At the St. Gallen Culture Festival, the food goes with the music

Which acts are you particularly proud of?
I'm looking forward to many acts this year: The Slow Show, the former singer of Wir Sind Helden: Judith Holofernes, the Antilopen Gang, the Balkan brass band Kočani Orkestar, La Chiva Gantiva, Acid Arab, Pantha du Prince, A-WA, Sona Jobarteh, the great-grandfathers of ska The Skatalites, Newton Faulkner and Wallis Bird. They will all be playing their only Swiss festival gigs with us at the St. Gallen Culture Festival. Together with Faber, Len Sander, Marius Bär, Panda Lux, the album launch of Yes I'm Very Tired Now and countless international and local discovery bands, they are part of our lovingly compiled line-up.

What criteria did you use to put together the line-up?
For many, the St. Gallen Culture Festival is the summer meeting place and the substitute vacation for everyone who has stayed here. So we try to offer a different and exciting package every evening. This year we have once again been able to book 25 bands from eleven different countries, most of them exclusive to Switzerland. In addition to special world music bands from Africa, Colombia, Macedonia, Israel and Jamaica, we have hard-hitting political rappers, live electro, funk, pop, rock, Irish acts and singer-songwriters to choose from.

What else is on offer besides the music?
At the Kulturfestival St.Gallen, the food goes well with the music. In addition to the daily barbecue offer, various pan-fried dishes, different salads and vegetarian cuisine, there are delicacies from the countries and regions represented in the program, depending on the evening and concert. Everything is delivered fresh daily and prepared before your eyes. The bar also serves freshly tapped beer from Appenzell, spring-fresh water from Gontenbad, the finest apple juice from Mostindien, excellent organic wine and a cocktail bar with changing drinks.

Festivals don't have a dress code. But is there anything you should still bear in mind when it comes to clothing and outfits?
No, because the events take place whatever the weather. Large areas of the inner courtyard are covered.

What moment are you personally looking forward to the most?
Like every year, the diversity of the audience surprises me. Here, the 80-year-old jazz freak meets the 18-year-old rapper, the punk meets the police chief, and the grown-up children take their parents out.

What was the best experience you've had with the festival?
I'll never forget acts like Parov Stelar, Agnes Obel and Marc-Uwe Kling (The Kangaroo Chronicles), who played their first Swiss concert or show here and are now playing the really big stages. In addition, acts such as Xavier Rudd, Jose Gonzalez, Sly Johnson, Jeremy Loops, Dilated Peoples, Y'Akoto, Meshell Ndegeocello, Kadebostany, Nils Petter Molvaer, Roberto Fonseca (Buena Vista Social Club) and Katzenjammer, who have really hit it off. You performed in front of an interested audience in an intimate setting at this beautiful little venue.

How would you describe your festival succinctly in a tweet?
Summer meeting place and festival for lovers of world music, electronics and singer-songwriters in the city's most beautiful courtyard.