The Montreux Jazz Festival (MJF) unveiled the program for its 59th edition on Thursday, the second and ultimate outside the walls. Among the legends expected on the stage of the lake and at the casino from July 4 to 19, Neil Young, Santana, Diana Ross, Pulp or Chaka Khan. Mathieu Jaton, director of the festival, as well as the programmers were the guests of Benjamin Smadja.
For this edition, which will offer a last wave of chills on the lake stage before returning to 2M2C, the festival will welcome “some of the rarest names in the live industry,” said Mathieu Jaton, director of the festival, when I announce the 2025 menu in front of the press in Lausanne.
Among the artists hoped for years, Neil Young will be back at the MJF. “His latest concert in 2016 was epic for almost three hours,” Jaton recalled. For his third passage to Montreuxhe will be accompanied by “The Chrome Hearts”.
For this edition, which will offer a last wave of chills on the lake stage before returning to 2M2C, the festival will welcome “some of the rarest names in the live industry,” said Mathieu Jaton, director of the festival, when I announce the 2025 menu in front of the press in Lausanne.
Among the artists hoped for years, Neil Young will be back at the MJF. “His latest concert in 2016 was epic for almost three hours,” Jaton recalled. For his third passage to Montreuxhe will be accompanied by “The Chrome Hearts”.
Reminder of Quincy evenings
“For the opening evening, we wanted to offer something special,” he continued. Chaka Khan, “The essential artist of the Soul scene” will celebrate his 50th anniversary. Then in a second show, she will pay tribute to her friend Quincy Jones, surrounded by several “special guests”, worldwide. “We hope the brothel on stage,” smiled Mathieu Jaton.
“The chance of the calendars has made artists very close to Quincy, who disappeared last November, will meet this year on the lake stage,” added the official. Among them, the Diva Diana Ross and the Superstar Lionel Richie.
Another highly anticipated artist, Carlos Santana. “The Mexican friend of the festival” will return, after nine years of absence. The Canadian Alanis Morissette will celebrate the 30th anniversary of “Jagged Little Pill”, one of the fifteen best -selling albums of all time.
First
True to its programming line that brews generations, the festival will host several artists who have never gone on stage at Montreux. Among them, the artist “total, visionary and unclassifiable” Fka Twigs.
The icon of English pop culture, Pulp, will finally make its beginnings to Montreuxwas delighted Mathieu Jaton. Unquisite world star for almost twenty years and “Tube machine”, J Balvin will also play for the first time at the festival, just like the Black Keys.
First also for the new phenomena of English-speaking pop-rock, expected in all festivals this summer: Benson Boone, Sam Fender or Noah Kahan. The latter “sold the 50,000 Hyde Park tickets in 45 minutes,” enthusiastic Mathieu Jaton.
91 years old and on stage
The contemporary Blues-Rock evening will be hosted by the American “guitar Heroes” Joe Bonamassa and Kenny Wayne Shepherd. The latter’s special guest will be Bobby Rush, legend of the Louisiana blues. “At 91, he will be the oldest artist ever to the festival,” said the boss of the MJF.
Mathieu Jaton was delighted with the return of Raye, an artist “so crazy and whose career is exploding”. This time, she will be headlining, “evidence after her magical performance last year,” he said.
The “Frenchie” evening will welcome the essential figure in Hip Hop Laylow, as well as Usult, the most listened to in the world on Spotify, in a double tray of Hip Hop Laylow. Finally, the British trio London Grammar and the Australian Rüfus of the soil complete the programming, “between aerial vocal and intoxicating and intoxicating hymns”.
Sounds and versatility
The casino, a room with more intimate configuration, will reflect the versatility of current sounds. It will welcome, among other things, the sweetness of Diana Reeves and Samara Joy, the Quintett of Avishai Cohen, Nubya Garcia and the Ezra Collective group.
Among his favorites, Mathieu Jaton quoted the concert of the magnetic singer of Portishead, Beth Gibbons. Or that of James Blake in solo piano. Also note the arrival of Finneas, without his sister Billie Eilish, of Fujii Kazi, phenomenon of the J-Pop or the French guitarist Waxx.
Global hip-hop will open up to different sound horizons: Shaboozey the Mastinera of Country, Saint Levant of Oriental accents. South America will be well represented with CA7RIEL & PACO Amoroso, Nathy PELUSO, SOI JORGE, Natalia Lafourcade.
Configuration similar to 2024
Regarding the configuration, the 2025 version is strongly inspired by 2024. The lake scene will have a capacity of 5,600 places on the market square, the Casino room of 1300. A number overall identical to what 2M2C offers, said Mathieu Jaton.
The budget for this edition amounts to 30 million. In addition to the 61 concerts “in”, a free program will be announced on June 4.
The new chapter in the history of the MJF is expected in 2026 with the return – confirmed by the city of Montreux – In the Congress Center (2m2c) fully renovated and redesigned. The opportunity to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the festival with dignity.
