Music  

Beach Boys’ Wilson, Usher headline Montreux Jazz

By AFP

31 March 2017   |   3:22 am

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Beach Boys great Brian Wilson, Usher and the Pet Shop Boys will be among the headliners at the 51st edition of the Montreux Jazz Festival, organisers announced Thursday.

This file photo taken on July 17, 2014 shows US guitarist, singer, and jazz composer, George Benson performing during the 50th session of the International Carthage Festival at the Roman theater of Carthage near Tunis. The program of the 51st edition of the Montreux Jazz Festival from June 30 to July 15, released on March 30, 2017, will feature Bryan Ferry, Grace Jones, Pet Shop Boys and George Benson among others. Fethi Belaid / AFP

Beach Boys great Brian Wilson, Usher and the Pet Shop Boys will be among the headliners at the 51st edition of the Montreux Jazz Festival, organisers announced Thursday.

The June 30 to July 15 festival in the idyllic Swiss lakeside town will showcase many of music’s veterans but with a lineup also pitching to younger audiences.

The roster “draws from the great founders of jazz, reveals young talents and includes the return of pop sensations and the kings of R&B”, festival director Mathieu Jaton said at the programme’s launch.

Leading the youth appeal is Beyonce’s rising sister, Solange, and the American folk rock group The Lumineers.

Former Fugees front-woman Lauryn Hill is due to perform on July 6, three days before an appearance by Jamaican singer and model Grace Jones.

Other names are Britain’s Bryan Ferry, formerly lead singer of Roxy Music, regular Montreux fixture Herbie Hancock, the American jazz legend, and Welsh crooner Tom Jones, making his first appearance at festival.

Senegalese star Youssou N’Dour will headline the closing night of the festival.