Switzerland's summer months are oozing with live music and festivals.

There is more to Switzerland than lush meadows and Alpine peaks. For those who have an ear for music and enjoy the outdoors, Switzerland’s annual festivals and events are a no miss. From hard-core rock and pop to jazz and classical music, joining the masses for live performances is a must in Swiss summer.  While winter months can be spent indoors sipping on hot chocolate, summer is the time for live entertainment.

Fete de la musique, Geneva (June)

Fete de la musique runs annually over a period of three days. It takes over the streets and squares of Lausanne every summer. Over fifty podiums cater to worldwide musicians performing at this event. You will find that the music is diverse, ranging from classical orchestras, electro jazz bands to rock, pop, world music and French music. It is worth noting that most roads are blocked during these three days, and it is best to travel with public transportation.

Montreux Jazz Festival, Montreux (July)

The Montreux Jazz Festival is held on the eastern shore of Lake Geneva. World famous, the extensive programme extends from jazz  to blues, rock and pop. Since its inception in 1967, some of the greatest jazz and blues artists have performed at this event, including Nina Simone, Ella Fitzgerald, Stan Getz, Charlie Mingus and Dexter Gordon. The festival lures in an audience of 200,000 annually. This year, big names like Seal, Chemical Brothers, Beastie Boys, Pet Shop Boys, Placebo and Faithless were present.

Paléo Festival, Nyon (July)

Created in 1976 and situated between Geneva and Lausanne, the Paléo Festival is Switzerland’s biggest open-air music event. Paléo was the name of a successful racehorse. Paléo Arts and Spectacles is a non-profit cultural association which music and art via concerts and other events. The festival takes place over a period of six days, and caters to an audience of 220,000 people. It typically hosts 120 concerts, promoting a combination of established stars and new talent. Music genres include rock, French chanson, world music, reggae, hip-hop, classical music and street theatre. The event is open for families as well, and provides over a hundred food and craft stalls, five restaurants, a day nursery and a children’s play area. For festivalgoers, a free campsite is also available.

Swiss National Day (1st August)

For most people, August 1st implies fireworks, garden barbeques with the aroma of sausages and brunch. Children can be seen parading through the streets with paper lanterns and people light candles in their windows. The Swiss celebrate their national day with village festivities. The country gathers around bonfires in public places, listening intently to speeches on 1291, the start of the Swiss Confederation. Fireworks set off by municipalities symbolise the expulsion of the foreign bailiffs in the14th century. Swiss pride is eminent everywhere; from the flags hanging off public and private buildings, to Swiss flag decorations on bread.  National day is definitely an occasion to experience with the locals when living in Switzerland.

Vernier Sur Rock Festival, Geneva (November)

At the Vernier Sur Rock Festival, you can expect three nights of live music at the Salles des Fetes du Lignon in Geneva. It covers a wide spectrum of sounds from punk, reggae and heavy metal.  Famous artist known as Skunk Anancy has performed at this festival. Unlike Paléo, the Vernier festival is smaller in scale and more intimate.

L’Escalade, Geneva (December)

L’Escalade is Geneva’s biggest celebrated event. It commemorates the failed attempt of the Duke of Savoy to seize the town by surprise on the night of December 11th in 1602. Locals dress up in costume and parade the streets with torchlights and drums.  In cafés, groups of kids sing and confectioner’s sell Marmite d’Escalade, a small pot made of chocolate and filled with marzipan “vegetables” to commemorate a Genevan housewife who dispatched a Savoyard soldier by tipping her boiling soup over his head from a high window.