Switzerland’s Montreux Jazz Festival removed several UK artists from their annual show that will take place from 2nd to 17th July.
Festival organisers shared the news last Friday (25th June): “We are sorry to announce the cancellation of Rag’n’Bone Man, Inhaler, Alfa Mist and Yussef Dayes Trio’s concerts at the Montreux Jazz Festival, due to the present conditions of entry into Switzerland from the UK for travellers who are not fully vaccinated“.
Switzerland eased out its lockdown on the 26th of June however, travellers from countries including the UK will need to go under 10 days quarantine unless they are vaccinated or fully recovered from the virus. “The arrival of these artists depends on their vaccination status and that of those around them on tour, as well as their possibilities of quarantine at the start of their European tour or before their concert at the summery” – explains the press release.
As a result of the restrictions, British artists won’t be able to perform at the festival. They have been already replaced with Zucchero, Woodkid, Benny Sings & Athletic Progression as per the announcement.

We are sorry to announce the cancellation of Rag’n’Bone Man, Inhaler, Alfa Mist and Yussef Dayes Trio’s concerts at the MJF. Zucchero, Woodkid, Benny Sings & Athletic Progression will remplace them.https://t.co/Ds3rCwQ4uD#MJF21

— Montreux Jazz Festival (@MontreuxJazz) June 25, 2021

The Montreux Jazz Festival is one of the few that will take place this year. Other famous ones, St Gallen Open -Air and Bern’s Gurten festivals have been cancelled for the second time in a row, due to the ongoing and unstable situation with the Covid-19 virus.
More than half of the UK’s festivals and world festivals have been already cancelled or postponed until next year. Reading and Leeds festival will still go ahead this August with Queens of the Stone Age and Post Malone as headliners, also All Points East has a green light for this year with Little Simz, Kano and Jamie xx included in the bill.

“Festival organisers have been talking for several months about alternative line-ups and what they might look like for the obvious reasons of travel restrictions. The general sense out there is that it won’t really matter to audiences this year in terms who headlines and who’s playing“.