Different sounds of music will rock the Alps this spring
Published: March 22, 2012
Do both music and snow sports rate as a few of your favorite things? If so, you might be tempted by a flurry of Alpine slope-side activity this spring. From April 5-14, Mayrhofen, Austria, organizes Snowbombing, a festival offering a range of acts appealing to fans of electronic music. This year’s headliners include Dizzee Rascal, Example, DJ Shadow, Groove Armada and The Vaccines. Activities away from the stage include a rave in an igloo and a fancy-dress street party. Snowbombing is sold as an accommodation-and-entertainment package, which means when you purchase your accommodation, the event wristband is included in the price.
Zermatt, Switzerland, hosts its Unplugged festival April 17-21. Lauryn Hill performs on April 19; tickets were still available as of this writing. The beauty of this festival is that many performances of lesser-known acts are absolutely free --- discover 12 new acts in 29 concerts under the banner of New Talents. For something truly special, book yourself a spot at one of three Sunnegga Sessions, held at 7,506 feet above sea level. Enjoy an aperitif, a standing buffet that includes wine, dessert and coffee, and at least 45 minutes of acoustic music in an intimate setting. Artists include Anna Aaron, James Vincent McMorrow, and James Walsh. The ticket price of 149 Swiss francs also includes your ride up and down the mountain on the Sunnegga express funicular. Don’t be late to the lift, as there’s no other way to reach the venue!
Ischgl, Austria, opens and closes the ski season with its legendary Top of the Mountain concerts in which top-name acts perform directly on the slopes. Closing the 2011-12 season this year will be Mariah Carey. Carey will perform April 30 on a specially constructed open air stage on the Idalp in the Silvretta Arena at a height of 7,611 feet. She is expected to draw a crowd of some 20,000 skiers, ski-boarders and fans. Although you don’t have to ski to enjoy the concert, you will need a valid ski pass in order to access the ski area where she’ll perform. The cost of a single-day ski pass within this timeframe is 95 euros; a two-day pass will cost 125 euros, and a three-day pass goes for 128 euros. You might be able to save some euro cents by booking your accommodation and a ski pass at www.ischgl.com. If you want to make things really easy on yourself, check with your local Outdoor Recreation to see if it's organizing a trip --- both Kaiserslautern and Heidelberg ODRs have scheduled trips to Ischgl for that weekend.
