Winterthur Musikfestwochen is what you get when you remove the dirt, queues and drunkenness from the European festival equation. A music festival without these things seems almost paradoxical and yet, for the past 41 years this music, arts and culture event has been a big success. Undoubtedly, there’s lots do in the canton of Zurich in the summer but Winterthur Musikfestwochen’s intimate, hassle-free environment makes it a unique experience. Best of all, the majority of the performances are free and don’t require a ticket.
When I arrived in the city on Saturday, umbrella in hand, the gloomy weather and seemingly empty streets did little to motivate me for an evening outdoors. However, things quickly improved once I was immersed in the happy crowd at Kirchplatz and later made my way to Steinberggasse to meet up with some friends and catch a few of the later acts.
Following a few minor technical hiccups, The Slow Show, hailing from Northern England were greeted by an enthusiastic crowd. The band made themselves at home on stage, with lead vocalist Rob Goodwin sauntering around barefoot and stating that the rain made him feel like he was back in Manchester. The group’s set lasted about an hour and included songs such as ‘Dresden’, ‘Testing’ and ‘Bloodline’. Overall the performance was heartfelt and delivered with a sort of humility. While calm music isn’t always suitable for festivals, The Slow Show’s stage presence was captivating and their set really suited the relaxed atmosphere of that night.
The crowd continued to grow as people eagerly awaited the arrival of alt-pop duo Oh Wonder. Having seen the band a few months ago at a small venue in Glasgow, I was excited to catch them in my hometown and see how their set would translate to a larger stage. While their vocal ability was just as impressive as it was the first time Josephine and Anthony maneuvered the stage with a new found confidence. As it was the band’s first time in Switzerland, it seemed that they had no idea what to expect but were pleasantly surprised by the turnout. Their set began with the track ‘Livewire’ and their beautiful harmonies and energy breathed life into the crowd. As they continued the skies opened up but that did little to deter anyone from dancing and singing along. When the set eventually ended with the standout song ‘Technicolor Beat’, everyone was soaked and satisfied.
Next up was Pablo Nouvelle, the Swiss architecture student turned musician/DJ. Nouvelle has built up an impressive collection of remixes along with creating his own songs, many of which are featured on his self-titled debut album from 2013. It’s been said that with the assistance of his band he seamlessly transitions from the studio to the stage. Unfortunately, having clearly learned nothing from living in the U.K. I wore clothing that didn’t hold up the rain and by the time he was set to take the stage I was too wet and cold to stick around. Despite missing what was sure to be an impressive performance, all in all it was a nice evening in Winterthur.
Winterthur Musikfestwochen continues with more live music performances, films and art activities spread across the next week. For more information, check out the schedule.
Words by Tamyra Denoon