New Seaside Festival in Spiez: Rea Garvey on Lake Thun
07/01/2017
written by Michel Imhof
The municipality of Spiez is getting its own festival this summer. Organizer Philippe Cornu reveals how the new event will position itself.
Alongside the Trucker & Country and Greenfield festivals, the Seaside Festival will be the third major music event in the Bernese Oberland. "We naturally considered beforehand whether the market would allow for another festival," says Seaside co-organizer Philippe Cornu. "Greenfield and Trucker & Country are for a specific target group, but the Seaside Festival appeals to a broader audience."
Partnership with Summerdays Arbon
Working together: the two project managers Sacha Altermatt from Chili Productions and Philippe Cornu from Wildpony.
In terms of the program, this means that there will be acts from the national and international pop and rock scene on Friday and classic rock artists on Saturday. Similar to the Summerdays in Arbon, which takes place at the same time. This is no coincidence: "We are partner festivals," explains Cornu.
In concrete terms, this means that many acts perform in Arbon on one day and in Spiez on the other. "We partly mirror our program," he says. "But that doesn't mean that we don't also book our own acts."
Great connection to the region
Local mountain: The festival on the Niesen even has its own wine.
"We have a great connection to nature: right on the lake, guarded by our local mountain, the Niesen," enthuses Cornu. Representation of the region at the festival is also important: "In addition, the catering will also have a regional focus. We will even have our own festival wine."
The festival is primarily aimed at people aged 25 and over. "If you want to spend the night in a tent, you have to do so on a campsite in the region. There won't be a campsite," says Cornu. "But that doesn't mean that the Seaside Festival will be a cüpli event."
Plays in Spiez as well as in Arbon: Rea Garvey.
Acts announced so far include Status Quo, Hecht, Pegasus, Trauffer, Rea Garvey and Manfred Mann's Earth Band. FurtherSeaside stars will be announced at the end of January.
