Music may be in trouble, but festivals are booming
Although times are hard for musicians, CD sales are falling, and subsidies are dwindling everywhere, summer festivals are almost universally attracting record crowds. Three examples from French-speaking Switzerland.
The 22nd edition of Rock Oz'Arènes in Avenches enjoyed exceptional weather. It attracted no fewer than 40,000 people over four days. The organizers were delighted with this unprecedented success. Rock Oz'Arènes praised its "eclectic program", bringing together French chanson with Cali and Michel Sardou, hip-hop with Sexion d'Assaut, and American rock with Band of Horses.
On the Casino stage, the public was also able to discover numerous Swiss artists. The now traditional "Electroz' Arènes" evening culminated in a colorful performance by David Guetta.
Gampel
The Gampel Festival (VS) ended on a positive note. Some 86,400 visitors - a record - came to hear their favorite bands, the organizers were delighted to report. Biffy Clyro and Billy Talent, as well as Kool Savas and Xavier Naidoo, surprised and delighted visitors. The Swiss band "77 Bombay Street" played to a "very, very large audience", write the organizers.
Pully
The 17th For Noise Festival attracted 7,000 spectators to Pully. This was less than in 2012, when a record attendance of over 8,000 was recorded. However, the highlight of this year's event was the sold-out concert by Scottish quartet Franz Ferdinand.
