The occasions business has been one of many hardest hit in the course of the pandemic, nevertheless, this month one of many world’s most well-known music festivals is making its comeback. The Caprices Competition returns to its mountain prime perch within the Swiss Alps this week.
CRANS MONTANA, SWITZERLAND – The Modernity Stage at Weekend 1 of the Caprices Competition
Weekend 1 of Caprices came about final weekend and Weekend 2 is going down September 24-Twenty sixth. The Caprices Competition is greatest recognized for its glass Modernity Stage positioned at prime of the ski resort of Crans-Montana within the Swiss Alps. Company entry this stage through a bubble elevate. The stand-alone greenhouse-like construction sits 2,200 meters above sea stage. Not solely does this give visitors a panoramic view of the snow-capped mountains, however it additionally presents loads of house and recent air, which is actually a precedence for many today.
To handle the elephant within the room, complete COVID-safety protocols have been put in place. In response to Joseph Bonvin, President of Caprices Boards of Administrators, “This yr the Caprices shall be all about renewal. We’re making a COVID-free-zone contained in the competition. This includes checking all competition members for the SWISS COVID-check QR code. If competition goers shouldn’t have the QR code as a result of they’re coming from exterior the EU, they are often examined on website utilizing the SUMMIT clinic check heart. With the creation of a COVID-free-zone, all restrictions contained in the competition shall be lifted so visitors cannot solely really feel secure, they’ll additionally absolutely benefit from the competition as they’ve in years previous.” Basically, what this implies is that every one competition attendees are required to both be absolutely vaccinated, have lately recovered for COVID-19 or have obtained a unfavorable check outcome inside the final 72 hours. The onsite COVID checks are additionally being supplied freed from cost.
The competition presents two different phases as nicely this yr, the Forest Stage debuted in 2020 and all new for this yr is Sign Stage. Each are once more accessed by ski gondolas, up within the mountains of the resort, however they’re just a little bit extra intimate than the massive room feeling of Modernity.
CRANS MONTANA, SWITZERLAND – View from backstage on the Modernity Stage on the Caprices Competition … [+]
The Forest Stage has been constructed inside an outdated intermediate cable automobile station. The DJ stage is within the heart of this spherical cabin and visitors can take pleasure in views of the forest whereas having fun with the music of the worldwide lineup of DJs all through the weekend. The Sign Stage is positioned simply steps from the Forest Stage and presents yet one more intimate expertise the place you’re feeling as in case you are in a buddy’s barn, however a global DJ simply occurs to be spinning his new tracks.
After I spoke with Caprices Founder, Maxime Léonard, he was optimistic about how the competition continues to develop and adapt. He mentioned, “The competition has all the time recognized a relentless evolution, by way of infrastructure, line up, and picture. We now have all the time sought to adapt to new developments and supply ideas forward of our time. At the start, the competition primarily booked teams like Deep Purple, Iggy Pop, Bjork, Portishead, Cypress Hill and plenty of different dwell acts. Nonetheless, we made the unconventional determination six years in the past to focus solely on digital music. This was seen as a threat initially, however it’s that spirit of fixed journey that retains issues new and thrilling.”
CRANS MONTANA, SWITZERLAND – View from the Modernity Stage on the Caprices Competition
Headlining acts this yr embrace Solomun, Apollonia, Sizzling Since 82 and plenty of others. Through the first weekend there was a duet set that Founder, Maxime Léonard was notably enthusiastic about. “We had been comfortable to have the possibility to convey collectively Luciano and Ricardo Villalobos who delivered an distinctive duet set. These two artists have been concerned with the digital music aspect of the competition since our begin 18 years in the past and seeing them play collectively is so significant for us. However total, we’ve a powerful lineup and I do know our visitors are in for the time of their lives.”