In recent years the Alps have seen a rise in music festivals, with several key promoters bringing in some of the world's biggest talents to rock the mountain tops across Switzerland's stunning landscape. This year a new festival joins the ranks, aiming to wow tourists and locals alike with a stunning lineup of national and international electronic music talent. It's called Shapes Festival and will be held way up in the mountains at the Leysin resort in south-west Switzerland on 1st March, until the 4th. Leysin, in the canton of Vaud, is located at the eastern end of Lake Geneva and sits at an elevation of 1,260m. The resort is popular with locals and tourists alike and is renowned for its stunning views across the peaks of the Swiss Alps.
Attendees at Shapes will have an inspired selection of acts to choose from, and here are a few of our own picks from the brilliant lineup...
A Guy Called Gerald
A stalwart of the UK electronic music scene for three decades now, A Guy Called Gerald has seen it all but still has that fire in the belly that keeps him performing with passion and integrity. His classic cut 'Voodoo Ray' is timeless but don't forget that he has a huge back catalogue of other such inspiring productions, plus lots of recent music including releases on his own label A Guy Called Gerald Records, and the mighty Bosconi label, too. His set is sure to be a festival highlight.
To get you in the mood, listen to a set from Gerald below...
SAOIRSE
Saoirse (pronouced shor-sha) has had a steady rise up the ranks over the last few years. She's been busy working hard to earn her stripes, gigging all over London and more recently being booked to play across Europe. Her dedication to DJing and music collecting is clear to see when you catch her in action - never one to follow trends or attempt to please the crowd with the hottest new release, Saoirse is all about keeping the dance floor moving with a mix of upfront and classic cuts. Saoirse brings the VIBES, and if you haven't caught her playing before then this is the perfect opportunity to do so. You won't regret it...
To get you in the mood, listen to a set from Saoirse below...
Optimo
Glasgow's legendary Optimo (AKA JD Twitch and Jonnie Wilkes) have been involved in the club scene for a long while now, which means they lend an unparalleled level of expertise to their performances. With over two decades of experience in DJing, and an even longer time spent listening to, and digging for, records, they are an awesome twosome. Optimo is the name of their party at the Sub Club in Glasgow, where they built a sterling reputation for their music selection. With these two you are guaranteed to have a good time.
To get you in the mood, listen to a set from Optimo below...
Maher Daniel
With a residency at Montreal's highly-regarded Stereo nightclub under his belt, Maher Daniel's reputation precedes him. His penchant for deep, immersive house music and equally engrossing techno means his sets are both energising and captivating. Maher has traveled all over the world, both as a DJ and a tour manager, working with Art Department for several years before deciding to focus all his energy on his solo career. So far he has released a string of successful tracks and an album that showcased his unique talents.
To get you in the mood, listen to a set from Maher below...
Sascha Funke
German maestro Sascha Funke is known to throw in a mixture of sounds when he's DJ. Though it's all tied in to the techno aesthetic, you may hear an old krautrock track or something similarly 'out there', because all this music is related to each other. Without krautrock for example there would be no Kraftwerk and without them, electronic music would perhaps not even have become what it is today. Sascha's knowledge and experience as a DJ, and producer, make him a formidable force on the decks and his appearance at Shapes is certainly not to be missed. Don't say we didn't warn you...
To get you in the mood, listen to a set from Sascha below...
For more information on Swizerland's nightlife scene, click here.