Montreux Jazz Festival 2009

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Monday 20 july 2009 1 20 /07 /2009 18:24

The concerts of Prince were amazing

Last saturday was the last day of the jazz festival and Prince performed 2 concerts at the Auditorium Stravinski. I had the chance to attend both concerts.
I am not a big fan of Prince but wanted to attend these shows as everybody was talking about it for a long time.

The first concert started at 7:30, right on time. Lights went off and a voice introduced the entire band who came on stage. Then the same voice said "My name is Prince". The auditorium became crazy and Prince appeared on stage with a red costume and amazing earings.

After 45 minutes, he said thanks, goodbye and left the stage...but came back for 15 minutes...and left again and came back for a few more songs. The show lasted 1 hour 30 in total and was mainly with jazz songs which I never heart before. Not even the song "Kiss" or "Purple rain" were played. However I must say that all songs were great. He is an authentic show men with lots of charism and he is playing the guitar (on a purple Fender Stratocater) soooooo well. (I wish to play like this once)

I loved it so much that I went to the second show which started at midnight, with 30 minutes delay. This second show was at 90% the same than the first one. Maybe a couple of songs were different but for this show he performed "Purple rain" as the last song. The atmosphere was just very hot !!

His band members are excellent musicians and what I found nice from him is that he left them showing their skills alone several times. I especially loved the drum player.

At the end of the second show Mr Claude Nobs, the founder of the festival, came on stage to thanks everybody and to announce the 2010 dates - July 02-17th - He also showed the next poster which is representing a boy playing the guitar and a dog on a chair. Not bad...but not top.

Below a video of this show if you missed it. If you attended this concert or another concert of Prince, let us know your comments.

By MONTREUX SUISSE HOTELS - Posted in: Montreux Jazz Festival 2009
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Friday 3 july 2009 5 03 /07 /2009 18:37

Prince is confirmed for July 18th 2009 !!!!!

Today took place at 3:30pm a conference press to confirm the venue of Prince to the Montreux Jazz Festival 2009 on July 18th.
He will perform 2 exceptional concerts on that evening. The first one will start at 7:00pm and the other late in the evening. Bother concerts will attract around 8000 people. He singer Bria Valera should also come for this occasion.
The cost of a standing ticket is CHF. 195. -- and seated tickets are at CHF. 480. --

Prince should arrive a few days earlier to start to repeat. I guess he is sleeping at the Montreux Palace.

Tickets will be on sales from tomorrow but I do not know from what time. However hurry up because 2 years ago everything was sold in a couple of hours. If you miss the online tickets you will still get to buy some on the spot the day of the concert. Again "however" 2 years ago when I came to work at 8am I saw around 100 people sleeping in front of the congress centre !!!! ... and tickets were on sales at 5pm.....

By MONTREUX SUISSE HOTELS - Posted in: Montreux Jazz Festival 2009
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Thursday 2 july 2009 4 02 /07 /2009 16:21

Ready for the Montreux Jazz festival

Tomorrow will start the Montreux Jazz Festival and we feel it!!!. The first VIP's and performers are checking in at the hotel Royal Plaza Montreux, it is getting more traffic on the road and most of the stages and chalets on the lakeside are ready.

We just need to hope we will have a nice weather. A stormy weather is planned for this week-end but there is anyway enough inside concerts and events to come even if it is raining.

Last thing which is pending is the concert of July 18th 2009. Today again, I heart that Prince is supposed to come. I do not know if it is true but I heart that it is not signed yet for a matter of tax. It seems that the artists have to pay a tax of 20% but he is asking to the Jazz to pay it as well....of course they refuse
Let's hope they will find a deal otherwise I do not now how they will find a good artist in less than 2 weeks.

If you are looking for a room, the hotel Royal Plaza Montreux has a few left due to late cancellations. We do not sell our last rooms on booking.com or expedia.com so do not hesitate to contact us directly: Tel: +41 21 962 50 30 or reservations@royalplaza.ch

If you come to this new edition of the Montreux Jazz Festival let us know your comments, feelings in the comment section below

Have fun

By MONTREUX SUISSE HOTELS - Posted in: Montreux Jazz Festival 2009
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Thursday 4 june 2009 4 04 /06 /2009 11:01

MJF 2009: Studio 41 program is known

End of May 2009, the program of all the free concerts and events of the Montreux jazz Festival 2009 was released.
Even if you do not attend any of the major concerts, I believe it really worse doing a tour in Montreux as the atmosphere is really special during this period.
Of course if you do not like the crowd, avoid week-ends.

Since 3 years the hotel Royal Plaz Montreux did a strong partneship with the jazz and now offers in their conference centre (it is too noisy to make a conference during this period...) a very trendy place for house lovers called the Studio 41. 2-3 dj's per night like Sir Colin, Mr Mike, Miles Numan, or Igor Blaska will make you dance from 11pm until 04-05 am.

This venue is really packed every day so avoid to come in between 00h00 and 02h00 as you might wait for 1 hour before to enter.
The great thing about the Studio 41 is that it is surrounded by a garden and there is also a nice terrace to enjoy the evening without too much noise.

Here we are with a quick video to show you what to expect. I will try to find something about the terrace and garden

By MONTREUX SUISSE HOTELS - Posted in: Montreux Jazz Festival 2009
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Sunday 10 may 2009 7 10 /05 /2009 13:41

Montreux Jazz Festival 2009 - program change

There are some changes in the program on July 14th, 15th & 18th 2009.

For more information, go on the official web site of the Montreux Jazz festival.

On the 18th of July, you can see "TBA". What I heart is that it is going to be a huge star - I do not know if this is confirmed yet but I will try to find out. It might be something enormous like Prince last year.

If you heart something, let us know in the comments....

By MONTREUX SUISSE HOTELS - Posted in: Montreux Jazz Festival 2009
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Sunday 5 april 2009 7 05 /04 /2009 17:43

Montreux Jazz - Other great places to go

The Montreux Jazz Festival is not only about the 2 main stages where the big stars are performing. It really worse coming as you can see many free concerts at the Parc Vernex.

After the concerts on the main stages, many stars are coming to the Montreux Jazz café - Last year Prince came down and did the show for 30 minutes !!! It worse trying....

If you prefer the electronic music, choose the MDH club and if you like the house Music, walk to the Studio 41 which is at the Royal Plaza.

For eastern music lovers, go to La Rouvenaz for live eastern music from 12:00

2 other concepts to try once:

- Boats:   July 04th 2009: Salsa Boat
               July 05th 2009: Caliente y fiesta boat
               July 11th 2009: Brasil tropical boat
               July 12th 2009: Brasil y nordeste boat
               July 18th 2009: Jazz & Blues boat

Boarding time is 1:30, boats are leaving at 2:00 and come back at 5:30.

Little video to see how the atmosphere is in a Brasil boat

- Trains: July 04th 2009: New Orleans jazz train
July 10th 2009: Golden Pass jazz train

                July 11th 2009: New Orleans jazz train
                July 13th 2009: Golden pass country & bluesgrass train
                July 17th 2009: Golden pass celtic train
                July 18th 2009: Ne Orleans jazz train

Some of the trains go to Gstaad (leaving from Montreux at 11:45 ad arrival in Montreux at 17:10) and some other ones go to the Rocher-de-Naye (Leaving from Montreux at 2:45 and arrival in Montreux at 6:41)

By Eric SEILER - Posted in: Montreux Jazz Festival 2009
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Thursday 2 april 2009 4 02 /04 /2009 09:49

Program Montreux Jazz Festival 2009

We were waiting for it for a long time now and we finally know how our July favourite 15 days will look like !!
This program of the Montreux Jazz Festival 2009 looks one more time amazing and exciting. Have a look to all major concerts that will take place on the two main stages.

AND DO NOT FORGET, that if you do not find a ticket for one of these concerts, book your hotel room at the Royal Plaza Montreux or at the Villa Toscane and you will have a chance to get a ticket. Tel: 0041 21 962 50 30 or reservations@royalplaza.ch We do not have 100 tickets per evening on allotment so hurry up !

July 03rd 2009
Auditorium Stravinski: Oscar D'Léon, New York Salsa feat: Frankie Morales, Dave Valentin and Richie Flores
Miles Davis Hall: Leila, Underworld

July 04th 2009
Auditorium Stravinski: Steely Dan, Dave Matthews Band - Midnight special: Cheickenfoot
Miles Davis Hall: Black Milk, Little Brother, Mos Def

July 05th 2009
Auditorium Stravinski:Herbie Hancock & Lang Lang, Orchestre national de Lyon
Miles Davis Hall: Alesa Diane, finn & Eicher, Emily Loizeau

July 06th 2009
Auditorium Stravinski: Black Eyed Peas
Miles Davis Hall: Eric Lewis aka ELEW, SMV, Victor Wooten

July 07th 2009
Auditorium Stravinski: Klaxons, Lily Allen
Miles Davis Hall: Citi All Star Band 2009, Jamie Cullum

July 08th 2009
Auditorium Stravinski: Alice Cooper
Miles Davis Hall: Sebastien Schuller Bloc party

July 09th 2009
Auditorium Stravinski: Derek Trucks, David Sanborn, Steve Winwood
Miles Davis Hall: Raphael Saadiq, Q-tip

July 10th 2009
Auditorium Stravinski: Baaba Maal, Third World, Monty Alexander & Harlem Kingson Express
Miles Davis Hall: Outerspace, Mr Lif, Jedi Mind Tricks, la Coka Nostra

July 11th 2009
Auditorium Stravinski: Laureen Hill, Naturally 7
Miles Davis Hall: Grace Jones

July 12th 2009
Auditorium Stravinski: Sweet Georgia Brown, Susan Tedeschi, B.B. King
Miles Davis Hall: Method of Defiance created by Bill Laswell, Bitty with sly and Robbie Taxi Bang

July 13th 2009
Auditorium Stravinski: George Benson, Rachelle Ferrell, George Duke
Miles Davis Hall: Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds, Marianne Faithfull

July 14th 2009
Auditorium Stravinski: Blind Boys of Alabama, Bettye Lavette, Solomon Burke
Miles Davis Hall: John Scofield piety street band, Mccoy Tyner Trio

July 15th 2009
Auditorium Stravinski: Ayekoo, Kodo, Chucho Valdes
Miles Davis Hall: Scott matthew, Anthony and the Johnsons

July 16th 2009
Auditorium Stravinski: Status Quo, John Fogerty
Miles Davis Hall: Allen Toussaint, madeleine Peyroux, Daniel Powter

July 17th 2009
Auditorium Stravinski: Melody Gardot, Peter Cincotti, Seal
Miles Davis Hall: Jeff Beck, The Swedish Act Allstars

July 18th 2009
Auditorium Stravinski: Vaneese Thomas & The soul Spinners, Ray Parker JR., Donna Summer
Miles Davis Hall: The Bewitched Hands on th top of our heads yuksek, Birdy Nam Nam, Simian Mobile Disco

For the entire program, go on the Montreux Jazz festival official website

In addition to all these concerts, the Montreux Jazz festival is proposing some great boats & train parties as well as many free concerts that will make you dance until very late.

Let us know in the comments what you think about this program and what concerts you will attend.

Enjoy and see you in Montreux from July 03rd 2009.