On 25th and 26th August 2023 Seaside Festival took place again at Spiez Bay . The second day of the festival was a gray, rainy day. The Spiez Bay is actually not quite as magnificent as usual. However, the Seaside Festival triumphed once again on the second day with an amazing national and international line-up. The audience was quite resilient, at least a part of it. Those who arrived late definitely missed out.
Read about the first day of the Seaside Festival here
Nils Burri braves the rain
For the fourth time, I had the pleasure of attending the Seaside Festival this weekend. It was raining, and yes, it did dampen my spirits a bit as I limped down the road from the train station to the Spiez Bay. I had twisted my foot a week before, so the journey was a bit challenging. Like the day before, today I would mainly see the acts on the main stage. But thanks to the first act, my mood lifted instantly. Only, my camera wasn’t a fan of the rain at all.
Nils Burri, originally from nearby Frutigen, had the not-so-easy task of getting the audience going on this early, wet Saturday afternoon. He was supported by his four-member band. Two of whom were later seen with Caroline Chevin.
Complete photo series: Nils Burri at the Seaside Festival
Nils Burri teased a bit, mentioning his exchange and coordination with Fanta 4 member Smudo. He wanted to prove how great the audience was. And once again, Nils proved that there’s no bad weather for him. Cheerful and full of energy, Nils Burri celebrated with us the best rain party one could wish for. Already during the third song, he was in the middle of the audience with his guitar. “Hey hey, hey hey, maybe it’s gonna be a good day…”. The rain seemed inconsequential. It wasn’t just perhaps a good day; it was already magnificent.
Nils Burri has been creating such good days for many years. I first saw him live in 2012 as the support act for Olly Murs. Back then, songs like “Back To You,” “Breathe it in,” or “Heroes” from his debut album “Maybe Someday” were convincing. Since then, he’s released two more albums, “Superman” and “Along the Way.” The former hockey player has found his new calling in music and dazzles his audience with over 120 concerts per year.
He even managed to captivate his two sons on that wet Saturday in Spiez with his electrifying set, showing them how enthusiastic and lively the Seaside Festival audience could be. He even made a second foray into the crowd. Rain? Wetness? Didn’t matter!
However, Nils Burri can also strike the quieter, softer notes. For instance, with “Superman,” he paid tribute to Sascha Altermatt, the festival co-founder who passed away three years ago, creating a goosebump moment and perhaps bringing a tear of emotion to a few.
A song that remains
My camera was absolutely not a fan of the rain and started acting up from that point. The fact that it didn’t completely give up throughout the day was a miracle. Nonetheless, during the stage change, I briefly stopped by the La Gustav Academy’s newcomers.
Since 2018, the La Gustav Music Academy has been training young musicians. In the summer, they get the chance to gain live experience on Swiss festival stages and present their songs. This weekend, they were on the Campfire Stage. This stage is particularly popular in rainy weather. Sitting by the fire, keeping warm, maybe roasting a sausage, and being entertained by various upcoming bands and artists.
The problem with concerts on the side stages is that I usually can’t manage to see the entire sets. To get back in time for the main stage, I miss parts of the sets. Given that the Gustav Academy is present at various festivals, I end up hearing different singers with different songs each time, giving me various impressions. About 1.5 months ago, the current class was at the Stars Of Sounds in Murten. (read here).
Komplette Bildstrecke: La Gustav am Seaside Festival 2023
The first set today, for instance, featured blues. Blues king Fabio Nicotera, as he was introduced, showcased his singing and guitar skills. The Vaudois musician Eva Collier, aka Firebrat, featuring Fribourg rapper Julz, presented “To A Ghost,” a melancholic pop song with a cool rap part that particularly stuck with me.
Music that dispels clouds and warms hearts .
A quick snack and then Caroline Chevin took the stage on the main stage. Caroline’s performance saw the rain stop. The clouds slowly dissipated. It was as if the music had the power to disperse the clouds.
Not entirely surprising, Caroline Chevin, dressed in leopard print, exuded energy, passion, and positivity. The stage became her personal dance floor, and the audience could feel how much she loved what she was doing. Her laughter was infectious, and it was evident how much she looked forward to sharing her music with us.
After spending several years in New Zealand, she’s currently on the road with her second album since her return. Despite the pandemic, she didn’t let it stop her, particularly with her participation in the TV show “Sing meinen Song 2022” and the release of her current album “Note To Self,” getting back into the music scene, rocking the stages in our country.
“Note To Self” is an album that unites different musical decades. It offers a sound landscape ranging from 60s soul to 70s disco and 80s sounds. The fusion of New Zealand and Switzerland gives the album a special “Kiwiana” atmosphere.
Complete photo series: Caroline Chevin at the Seaside Festival
During her concert, Caroline Chevin thrilled the audience with numerous songs from her album, including “Fly Away” dedicated to her son. The current single “A-Train” and choreographic performances with background singer Jizelle added extra energy. “Let It Burn” revealed the passion in Caroline’s heart, while “Lighthouse” effortlessly spread good vibes. “Hey World” was, of course, a must, and the “Sing meinen Song” version of Seven’s “Whatever It Takes” brought a special dynamic to the concert.
The show was a celebration of life. Caroline Chevin encouraged the audience to celebrate each day anew, and her music became the soundtrack for it.
Southern groove by the campfire
Between the main stage shows, I returned to the Campfire Stage, where the Thun newcomer band Gary Twins thrilled their audience with Southern rock sounds.
The characteristic sounds of the slide guitar filled the air with a touch of the American South, while the band made a powerful start with their first set. Sascha’s vocal presence acted like another instrument, bringing the band’s stories to life in a unique way. “Hot Blame” heated up the crowd, while the song “Me and My Twins” let the audience immerse themselves in the rhythm. Meanwhile, the melancholic tones of “Fallen Man” resonated deeply.
Complete photo series: Gary Twins at the Seaside Festival
With their brand new singles “Old No 7” and “On the Road” in their repertoire, the band is currently working on their debut album. So we can look forward to seeing what’s coming soon.
An 80s icon on the Seaside Festival Stage
“Do you remember the early 80s?” asked Kim Wilde and I shook my head. I was only born in the mid-80s. Nevertheless, of course I know one or two of their hits! I’m sure you do too. I had also already seen Kim Wilde at the Snowpenair in 2012. Just imagine, that was over 11 years ago. Likeable and full of energy, Kim Wilde took us on a look back at her musical past.
The 60+ pop star stormed the stage in a bright red leather bolero, big dark sunglasses and white-blonde hair. Kim Wilde started with “Rage to love”, followed by “Never trust a stranger”. The Brit was bursting with energy, flirting and joking with the audience between songs.
Kim Wilde wird von Neil Jones an der Gitarre begleitet, und ihre Produktion ist eine echte Familiensache. Neben ihrem Bruder Ricky rockt genauso ihre Nichte und Ricky’s Tochter Scarlett Wilde die Bühne. Scarlett, vor Kurzem Mama geworden, wurde am Bühnenrand von ihrem Mann unterstützt, während ihre kleine Tochter im Tragetuch dabei war.
The setlist reflected the various phases of Kim Wilde’s career. The trained landscape gardener became famous in 1981 with the international Top 5 hit “Kids in America”. In the same year, she released her self-titled debut album and became an important part of the synth-pop era. From 1983 to 1986, she was particularly successful on the European mainland, when she landed another international hit with her cover of “You Keep Me Hanging On”. For example, she went on tour with Michael Jackson in 1988 and David Bowie in 1990.
In 1996, Kim Wilde played in the London West End musical “Tommy” and then started her family, which meant that music took a bit of a back seat. She rediscovered her passion for gardening and hosted the landscaping show “Better Gardens” on ITV. In 2005, she even published the gardening book “Gardening with Children”.
After the successful duet “Anyplace Anywhere Anytime” with Nena in spring 2003, she took off again musically in 2006. In 2013, she also worked with DJ Bobo on her 13th studio album and a Christmas album, with the duet with DJ Bobo being a highlight.
Their latest album “Here Come the Aliens” was released in 2018. The topic of extraterrestrials came about because she saw a UFO in her garden in 2009. It is the pop icon’s first album in 7 years. The new songs produced by brother Ricky Wilde are peppered with modern rock and soul elements, but are strongly reminiscent of the 80s.
For the encore, Kim Wilde returned to the stage in a cape and hat and performed “You Came” and “You Spin Me Round Like a Record” to close the evening with her loudly acclaimed “Kids in America”.
If you would like to see Kim Wilde again this year, you can do so on 01.12.2023 in Biel at the “Christmas Sessions” in the Kongresshaus.
Boblikov’s grand entrance
Even before Mando Diao took to the stage, they impressed with their impressive stage design. The oversized head of Boblikov, the new alter ego of Mando Diao, stared out over the festival grounds. This huge, artistically designed stage set created excitement and anticipation among the festival visitors.
Complete photo gallery: Mando Diao at the Seaside Festival
The head of Boblikov created a fascinating atmosphere right from the start and showed that Mando Diao wanted to impress not only musically but also visually. I was never a big Mando Diao fan. My previous live experiences with the band have been ambivalent. The 20-minute showcase at Mascotte Zurich in 2014 was somehow too spaced out for me and at their performance at the Gampel Openair 2018, the constantly booming bars with their “Boom Boom” overshadowed the entire concert. However, I always thought “Dance with Somebody” was great. And at this year’s Seaside Festival, my opinion of the band changed for the better.
When Mando Diao appeared on the Seaside stage, you could feel the excitement in the audience. The boys in the front row enthusiastically stuck their hands in the air in the shape of rocker horns. Mando Diao played an energetic concert. Their setlist was a mixture of old hits and many new songs. Mando Diao released their latest album “Boblikov’s Magical World” in April to mark the band’s 20th anniversary. It’s a simple rock album, straightforward, to the point, with power drumming and lots of riffs. Their Seaside Festival show was exactly the same.
“Wake Up”, “Fire in the Hall”, “Animal” and “Long Before Rock ‘n’ Roll” showed the band’s great live presence. Guitarist CJ also greeted the audience in a super sympathetic way in broken Swiss German. He emphasized that they were here to play, not to talk – and they did play. Songs such as “Frustration”, “Long Long Way”, “Scream for You”, “Down in the Past” and “Priemal Call” were enthusiastically received by the audience.
Mando Diao released their debut album “Bring Em In” in 2002. The band was characterized by their catchy riffs and melodies in the style of the 1960s and 1970s, as well as the unmistakable voices of their two singers. In January 2009, they achieved their biggest success to date with “Dance with Somebody”. However, Gustaf Norén left the band in 2015. The band had grown apart too much, which you could obviously hear in 2014.
At the end, Mando Diao made the audience dance again. Their hit “Dance with somebody” was a must and frontman Björn showed us how it’s done.
Von “Liquid Gold” zu Seaside Sounds
Maryne also performed this Saturday at the Seaside Festival, on the Seaside Session stage. At her side was Matthieu Trovato, who accompanied her on both keyboard and guitar. It wasn’t the first time I’ve seen them live this year. The talented musician from Lausanne can look back on a successful year, which included a tour with Pegasus and appearances at numerous festivals large and small. One highlight was her performance at the Stars Of Sounds Festival in Aarberg, where she opened for her famous brother Bastian Baker, Pegasus and superstar Anastacia (read here). Her repertoire also included her current single “Show Me”, which she of course also had in her luggage.
Complete photo gallery: Maryne at the Seaside Festival
Even as a child, Maryne showed her musical talent by singing and playing various instruments, including drums. Like her famous brother Bastian Baker, she also decided to shift her focus from sport to music. It was an unfortunate coincidence that the Covid lockdown was imposed on the very day their debut single “Overdose” was released. Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, Maryne managed to release her first EP entitled “Liquid Gold” in 2021.
Maryne’s aim that evening was not only to make her parents, who were sitting in the audience, proud, but above all to convince the audience of herself and her music. She achieved this brilliantly against the picturesque backdrop of the wooden Session Stage and the warm, inviting stage lighting. When she wasn’t accompanying herself on stage, she also dared to get closer to the audience to encourage them to sing along.
The Fanta4 Festival Highlight
Seaside Festival “What’s up?” – The anticipation for the Fantastischen Vier was huge and their show was definitely a festival highlight. I’ve already seen Fanta 4 live 2-3 times, and each time it was a huge party. The tension rose as Michi, Thomas D and Smudo sat down on stools at the edge of the stage, Andi as usual in the background. Smudo disguised his voice with helium, just like “Aller Anfang ist Yeah”.
In their 35-year band history, the Stuttgart band have retained their youth and the mischief in their hearts. They don’t always take themselves quite so seriously. However, if something is important to them, they stand up for it. They skillfully handle important and less important topics in their texts. It is therefore not surprising that they are still celebrated today by people of all generations. The front row consisted mainly of teenagers or parents with their children. On the shoulders of mom and dad, even the little ones rocked along to the old and new Fanta 4 hits. They also know Michi and Smudo from the shows The Voice Of Germany and The Voice Kids. The atmosphere in the audience was at its peak right from the start.
The Fantastischen Vier, founded in Stuttgart in 1989 by Michi Beck, Smudo, Thomas D and And.Ypsilon, were the pioneers of German chanting and made headlines nationwide. Songs such as “Die da?!?!” and “Sie ist weg” were chart hits. Their own TV show “Die Vierte Dimension” on Premiere was a great success. Over the years, they have released several albums and hits such as “Mit freundlichen Grüssen” or “Zusammen” feat. Clueso were born.
Complete photo gallery: The Fantastic Four at the Seaside Festival
The concert at the Seaside Festival was a perfect mix of old hits and new songs. There’s probably not a song in their set that I haven’t heard before. Classics such as “Sie ist weg” and “Ernten was wir säen”, with an impressive guitar solo at the end, ensured that the audience was enthusiastic. A little mix of Beyoncé also fits in there. My personal favorites were “Einfach sein”, “Gebt uns ruhig die Schuld” and “Tag am Meer”.
When Smudo wasn’t jumping rope with the guitar cable, Thomas D was handing out the Mando Diao pleks he had found or jumping into the ditch to clap his hands. They always had something to say about it. It was great fun from second 1! From young to old, everyone was fully involved with great passion. The concert could have gone on forever.
There was a small surprise immediately after the show: access to the media center was temporarily blocked. The passageway was kept clear because the Fantas were in a hurry and obviously headed back towards Zurich under police escort. This had never happened before at the Seaside Festival, said the security.
Energetic finish with stress
The Seaside Festival came to a close with a rousing performance by Lausanne rapper Stress. Together with the band, he brought immense energy to the concert. With expressive guitar solos, rousing riffs and pulsating basses, the musicians created a dynamic sound that kept the audience moving. In addition, singer Karolyn brought a concentrated load of female power to the show with a powerful voice and a charisma that captivated the audience.
Stress presented a selection of his old hits such as “Tous les mêmes”, “Rester soi-même” and “RAF”. New songs from the current album “Libertad”, which he has been touring with since 2022, were also part of the setlist. Stress animated the audience into a mosh pit and even tried his hand at Swiss German with his “Sing meinen Song” cover of the Dabu Fantastic song “Angelina”.
Stress is currently celebrating its 20th anniversary on stage. He had already recorded his MTV Unplugged concert at the Schiffbau in Zurich over two days in June. These special shows, in which he welcomed well-known guests such as Noah Veraguth, Bastian Baker and JP Cooper, will be shown on television in November. A tour will follow later.
During his performance, Stress also delved into his biography “179 Seiten Stress”, which sheds light on his childhood in Estonia and his arrival in Switzerland at the age of 12. Since his debut album “Billy Bear” in 2003 and winning his first Swiss Music Award in 2008, he has had an impressive career.
Complete photo gallery: Stress at the Seaside Festival
Stress emphasized the transformative power of music to help him express emotions and find personal balance. He also spoke openly about his own experience with depression and did not fail to mention his opinion on the war in Ukraine. So during “Just like I Love You”, everyone hugged each other to spread some love. In fact, we were surprised that “Elle” was not played at the end. On the other hand, it was totally okay.
Rain and rhythm: farewell to the Seaside Festival 2023
The second day of the Seaside Festival 2023 in Spiez Bay was rainy, but nevertheless thrilling. From the initial gloom brought on by the rain to an exhilarating musical journey that began with Nils Burri’s energetic performance and ended with Stress’ powerful rendition, it was a great day full of vibrant music and memorable moments. The whole festival weekend proved once again how beautifully music brings people together and connects them.
You can find more information about the festival and artists here:
seasidefestival.ch
nilsburri.ch
carolinechevin.com
lagustav.ch
kimwilde.com
mandodiao.com
diefantastischenvier.com
stressmusic.com
