Last night we checked another item off our Switzerland bucket list – Montreux Jazz Festival.

A world famous music festival, in its 48th year, Montreux Jazz festival started as a three-day festival to highlight jazz artists. Now lasting two weeks, the festival includes far more genres of music than just jazz. In fact, this year’s line-up includes Pharrell Williams, Outkast, Robert Plant, Robin Thicke, Van Morrison, and Stevie Wonder. When we moved here last year we just missed the festival and it was something everything told us we had to experience this year.

The day tickets went on sale, we were surprised and excited to see Outkast on the program. Originally formed in East Point, Georgia in 1992, both Bo and I have been fans since their early days. In fact, the night Bo and I “re-met” in Athens, Georgia he was rapping ATLiens on a stage at our sorority party. Since the duo has been on hiatus since 2007 we were excited to see that Montreux was part of their 20th-anniversary music festival tour!

Last night 12 of us, including 5 of my old co-workers who are in town for global meetings, headed to Montreux via train. We arrived in time to brave the pouring rain to grab a few beers and dinner from the food and drink stands surrounding the main music area. Typically the views and atmosphere would be incredible with the lake and majestic mountains surrounding the festival but yesterday it was nothing but rain and low lying clouds.

As we were late leaving Geneva we entered the auditorium just minutes before Outkast went on stage. We were in the general admission section which was standing room only. This worked to our advantage as when we entered the area was less than half full. We claimed our space about 15 rows from the stage before spending the next 90 minutes sweating, dancing and singing like we were back in Georgia reliving many high school and college memories.

Their set was incredible; including:

• B.O.B (Bombs Over Baghdad)
• Ms. Jackson
• Roses
• So Fresh, So Clean
• Hey Ya!
• ATLiens
• Rosa Parks
• Ain’t No Thang

While I later found out that some of my co-workers thought Outkast was a jazz group, since we were going to the “jazz festival” I think everyone still had a great time. The concert was perfect for a weeknight as it only lasted an hour and a half. In fact, we were back in Geneva by 12:30am, just in time to see the last five minutes of the Netherlands vs. Argentina game!

What is your favorite concert? Growing up, Outkast was especially popular in Savannah as Big Boi aka Antwan Andre Patton is from Savannah, Georgia but also went to my same high school.