Mountain music festivals have exploded onto the skiing scene in recent years and we doubt anyone is complaining. With such a great variety of mountain music festivals on offer this season, you can be sure to find a festival and a genre to suit you this year. We’ve put together details of all the festivals on offer from this season’s start to end to help you find your best fit. You can thank us later.
Top of the Mountain
November 2017 & April 2018 – Ischgl
Lineup Includes: Andrea Berg, Max Giesinger, Helene Fisher
Day Lift Pass & Ticket: €49
Ischgl hosts 3 ‘Top of the Mountain’ concerts throughout the year, one in November to celebrate the resort’s opening, one in Easter and the grand finale as the mountain closes. This year, the grand finale is headlined by German superstar Helene Fisher, the opening concert Andrea Berg and the Easter special Max Giesinger. These events are perfect for anyone that loves live music, exceptional skiing and the best of Austrian après, without breaking the bank!
Rise Festival
16 – 23 December 2017 – Les 2 Alpes
Lineup Includes: Craig David Presents TS5, The Craig Charles Funk & Soul Club, Ray BLK, Monki, My Nu Leng & Dread MC, Philip George
Tickets & Lift Pass: £249 (Final Release)
An extremely popular festival for the university crowds, Rise always puts on a party and a half! From pounding apres sessions to incredible outdoor arena shows, nightclub events and even Secret Adventure Parties, there’s something to suit everyone
The skiing’s not bad either! With 220km of piste, Les 2 Alpes is a very popular destination for skiers and snowboarders. It is a great destination for beginner skiers as many of the gentler slopes are located higher up the mountain, meaning you can benefit from the freshest snow. It’s also got some great off piste and an awesome snow park for those that want to strut their stuff.
Groove Cairngorm
23 – 24 February – Aviemore, Scotland
Lineup Includes: 2ManyDJ’s, Shaka Loves You, Norman Jay MBE, Start to End performing DAFT PUNK’s Discovery live.
2-Days Ticket & Lift Pass: Approx. £130
Groove Cairngorm, the UK’s Only Snowsports & Music Festival, is returning for 2018, taking place at Badaguish Outdoor Centre and Cairngorm Mountain. The first few acts of the lineup have already been released, with many more to be added in the next few months.
The snowsports elements of the festival will be hosted by CairnGorm Mountain, with Groove Cairngorm will be providing local acts (DJs & acoustic) for entertainment over the course of the day on the mountain and at the restaurants. Free shuttle buses are available to get skiers back from Cairngorm to Aviemore for the evening’s entertainment. If you want a mountain festival experience without leaving the UK this season, Groove Cairngorm is a very good option. It’s a lot of fun and allows you to experience the joys of skiing in the UK.
Snowboxx
17 – 24 March 2018 – Avoriaz
Lineup Includes: Chase & Status, Fatboy Slim, Loyle Carner, Mike Skinner, Artful Dodger, Snakehips, Steve Lawler, Mark Knight, Stefflon Don
Accommodation, Ticket & Full Area Lift Pass: Available from approx. £390
With 5 stages, including the Rock the Pistes stage, which is helicoptered in to a new location on the slopes each day (!) there’s so much to do and see here you definitely need a whole week to make the most of it! Downtown, a neon nightclub paradise consisting of 6 mountain nightclubs awaits each night, while each day the amazing slopes of Les Portes du Soleil ski area are calling.
One of the largest ski areas in the world, the skiing here is fantastic, offering a lot of variety for groups of mixed ability as well as enough entertainment for advanced skiers or boarders to never feel bored.
Rock The Pistes
18 – 24 March 2018 – Portes du Soleil
Lineup: TBC
Passes available from November 24 2017 at: http://en.rockthepistes.com/concert-ski-pass.html
Because for some people, one festival just isn’t enough, Rock The Pistes coincides with Snowboxx to really create an atmosphere unlike anywhere else. With 5 live concerts on the ski slopes at 1.30pm and more than 50 après-ski concerts throughout the Portes du Soleil resorts, Rock The Pistes festival unites one of the world’s largest ski areas with a love of music. Previous headliners have included Rag’n’Bone Man, The Klaxons and Two Door Cinema Club.
Cover Festival
29 March – 2 April 2018 – Davos Klosters
Lineup Includes: (All Tribute Acts) Tina Turner, ACDC, Aerosmith, Bob Marley, Bee Gees, Bryan Adams, Phil Collins
This fun festival gives you the opportunity to enjoy the beauty of early Spring time in the mountains. A unique mountain festival concept, the best tribute bands in Europe each day bring polished performances of the biggest pop, rock, reggae and new German wave-hits to the Bündner Mountains.
Chamonix Unlimited
4 – 8 April – Chamonix
Lineup: Amelie Lens, Charlotte de Witte, Laurent Garnier, Modeselektor
Tickets: Passes are available from €55 – €160, with single event tickets on sale for around €20
5 days of the freshest electronic music you could ask for against one of the most breathtaking backdrops, what more could you want?! Chamonix Unlimited offers electronic music fans an incredible break packed full of the best music, the best skiing and the best times.
Working closely with Black Crows, this festival is definitely one for those who stray from traditional constrictions and like to make their own agendas. However, you will still get all those elements of a mountain festival that we know and love, don’t worry; fantastic night events, pop-up concerts, après-ski, it’s all covered. To top it off, the great line-up of DJ’s are certain to bring a party to remember.
Chamonix Unlimited sees itself as more than the typical mountain music festival though; they offer a cultural experience with a focus on and fresh new artists and of course, winter sports. This all takes place in the shadow of the spectacular Mont Blanc, somewhere that should be on every mountain lover’s bucket list to visit at least once. Combine all this with the awesome skiing that Chamonix has to offer, Chamonix Unlimited festival is definitely one to visit.
Electric Mountain
5 – 6 April 2018, Sölden
Lineup: TBC
A must for anyone that loves skiing and Electro Dance Music, the Electric Mountain festival in Sölden is a highly energetic, colourful festival that brings dance music centre stage against an impressive mountain backdrop. A resort that is almost as famous for its party atmosphere as its brilliant skiing, Sölden also has a fantastic snow park for those looking to spend their days finding some adrenaline. You might as well make the most of this skiing as admission to the concerts is free for holders of a valid Sölden day ski pass.
Snowbombing
9 – 14 April 2018 – Mayrhofen
Lineup Includes: Liam Gallagher, Pendulum, Dizzee Rascal, AJ Tracey, Big Narstie, Craig David Presents TS5, Mistajam, MJ Cole, Rudimental, Gorgon City, DJ EZ, Eats Everything, Jackmaster, My Nu Leng, Idris Elba
Festival wristband & Accommodation: From £299 (Early Bird)
With an incredible lineup set amongst the gorgeous alpine landscape of Mayrhofen, it’s no surprise that Snowbombing remains one of the most popular mountain music festivals. Alongside the main events of the lineup, you can party in an igloo rave, enchanted forest or underground tennis club turned super club. Or, how about taking part in some chairlift speed-dating or hopping in a glitter gondola? Festival fans are sure to find something to love at Snowbombing.
Adrenaline hunters can tackle the Vans Penken Park or the Harikiri run, Europe’s steepest incline at 78%… while the more relaxed holidaymakers can make the most of the abundance of good mountain hut restaurants and lovely blue runs.
Zermatt Unplugged
10 – 14 April – Zermatt
Lineup TBC: Previous headliners include Paolo Nutini, James Morrison, Nelly Furtado, Simple Minds, KT Tunstall, Angus & Julia Stone, Anastacia, Seal, Ms. Lauryn Hill, Lionel Richie…
Zermatt Unplugged is a unique acoustic musicahttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8hByd7cp_Yl festival that combines some of the biggest names in music with up and coming talent to really give visitors an experience to remember. With the incredible backdrop of the Matterhorn looming above and the wonderful spring weather bringing some great skiing conditions, Zermatt Unplugged is a must for acoustic music fans.
If you’ve never visited Zermatt before, the town itself is reason enough to go, a beautiful alpine village with traditional charm. A huge ski area with some incredible runs, delicious mountain hut restaurants and a great variety of accommodations, eateries and bars, Zermatt is definitely a resort that should be on all bucket lists.
Image Credit – Florian Aeby Photography
Musilac Mont-Blanc
19 – 21st April – Chamonix
Lineup: Rag’n’Bone Man, Beth Ditto, Texas, Orelsan, Walk Off The Earth, Chrysta Bell, IAM, Shaka Ponk and more…
Musilac Mont-Blanc is a brand-new music festival, one which brings the extremely popular Musilac vibe from the shores of Lake Bourget up into the mountains. Much anticipated, it is bound to bring a fresh new take on mountain festivals, with a pop-rock lineup that is sure to make a lot of mountain based music fans very happy!
Over 45,000 festival fans are expected over 3 days of fun. Take your pick of concerts, spend your days skiing, step into the void at the Aiguille du Midi, or take a trip to the Mer de Glace. With all these and more on offer, Musilac Mont-Blanc offers one of the most beautiful Alpine playgrounds you can ask for as a snowsports fan as well as one of the best natural stage backdrops that music lovers will ever experience.
Ticket sales open on December 1st 2017 and special festival rock & ride packages are available for those who want to make the most of this incredible location.
The home of the very first Winter Olympics, Chamonix is something of a mecca for experienced skiers and snowboarders. While there’s more than enough piste to play with for all abilities, Chamonix is renowned for offering something more challenging for those who seek it. You will certainly never be bored in this amazing ski area.
Keep your eyes peeled on https://mont-blanc.musilac.com/en/ as more bands are set to be announced on December 11th.