Hot days and tropical nights: The festival summer 2020 was just about to be completely canceled. Big festivals are not allowed to take place this summer. Fortunately, at least smaller open air events and festivals with appropriate protection concepts are allowed again. The organizers of the Swiss Mountain Road Show with the support of the Thunfest and the Music Days Steffisburg have organised in Steffisburg a corona-compliant 3 days festival with a great atmosphere and with nine bands willing to perform. Unfortunately, the joy of the festival didn’t last as long as planned. But good, something was dared.
Nacnecc kicked off the Swiss Mountain Roadshow in Steffisburg
The first stop of the Swiss Mountain Road Show took place on July 30th and 31st as well as August 2nd at the Schönau school area in Steffisburg. Completely corona-compliant with a protection concept for up to 600 people: The area was divided into two separate 300 public sectors, which worked wonderfully. Outside in the open air, enough distance for everyone, enough disinfectants, and helpers as well as media people wore masks. Bars, food and ice cream stands were available on both sides. There was even the “weather corresponding raclette” to the “raclette corresponding weather”. And so it started with Nacnecc on the first evening.
It was hot and one or two beads of sweat dripped down foreheads into the eyes. Pascal Lehmann alias Nacnecc, who kicked off the festival in the scorching late afternoon sun as a duo with guitarist Matthias Urech, also made this experience. With his electro rap / dialect rock, rhythmic beats and melodies as well as fiery guitar solos, he fired up the still rather reserved audience. Songs like “Süessi Melancholi”, “Garantieschyn”, “NoWartIg” and of course “Bärestark” from his debut album “Aso, wie meinsch?” were part of the program.
[Photo gallery: Nacnecc at Swiss Mountain Road Show]
Let’s get funky
Funky, energetic and super-colorful it went on after the changeover with the trio Hot Like Sushi – with Marc “The Pocket” Friedrich as a holiday replacement on the drums. The band is not just a band, it’s a lifestyle. The plan to get rich and famous and to marry models was somewhat thwarted by Corona, but of course they do not give up. So they played their personal commercial between songs like “Bitch Repellent”, “Purpose” or “Send Nudes” and had meanwhile also secured their international .com-domain.
Latest during their medley of well-known songs such as Outkast’s “Ms Jackson”, Timberlake’s “Senorita”, the Prince Of Bel Air theme or Smith’s “Welcome To Miami”, the legs could no longer keep still. And that Corona does not stop them, however, also proved Luca, who looked for a bit of closeness to the audience and rocked the pit with a mask and keytar. Do you also know the best song in the world? At least according to the sushis, this is Shaggy’s “It wasn’t me”.
[Photo gallery: Hot Like Sushi at Swiss Mountain Roadshow]
Did Troubas Kater predict Corona?
Troubas Kater brought the first day of the festival to a close then. They hadn’t practiced, so this concert was unique. Oh no problem. As dusk fell, the audience had grown and there even a few more music lovers arrived, who wanted to hear the band. So far this year there hasn’t been much opportunity: At the end of February Troubas Kater had released their new, third album “Itz eifach nid abe luege” (just don’t look down now). That was not a good idea, front guy QC confirmed and wondered whether they had even predicted the Corona situation with the new song “Made in China”.
By the way, have you already listened to “Troumzäut” on the current album? With lyrics like “…z Zytgfüehl hani ewig scho verlore, d Uhr die ticket ständig monoton…” (I lost the sense of time long ago, the clock is ticking constantely monotonous..” you feel like you have been put back into lockdown. However: So Troubas Kater had to interrupt their March tour.
I actually have had a ticket for the last concert in Langnau. But I didn’t go because of Corona. And you can say what you want, I’m still annoyed that I haven’t been there.
But according to the album motto “Itz eifach nid abe luege” (just don’t look down now) it continues. Good things take time and better late than never, we got to hear the new songs live. In addition, of course, older songs as well as the very traditional spontaneous freestyle consisting of requested words from the audience – “Späckbohne”, “Birdy” and “Schwendimann”. Words from previous concerts are clearly not repeated. Nevertheless, the stuffed bird had to leave the stage again.
[Photo gallery: Troubas Kater at Swiss Mountain Roadshow]
Unfortunately, I couldn’t stay to the very end, but while I was waiting for the bus, Troubas Kater’s to all known “Latvia” sounded loudly across the Steffisburg village. And that’s exactly how summer has to be!
Straight sound from Bernese Oberland
On Friday evening it continued directly with the young dialect band Räbstock. Growing up in the Bernese Oberland, front man Jan and guitarist Sven once sat for a whole week in their rehearsal room and were inspired by Polo Hofer’s Schmätterband to found their band. You can hear this inspiration in their folk-rock-country dialect songs. They want to play straight sound and have therefore teamed up with Bruno (drums) and Giuseppe (bass).
[Photo gallery: Räbstock at Swiss Mountain Roadshow]
Played the first shows last September, Corona got in their way a little too. But since they are still at the very beginning, that is not so bad for the band and they look confidently into their future. They are looking forward to the upcoming shows like now at the Swiss Mountain Road Show or at Schlossberg-Bar later in the evening. They want to record their songs like “Nume no Schritt”, “Vorbilder” or “Whiskey, Bier und Wii” in the studio in autumn – including guitars and sax solos. In the meantime, they like to have a cold beer with old and new fans.
The music industry needs support
“Was machsch du hüt Nacht? (What are you doing tonight?) “Buuregiel” George asked, who had arrived in trio from the lakeland. In addition to songs from the current album “Fründe fürimmer”, he also had many older songs with him up to his early days. There was the same named title song including the Italian part, which was taken over on the album by the Italian musician Roberto Brigante from Thun. Hits like “Hie bini dahei” or “Wär wenn nid du” were also included.
George thanked the audience for coming and emphasized that the musicians needed the support more than ever. Yes, George sings about being poor but happy, but the Corona situation threatens the entire event and music industry and thus thousands of existences. Few of them are happy without music or the opportunity to perform. Please don’t be fooled by the few small events currently taking place. That is at most a drop in the ocean. It’s not just about the musicians who are on stage entertaining you musically. This includes bookers, light and sound engineers, drivers, caterers and so many more.
[Photo gallery: George at Swiss Mountain Road Show in Steffisburg]
Towards the end of the set, George and his two fellow musicians finally played an acoustic rock medley. It consisted of songs that George had played with his cover band back in the early days.
Into hearts and clouds
They know, life is not easy and during Corona times you have to think carefully about what to do with the audience. But with David Guetta fingers and hip hop arms, the Bernese band Halunke had found good solutions to bring some movement into the audience. They also started the concert a little earlier and thus spontaneously extended the show to 90 minutes.
Halunke hadn’t played in a long time either. The last concert took place at what felt like -20 ° C. At the end of this second day of the festival in Steffisburg it was definitely warmer. By the way, they were talking about “Touch The Mountains” in Interlaken at the beginning of the year (read here). With this New Year’s show, the band had actually started their 10-year anniversary tour, which through Corona is now going very differently than planned. But they were not inactive. They presented their new single “Uf Rimini” for the first time live at the Swiss Mountain Road Show.
[Photo gallery: Halunke at der Swiss Mountain Roadshow in Steffisburg]
The early end
The great festival with best musical entertainment and a wonderful atmosphere, unfortunately ended prematurely after the Swiss National Day on Sunday with Slam Lt., Caroline Chevin and Baba Shrimps. The stops in Interlaken and Bad Ragaz have actually been planned. According to the organizers, however, the gaps in the stands were too big and too few tickets were sold to be able to achieve economic success in addition to the emotional success – finally live music in the open air again – as well. And this economic success was one of the requirements for the tour. The Swiss Mountain Road Show tour was therefore canceled after the three days in Steffisburg. Obviously the majority of the people are not ready for such festivals yet? Or did they just prefer to sit in the shade? We don’t know.
The organizers nevertheless drew a positive balance and Daniel Michel from the OC said: “We have shown that it is possible to hold an outdoor concert that is atmospheric and coherent for the audience and the artists – and at the same time meets all the requirements. ” During the official control there were also no complaints whatsoever with regard to the distribution and organization of the public flows.
Thanks to the organizers for trying! Thanks to the bands for the great concerts! And dear fans and music lovers: Go and visit the open airs and festivals that are still taking place this summer. Support your favorite musicians, organizers and their crews. Summer is much nicer with live music!
Infos about Event & Bands you can find here:
mountainroadshow.ch
www.nacnecc.ch
www.hotlikesushi.com
www.troubaskater.ch
www.räbstock.ch
www.georgemusig.ch
www.halunkeonline.ch
