Roachford and Les Touristes , many other artists appeared.
- 2015
Tickets were available for Anastacia , Patricia Kaas , Heather Nova , Cody ChesnuTT , Gabrielle , James Blunt , Cats on Trees , Starsailor , Melissa Etheridge , Kill it Kid , Charlie Winston , Billy Lockett , Philipp Poisel , Sina , Christina Stürmer and Travis . During the festival, 34 concerts could be attended free of charge.
- 2014
In addition to Aloe Blacc , who was a guest at Zermatt Unplugged for the second time since 2012, Katie Melua , Jamie Cullum , Mick Hucknall , James Arthur , Tom Odell , Peter Cornelius , Jamie Scott , Yodelice , Alex Hepburn , Milow and Band of Horses played at the Tent stage, in the vernissage or in the Alex. 39 other concerts could be attended with free admission. A new record was set with around 26,000 visitors.
- 2013
Birgit Bidder , Brian Ferry , Die Fantastischen Vier , Mando Diao , Marlon Roudette , Morcheeba with Skye Edwards , Stadio with Umberto Tozzi , Rea Garvey , Stefanie Heinzmann and Skunk Anansie could be seen on the tent stage and in the vernissage . Out of a total of 51 events, 36 were free.
- 2012
Of the 42 concerts at the festival, 29 could be attended free of charge. A new concert event was introduced with the Sunnegga Sessions. Chris de Burgh, Amy Macdonald , Ms. Lauryn Hill , Grégoire and Aloe Blacc performed on the tent stage . Newton Faulkner, Clueso & Bernewitz Trio, Jonathan Jeremiah , Brooke Fraser and Peter Cincotti could be heard at the vernissage . Anna Aaron , James Vincent McMorrow and James Walsh played the Sunnegga Sessions.
- 2011
Seal , Mando Diao, Roger Hodgson , David Gray and OneRepublic performed on the tent stage . Naturally 7 , Sina , Duncan Townsend , Marc Sway and Martin Jondo played in the vernissage . A total of 45 concerts took place on nine stages over five days, 33 of which were free of charge for visitors as part of the New Talent Stages.
- 2010
At the 33 events, besides Billy Idol , Lea Lu , Lunik , Lesley Meguid and Milow , Lionel Richie was one of the most famous artists of the festival. Newton Faulkner could not come.
- 2008
Within four days, 13 concerts took place on the tent stage and in the vernissage. Performers included Reto Burrell , Gabrielle , Glen of Guinness , Gotthard , Jon Lord, Alanis Morissette , Nazareth , Reamonn , Weyermann .
- 2007
The festival lasted three days and included 9 concerts. Chris de Burgh , Brett Dennen , Starsailor , Suzanne Vega , William White and Polar played in the vernissage. Three more concerts took place in the Heimberg restaurant.
Web links
- Official website , multilingual
Individual evidence
- ↑ “Jon, we miss you!” ( Memento from November 11, 2012 in the Internet Archive ), obituary by Thomas Sterchi, founder and festival president
- ↑ a b “100 musicians, 80 concerts and 30,000 visitors at Zermatt Unplugged” , day week, April 9, 2017
- ↑ 7. Zermatt Unplugged: Zermatt Unplugged confirms last act ( memento of February 21, 2014 in the Internet Archive ), Zermatt.ch, February 2, 2014
- ↑ "I'm not building a company to sell it quickly" , Interview, Berner Zeitung , October 14, 2012
- ^ Conversation with Thomas Sterchi , SRF , April 8, 2013
- ↑ "YOUR ACCESS CARD FOR THE FESTIVAL" , zermatt-unplugged.ch
- ^ Successful edition of the 12th Zermatt Unplugged , zermatt.ch, April 14, 2019
- ↑ 2012 program ( memento of September 4, 2013 in the Internet Archive ), zermatt-unplugged.ch
- ↑ Lineup 2011 ( memento from September 11, 2012 in the Internet Archive ), zermatt-unplugged.ch
- ^ Lineup 2010 ( memento of January 24, 2012 in the Internet Archive ), zermatt-unplugged.ch
- ↑ The eruption of Eyjafjallajökull in April 2010 paralyzed international air traffic and prevented Newton Faulkner from arriving. He performed at Zermatt-Unplugged in 2012. ( Memento from September 14, 2012 in the Internet Archive )
- ^ Lineup 2008 ( Memento from April 5, 2012 in the Internet Archive ), zermatt-unplugged.ch
- ↑ Lineup 2007 ( memento from April 5, 2012 in the Internet Archive ), zermatt-unplugged.ch