Les Gets - Summer Lounge Music Festival 2018 - Report 2

If you like good live music on your doorstep every evening whilst on holiday, then Les Gets and the Lounge Music Festival is the place to be in August.  Soak up a wide range of music and enjoy the relaxed ambiance at a variety of venues over the festival fortnight. There is music for all tastes; rock, hip hop, jazz, soul, blues and every genre in between.  No tickets, no queues and it’s all free! Enjoy the music at an outdoor venue whilst downing a cold beer, or sipping a glass of local wine in the sunshine at the foot of the slopes, or venture inside one of the many restaurant venues serving great local cuisine.  The whole festival is a very relaxed affair, providing a ‘melange’ of music that will not disappoint in providing many memorable evenings. 

In it’s eighth year, the festival now hosts over 50 performances.  This year it offers the quality and versatility of bands such as King Krab, solo artists such as Coby Grant, and the well-seasoned voice of Ahmed Mouici covering well known rock, soul and rhythm’n blues songs as a duo with Cisco Herzhaft on guitar. I thoroughly enjoyed last night’s performance by Ahmed Mouici at Le Vieux Chene. 

He is a truly charismatic performer who exudes a personality which does justice to the music of rock and blues legends. The thing that struck me the most about all the performances, was the opportunity to get up close and even meet the performers at the bar or around the restaurant – they are as chilled as you will be. 

The festival offers more than just music, as there are many activities during the day through to early evening for all the family. You can visit one of working dairy farms to see how the local cheeses are produced; or join one of the guided walks to learn about the many species of fauna and flora. Perhaps try joining one of the outdoor yoga sessions, or get hands-on in the pottery workshop, or simply amble through an art exhibition. There are excursions on the village train to some of the nearby hamlets, or try going further up the mountain to Mont Caly where you can enjoy the panoramic views across Les Gets to Mont Blanc. 

Generally, there are plenty of events and activities for the kids, some as part of the festival and others that are normally run by the Tourist Office. 

These are just a few of things on offer in addition to all the normal activities within Les Gets. For more information visit: https://www.lesgets.com/organisez-et-reservez/evenements/lounge-music-festival-2.html,or look up the bands and artists on facebook. 

This festival fortnight also compliments all the other music and extreme sports events organised in Les Gets and across the whole of the Portes du Soleil throughout the year, such as Rock the Pistes, Harley Days, Crankworx, Pass Portes du Soleil MTB and many more.    

David Underhill

14 August 2018