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Every four years the Swiss folk music scene comes together and celebrates their passion for traditional Swiss music with countless visitors. This year’s event, which will take place from 21 to 24 September, is particularly special because it will be held in the Ticino canton of Bellinzona for the first time. Also, the festival is free for the first time. Here’s an overview of the most important things about the festival.
get there
At the request of SBB, no special trains are planned for the folk music festival, but trains run regularly to Ticino. Since the Gotthard Base Tunnel is closed to passenger trains, trains to Bellinzona will be rerouted via the panoramic route. Some train passengers may see this as an hour of lost time. On the other hand, this also offers the opportunity to travel to Ticino “in the traditional way” and enjoy the mountains at the same time. After all, the folk music festival is also about tradition and good things in Switzerland.
Location
The venue for the 2023 Federal Folk Music Festival is Bellinzona, the capital of Ticino. Their special events should also be part of the festival: a stage will be set up in Castelgrande, the oldest of Bellinzona’s three castles. The traditional Saturday market is also held during the festivities from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and probably attracts slightly more visitors than usual. Viale Stazione will also be used on Sunday, and a folk music march will be held there at 14.00.
stages
The match will start at 18:00 on Thursday, at 16:00 on Friday, and at 9:00 on Saturday and Sunday. It consists of six main stages and seven secondary stages (one of which is the stage mentioned earlier in Castelgrande). Games are played, songs are sung and danced in almost every square of the city. If you want to find out when and where your favorite band will play, it’s best to check out the schedule and map on the festival website. The two opening ceremonies – yes there are two, one on Thursday, the other on Friday – will take place on the Piazza del Sole stage at 19:00.
musical highlights
Ticino tradition: This year’s festival includes some performances of non-German-speaking classical Swiss folk music. 60 of the 250 musical formations come from Ticino. This is a special case because Italian-speaking Switzerland has so far been underrepresented at the Federal Folk Music Festival. Many are made up of traditional “Bandelle” Ticino wind ensembles, such as Bandella Scampolo, who will play on four different stages on Saturday. The folk music festival in Bellinzona is an opportunity for Ticino formations to entice German- and French-speaking Swiss without having to leave their beloved homeland.
When: Saturday, September 23
Times / Places: 14:15 – 14:45, Piazza BancaStato
16:15 – 16:30, Palestra scuole sud
18.00 – 18.45, Piazza Viale
22.45 – 23.45, Piazza Buffi
Young and modern: Alpinis, a formation at the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences, consists of students studying folk music. His works combine tradition with modernity, and folk music with other genres such as classical or jazz. No fear! The obligatory Schwyzerörgeli is part of the game and there is also singing.
When: Friday, September 22
Time/Place: 20:15 – 21:30, Piazza Governo
Chapel Japan Greetings: Schwyzerörgeli inspires beyond our national borders. When Tokyo school bus driver Tomoya Nagasawa attended an open-air concert of Swiss folk music with his family in Japan when he was nine years old, he was so moved by the Echo vom Tödi concert with Kurt Albert that he wanted to do it. to play this music himself. Tomoya Nagasawa bought a Schwyzerörgeli in 2009 and learned to play it. He was already at the Federal Ländler Festival in Aarau in 2015 and in Crans-Montana in 2019. The band Japan Gruess was formed specifically for the Bellinzona folk music festival at Nagasawa’s initiative. Here he appears with his role model Kurt Albert.
When: Thursday, September 21
Times/Places: 20:00 – 20:30, Piazza Governo
21.45 – 23.15, Piazza Collegiate
When: Friday, September 22
Times/Places: 14:30 – 15:45, Teatro Sociale
19:00 – 20:15, Piazza Buffi
culinary
PerBacco wine festival! It takes place every year at the end of September in Bellinzona. It has been combined with the folk music festival for 2023. On Saturday afternoon, connoisseurs and tasters can discover a wide selection of Ticino wines at Viale Stazione (note: limited number of tickets). If you want to eat “bödelä” or are hungry, you can visit one of the many food stalls or dine at a restaurant in the old town.
Accomodation
There are many accommodation options both in Bellinzona and in neighboring towns. Whether it’s a first-class hotel or a small, simple guesthouse, there’s something for everyone. It is possible to set up a tent or stay with a caravan in the camping areas. There are also cottages, holiday apartments and farms offering places to sleep. Here you will find all the information you need. A well-developed bus and train transport network will get you back to the festival in no time. If you want to enjoy the breathtaking view of Switzerland’s sunniest canton as well as the music, you can take advantage of the festival’s package deal in Bleniotal or Leventina.
Events outside the festival
Bleniotal: Here nature and culture meet in perfect harmony. The castles of Bellinzona, declared a world heritage site by UNESCO, reflect the medieval atmosphere. In addition to countless walking opportunities, the countless stalls of the traditional market invite you to take a pleasant walk on Saturdays.
– Leventina: Nature lovers can look forward to 650 kilometers of trails to explore on foot, mountain bike or horseback. The height can also be covered by the Ritom cable car or the modern cable car, one of the steepest cable cars in the world. Cozy mountain huts, beautiful landscapes and crystal clear alpine lakes await visitors. Another special feature is Tremolastrasse, the longest historical street in Switzerland.
Museo Villa dei Cedri: Piva and mandolin are two instruments that are an integral part of Swiss folk music. Piva is rural, mandolin is urban. Piva is often associated with Christmas, while mandolin is associated with happiness and festivity. The Museo Villa dei Cedri devotes its own exhibition to these special instruments, where visitors can recognize the piva and mandolin.
Opening hours:
Thursdays from 14.00 to 18.00
Friday – Sunday 10:00 – 18:00
Entrance: Adults 12 francs, reduced price 8 francs. Children and students up to 16 years old: free
Source : Blick
I am Dawid Malan, a news reporter for 24 Instant News. I specialize in celebrity and entertainment news, writing stories that capture the attention of readers from all walks of life. My work has been featured in some of the world’s leading publications and I am passionate about delivering quality content to my readers.
