From 2 to 6 September 2026

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Newslettter

2019

The 2019 edition marked a key milestone in the evolution of Freddie Celebration Days. Lucien Muller took over the reins of the organisation, succeeding his father Norbert Muller, founder of the event.

It was also in this year that Christophe Farin was appointed artistic director, bringing a new dynamic to the event.

Anticipating the tidal wave caused by the success of the film Bohemian Rhapsody (released in autumn 2018), Norbert Muller had expanded the team to ensure the best possible welcome for the many visitors expected in Montreux.

The programme stood out for its artistic diversity: the band '39 Queen Tribute once again won over the audience, alongside Vladimir Hron and The Drops and Queen in Rock. The young Alfie Thomas, then only 13 years old, surprised everyone with the power of his performance. Other highlights of this year's event included a flash mob to Don't Stop Me Now and an original a cappella performance by Queens in Heaven.

With record attendance, this year's event confirmed its transformation into an unmissable international cultural event, celebrating the legacy of Freddie Mercury in a vibrant and popular atmosphere.

Thursday 5 September 2019 (Freddie Mercury’s Birthday)

6pm
Freddie Statue

Opening of food and drink stalls and Queen music

6:30pm
Freddie Statue

Freddie Mercury 73rd Birthday Celebration

You all know that September 5th will be Freddie’s birthday. To celebrate this anniversary day, Montreux Celebration, the Confiserie Zurcher and the Commune of Montreux invite you for an aperitif around the statue.

A birthday cake as well as local wine from Montreux will be offered to the inhabitants and Freddie Mercury's fans who came to Montreux to celebrate the birthday of their idol.

7:30pm
Main Stage

Concert : '39 Queen Tribute (IT)

'39 Queen Tribute, second year in Montreux, will play a new gig on September 5th for the Freddie Celebration Days 2019.

This will be the day of Freddie’s 73rd Birthday under the Market Place.

The band, founded by Angelo Malatesta, guitarist owner of Innuendo Studios – Milan - and known to the Italian audience also for his guitar-tech role in the Italian version of Brian May's "Red Special" book (published by Tsunami Edizioni and translated by Raffaella Rolla). Musicians are Mitia Maccaferri - frontman and singer, Angelo Malatesta - guitar, Roberto Brogi - bass, Gabriele Grossi - drum and, Maximilian Agostini piano and keyboard.

’39 Queen Tribute is officially supporting the Mercury Phoenix Trust to raise funds in Italy since september 5th 2016.

Follow the band #39queentributeofficial on Facebook, Youtube, Instagram and Twitter official pages.

Friday 6 September 2019

11am
Freddie Statue

Opening of food and drink stalls and Queen music

2pm
Covered Market

Realization of a fresco by Marialexie

After 5 years at the Beaux-Arts, Marialexie became a comic book author.

Close to the LGBT community, her work is tinged with Queer themes, of which Freddie Mercury is still a leading model to this day. Her first comic strip on Queen: "A Kind of Music", partly autobiographical, tells how Marius, a young artist, overcame depression thanks to Freddie.

A fresco on Freddie will be drawn live in front of visitors to the Freddie Celebration Days 2019.

Instagram

7pm
Main Stage

"Peter Freestone Evening" - Making-of Bohemian Rhapsody Movie

Milan Satnik, the young Czech singer, actor, director, producer, composer and all round good guy will introduce the evening with Peter ‘Phoebe’ Freestone, whom you all know.

They will talk about some of the projects that have found them working on together.

Video Screening with Peter Freestone & Milan. They will talk about their experiences both sides of the camera on the film ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’.

7:30pm
Main Stage

Introducing the TFA Project - Titanic-Freddie-Aids

Something Peter Freestone considers the most important venture in his life is the TFA Project. Created by Milan about 7 years ago.

They have spoken to over 11,000 students from schools around the world, warning them of the dangers of HIV/AIDS, raising awareness at the time when young people most need it.

www.tfa-project.com

8pm
Main Stage

Concert : "The Bohemians" (CZ)

Peter Freestone and Milan Satnik will introduce Milan Satnik’s BOHEMIANS, A group of Czech musicians who have come together to create the album "Another Step In Time", the music of which is performed to texts by Peter, covering Freddie’s and his thoughts and feelings during his 12 years with Freddie and beyond.

BOHEMIANS will perform a selection of their original songs, Queen and songs with specific reference to the wonderful city of Montreux.

www.facebook.com/BohemiansCZ

8:30pm
Main Stage

Concert: "Vladimir Hron and The Drops" (CZ) - Queen The Story

Invited by Peter Freestone and Milan

From the begining to Live Aid! Celebration of musical genius of Freddie Mercury and Queen. Three songs out of every album, from Queen to A Kind of Magic and a special bonus: the greatest Rockn' Roll gig of all times Live Aid!!!

Join us for 90 minutes of musical ecstasy, let's sing together and move to the rhythm of Queen's greatest hits of all time!

www.thedrops.cz

www.vladahron.cz

 

Saturday 7 September 2019

11am
Freddie Statue

Opening of food and drink stalls and Queen music

12pm
Main Stage

Concert: "SMILE!" (CH) - Chorus from Vevey school

SMILE, the choir of the Vevey schools, beats to the rhythm of the Anglo-Saxon musical comedy under the pulse of Christophe Farin, their musical director.

These young artists participate in many projects whose motto is always the same : to share the pleasure of being on stage.

From a few voices only to more than fifty, the number of people in the choir varies according to the events. After having recently accompanied Laurent Voulzy on the prestigious stage of the Stravinsky Auditorium in Montreux, adapted the musical HAIRSPRAY, they launched into Queen's repertoire!

Aged between 11 and 15 years old, they will be present throughout the festival to participate in the various events and remind us that Queen's music is intergenerational.

1:30pm
Market Square

"Heroes Project", participatory project led by Milan

Milan and his Bohemians will be recoding a music video to go with their new song "Everyone’s A Hero".

This song describes how people from all walks of life can be and are heroes for others, whether a soldier, a nurse or a rock star, everyone has their hero.

We need you, fans of Freddie and Queen. Any of you who would like to be part of the video for this song need to be by Freddie Mercury Statue.

You have heard the song and you will hear the part that is being recorded. Milan will take you through your paces and it should not take too long and certainly will be FUN!

2pm
Main Stage

Concert : "Alfie Thomas" (UK) - 13 years old who idolises Freddie Mercury

Alfie won best solo performer at Battle of the Bands last year.

Alfie is a 13 year old boy who idolises Freddie Mercury. He became interested in Queen when he heard Bohemian Rhapsody on the car Stereo a couple of years ago. He fell in love with the song and this is where his fascination with Freddie all started.

His mother got him a vocal coach but he didnt like it because she was trying to mould him into something he didn't want to be. He wanted to be different like Freddie and knew that Freddie didn't have any vocal training.

Alfie has Asperger Syndrome which means he has no real friends. He is a very lonely young man and he learnt from Freddie that it is ok to be different and that it doesnt matter what other people say.

Alfie is self taught on the piano, he sings and he also plays the guitar and bass and he has already written 21 of his own songs and recorded 4 of them up to now.

He won best solo performer at Battle of the Bands last year. He also won student of the year at his vocal school even though he only attended a few lessons. He doesnt just sing, he performs, just like Freddie did

3pm
Covered Market

Realization of a fresco by Marialexie

After 5 years at the Beaux-Arts, Marialexie became a comic book author.

Close to the LGBT community, her work is tinged with Queer themes, of which Freddie Mercury is still a leading model to this day. Her first comic strip on Queen: "A Kind of Music", partly autobiographical, tells how Marius, a young artist, overcame depression thanks to Freddie.

A fresco on Freddie will be drawn live in front of visitors during Freddie Celebration Days 2019.

Instagram

6pm
Main Stage

Concert: "SMILE!" (CH) - Chorus from Vevey school

SMILE, the choir of the Vevey schools, beats to the rhythm of the Anglo-Saxon musical comedy under the pulse of Christophe Farin, their musical director.

These young artists participate in many projects whose motto is always the same : to share the pleasure of being on stage.

From a few voices only to more than fifty, the number of people in the choir varies according to the events. After having recently accompanied Laurent Voulzy on the prestigious stage of the Stravinsky Auditorium in Montreux, adapted the musical HAIRSPRAY, they launched into Queen's repertoire!

Aged between 11 and 15 years old, they will be present throughout the festival to participate in the various events and remind us that Queen's music is intergenerational.

7pm
Montreux Casino

Freddie Mercury's 73rd Anniversary Party hosted by the Mercury Phoenix Trust

This event, which is sold out, is organized by the Mercury Phoenix Trust and will take place at the Montreux Casino.

Our association Montreux Celebration, is a partner and supports this event but is not responsible for its organization. For any request or information related to this event, please contact the organizers directly: Mercury Phoenix Trust.

8pm
Main Stage

NEW : The Overflow Party

For all fans who didn't get their precious ticket for the Freddie Birthday Party evening organized by the Mercury Phoenix Trust at the Montreux Casino, Montreux Celebration will offer you a colourful evening with free concerts and entertainment under the covered market !

8pm
Main Stage

Concert : Queen in Rock - The Rhapsodya Tour 2019 (IT)

Queen live on stage is almost impossible to imitate but these amazing musicians offer to their public a truly unique and unforgettable show.

From 2014 "Queen in Rock" are among the tribute bands recognized by Brianmay.com, the international Queen Fan Club, supported by the Italian Queen Fan Club "We Will Rock You" and by the "Brian May Guitars".

Their show is faithfully reconstructed and imitates Queen’s most famous gigs including stage costumes reproduced in a precise, almost maniacal way, and the Red Special guitar.
This is a show that cannot be missed.

They all come from the magnificent island of Sardinia. Ladies and gentlemen ... are you ready for "Queen in Rock - A Magic Tribute" ?

Francesco Sedda - Voice
Andrea Pinna - Red Special
Carlo "Superpippo" Serra - Bass
Gigi Bernardinelli - Keyboards
Daniele Siddi - Drums

Follow them on:
queeninrock.jimdo.com
www.facebook.com/queeninrock
www.instagram.com/queeninrock

Sunday 8 September 2019

11am
Freddie Statue

Opening of food and drink stalls and Queen music

12pm
Freddie Statue

Flashmob organized by Freedom Forever Association

Participate in the shooting of a Flashmob organized by Freedom Forever Association. By participating, you help to alert public opinion to the banalization and recurrence of AIDS. Let us be mobilized by the dance!

www.freedom-forever-association.ch

1:30pm
Covered Market

Concert : "Alfie Thomas" (UK) - 13 years old who idolises Freddie Mercury

Alfie won best solo performer at Battle of the Bands last year.

After his first show under the market place Saturday, Alfie will perform again and near the statue on Sunday Sept 8th.

Alfie is a 13 year old boy. He decided he wanted to do what Freddie did and sing and perform just like him.

Alfie has Asperger Syndrome which means he has no real friends. He is a very lonely young man which is why he probably relates to Freddie. He is self taught on the piano, he sings and he also plays the guitar and bass.

He won best solo performer at Battle of the Bands last year. He also won student of the year at his vocal school even though he only attended a few lessons.

Sunday September 8th 2019 at 1.30pm

2pm
Covered Market

Concert: "Queens in Heaven" (CH) - Female a cappella vocal show

“Queens in Heaven" is an A Cappella vocal group of 10 women created and directed by Claire Benhamou.

The original idea of ​​this set is based on the desire to make known or to re-discover Queen and their songs which are less known to the general public but appreciated by fans around the world.
The A Cappella arrangement of 5 women's voices echo the genius’ of Mercury, May, Deacon & Taylor in a unique way.

Claire Benhamou, an unconditional fan of the English group, is a teacher at the Ecole de Musique Lausanne. Trained in Paris in piano, singing, theory, writing, musicology and music education, she is also choirmaster and vocal coach.

She gathered her ten singers from diverse backgrounds, all sharing the passion for singing and the love of Queen's music.

The group is delighted to pay tribute to these legends by singing at Montreux Celebration Days 2019 on the shores of Lake Geneva, in this mythical place so dear to members of the group and especially to Freddie Mercury.

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