While Winterthur probably isn’t the first place that springs to mind when you think of live music, the city’s annual open air is one of the highlights of summer in the canton of Zurich and definitely shouldn’t be overlooked.
Last year marked the 40th edition of Winterthur Musikfestwochen- an arts, culture and music festival that takes place in the historic old town of Winterthur, Switzerland. As usual, the event was a huge success, attracting visitors from far and wide and showcasing a diverse lineup of local and international performers. Featured acts included beloved British musician Ben Howard, French-Cuban duo Ibeyi and the Icelandic Indie/Electronica band Vök, to name a few. The majority of performances at Winterthur Musikfestwochen are free and open to the public with only a small fraction requiring pre-purchased tickets. The well-established event is sustained by local and corporate sponsors and aided by the contributions of private donors along with the efforts of eager volunteers.
This year, the festival spans from the 17th-28th of August. You can look forward to free performances from Oh Wonder, Local Natives, Pablo Nouvelle, Agent Fresco and many more! Tickets can be purchased for Daughter, Band of Skulls, Elias and Tom Odell among others. Festival passes provide access to all paid shows and can be purchased for 149.-. Individual day tickets are also available.
Alternatively, anyone interested in getting involved with the festival can apply to join a team of over 600 volunteers. There’s something for everyone and possible tasks range from decorating and setting up stages to working with the gastronomy team. All helpers are rewarded with festival tickets and other goodies such as an invitation to an exclusive helper party and an FCW football game.
Winterthur Musikfestwochen is a unique event. The average attendee won’t be sporting coachella-esque attire, there’s no camping and the presence of alcohol is moderate. With little to distract, the festival continues to be dedicated to the music and provides it’s visitors with an intimate and low-key listening experience.
For the full line-up, tickets and info visit the Winterthur Musikfestwochen website.