A sneak peak at Paléo the day before it opens

The good news for Paléo 2015 is that the grounds are dry, very dry indeed. This in complete contrast to 2014 when the grass was sodden after lots of rain before the festival had even started. This year, the press were able to walk around and see what's new at the festival. However, although it's dry, it is also very hot up at the festival fields, so dress accordingly, take a hat and lots of water. Note: there will be areas at Paléo where there will be access to free drinking water. Due to the dry weather personal bbqs and fires are foribidden in the camping area, however Paléo will be organising three community fires at the camping site so you can take along your own food to be cooked.

The press being shown around the grounds this year - all photos above and below,  C.Nelson-Pollard What's new?

Village du Monde area The theme of the Village du Monde area this year is the Far East and there will be all genres of music played from different countries, from traditional music to electro rock and hip hop and more. There will be "animations" too, a "Dragons and Lions" dance in the village area (Weds to Sunday), Shadow Theatre on Monday and Wednesday, a Karaoké bar and many other events. There will be culinary delights too: Okonomiyaki, tofu Ramen and Ongiti from Japan, Cambodian Laab Kai, Tibetan Momos, cold Vietnamese beers and cocktails made from Japanese plum wine. For full details of the Village du Monde's music, events and more details click hereHes - So  Over in the Hes - So area (the University of Applied Arts and Sciences and Arts in Western Switzerland), the theme this year is "Air" and it has set up its own "Air Factory", a creative lab designed to explore the intangible world of air. Check out the Vortex area. Here you can fill a drum with air and then try to knock off a plastic cup off the head of a friend with the air created in the drum. See below

Or how about entering into the lab where a wind blows through a small wind tunnel at 250 kilometres per hour? Special glasses are provided to enter this area.

Below - Daniel Rossellat playing "blow football" - another lab in the Hes-So area.

Also on the festival grounds in the Monic La Mouche part of Paléo (this is the area that is lit up at night with pretty lights and fires) there are a series of photographs of previous festivals taken by photographer Anne Colliard. Living in Nyon interviewed Anne a few years ago to find out what it is like to be a festival photographer. Click here to read article

This year, as in previous years Living in Nyon will be at Paléo, reviewing a selection of the concerts, and giving updates from the L'Asse grounds on the "street" entertainers, the food and the atmsophere.

Note: as there are big crowds expected for the Robbie Williams concert on Monday night, the advice from Paléo is to stagger your departure. Don't try to leave immediately after the concert, as queues for the car parks, buses and trains can be long at this time of night. So stay for another drink, another dance and avoid the crush! Photos below - Paléo before the crowds

Preparing the stage on the Grande Scène

Recyling bins waiting to be distributed around the grounds

Paléo volunteers taking a break in the shade

Les Arches stage before the crowds arrive.