Started in 1994 by François and nini Pythoud, Nyon's circus school has grown to become an important part of the cultural life in Nyon and the region. Over 300 children take circus classes there every week, and out of those half a dozen have continued to become professional circus artists. To celebrate their 20th, they have decided to re-imagine their first show ever with these professional artists and their partners. The show Rouge, will be played seven times at the théâtre de Marens in Nyon. The première is on Thursday the 25th and the show is on until Thursday 2nd of October, building up to the weekend of the 3rd-5th of October, which will be a weekend of celebration at the Caserne, next to the Perdtemps square. Four different shows will be played by the different troups of the artists who started of at l'Elastique Citrique, as well as a disco party on Saturday the 5th with Time Machine, an 70's-80's disco and funk cover band. There will also be an open stage showcasing acts from some of the younger members of the school, and a big brunch on Sunday morning, followed by a ballon release to celebrate in style. Food and drinks will be catered by the team from "La Roulotte". L'Elastique citrique also created an act which was performed at the beginning of the Knie show which was in Nyon last week. For the whole program and to book tickets for the shows and for the brunch, head to their website. You can check out some of the artists performing in the show hereVaud athletics championship The cantonal athletics championships take place on Saturday the 27th at Colovray stadium. Athletes will compete from 8:00 to 18:00, and the entrance is free La Côte Church Autumn fair As a reminder, this Saturday, La Côte Anglican church is holding its Autumn Fair in Founex. Check previous post for more information on the event. Annual exhibition and music L'alpage, an artist's studio cum art school is holding it's annual exhibition. Paintings made during lessons will be exhibited and there will be music and rock showcases. Sunday the 28th, from 14:00 to 18:30, at 4, ch. de Bonmont. More info about l'Alpage here New Paléo poster out! Paléo has brought out next year's poster. Created by an agency from Geneva, it's actually three different posters, which link up as a big one, showcasing some weird creatures inspired by the wacky Paléo crowd. The line-up won't be released until early April 2015, but week-long tickets will be on sale in December, and are a perfect Christmas gift.

Autumn is back, which means going back to school for the young ones (not much fun), but also the new cultural season for all venues in Nyon (loads more fun). We are lucky to have a rich cultural offer in Nyon, between the theatre and concerts at l'Usine à Gaz, the Conservatoire's classical concerts and La Parenthèse's edgy musical discoveries. Here are a few shows coming up in Nyon. Usine à Gaz Swiss band Adieu Gary Cooper Friday the 12th, Saturday 13th 20th, Motel TourUS Car Show. La Parenthèse The venue located in a reconverted wine cellar hosts free concerts twice a week. Their program is eclectic and made of the best of the new bands on the independent scene, from rock to psych-pop and folk. A lot of the bands who play in this venue then go on to play at Paléo and get quite famous. Look out for a number of collaborations with festivals and other venues during the year, which will bring some diversity and fun to the town. You can get a taste of the first of these collaborations on Thursday the 11th of september with American band Quilt's psychedelic grooves and pop harmonies, presented by La Batie festival, a contemporary music and theatre festival taking place until the 13th of September. Le Pulse Saturday 13th, 18th Dan Sartain, DJ-set on the 19th. The Besnard Lakes, Godspeed You Black Emperor among others, are on on Saturday the 20th. 26th of SeptemberZatar, at 20:30.

There will be a Winter Fair on Friday 7th November and Saturday 8th November at the Hotel Beau Rivage in Nyon from 10:00-17:00 Free entry - Winter gifts galore, tombola, homemade gifts, food and more.

Film student Fanny Leyvraz reviews "Tu Y Yo" - directed by Natalia Cabral and Oriol Estrada and which was shown at Visions du Réel earlier this week. It took two years to create this faithful documentary of two women living together. Four people were included in the creation of “Tu Y Yo”. Both writers and directors, the two young artists Natalia Cabral and Oriol Estrada made their first long feature film together in the Dominican Republic. In front of their camera, there is “you and me”: Francisca Pérez De Sosa and Paula Lebrón. One is a wealthy, retired, educated woman who is employing the other. The employee is a young and hard-working woman, very poor and illiterate. Frames of coexistence The retired rich woman isn't totally idle, she has a big garden on her roof-top balcony, and she likes to sew. Even if she spends some of her time criticising the work of her employee, she does appreciate having company to share the day with. It's the same with the young woman, even if she can be fed up with the demands of her employer, in the end she is grateful to be with someone rather than completely alone. As different as they may be, both share the same question in their minds, how can one overcome solitude when one shares a living space? How does one get along with people from opposite social classes (especially in the Dominican Republic where the differences are extreme and problematic). The film, using different scenes of their daily routine, shows us that they both need each each other in a special sort of way, even when it's not easy. Even if the audience logically sides with the housemaid, ever so silent, always working, and respectful compared to the one giving her orders, needy, controlling and sometimes - actually most of the time - making inconsistent demands. The movie has perhaps too gentle a pace, with its too many lengthy quiet shots and a total absence of music (except the bawling of the novella TV-show). This can somewhat boring, but the frame is always interesting, and the vision du "réel” it offers is quite well achieved and the camera captures with authenticity, the everyday life of this heterogeneous duo.

Les Hustlers - The following short film review is by Suzy Nelson-Pollard. It’s that one week of the year where the citizens of Nyon and cinemaphiles from far and wide, get the opportunity to travel across the world, from the comfort of the cinemas of Vision du Réel. Screening Tuesday 29th April at 1600 at the Capitole 2, the film “Les Hustlers” directed by Amah Egome, shows the lives of fishermen living in the Katanga ghetto of Lomé, Togo. Living in shantytowns with their families, the men complement to their fishing revenues by doing odd jobs, often illegal, such as stealing barrels of gasoline. Chanting their way through the hard physical labour of fishing, saying prayers before drinking deep shots of alcohol, and singing along to UB40 songs by candlelight whilst smoking weed, the men find ways to get through their days. They complain about having to supplement their jobs illegally, and how they are treated and ostracised by authorities. “I am a conscientious delinquent” one man says. Meanwhile the feisty women of the bidonville (shanty town) go about their daily chores, lamenting the bad company that their husbands keep. Children chase each other around the slum, sulky teenagers refuse to go to school and arguments break out. Often observational films with no particular message can be dull and slow, but others give you the opportunity to travel, as a non-judgmental fly on the wall. Les Hustlers gives you that chance, to snoop at the lives of a community living on the margins of society, without feeling that the scenes were staged or that conclusions have to be drawn. Tickets to the screening can now be bought online

Caribana night one - From "Polar Circles" to "Ska-P" to "The Pixies" The first few hours of the first night of Caribana began clear and dry and then the heavens opened on to the festival grounds. Despite the heavy downpour, it didn't dampen the spirits for many music lovers. The enthusiastic energy of Spanish ska band "Ska-P "got the crowd dancing in front of the Grande Scène and the crowd were later rewarded with a 30 minute encore from the band. See a very short video of the crowd in the rain last night The weather began to improve and a rainbow appeared above the grounds and over the lake. Note: there are two bars for the public at the festival that give a view over the lake. The Cargo 16 and the La Plateforme (this latter bar is for over 18's only) Photos above - C. Nelson-Pollard. Later on in the evening "The Pixies" played on the Grande Scene. Two Living in Nyon readers give their verdict on the concert and the atmosphere in the crowd. "I first saw the band in 1989 and they were sharp as ever, mixing newer tracks in with barnstormers like 'Wave of Mutilation' and 'Debaser'. Lots of jumping up and down from happy 40-somethings in the crowd - although I did notice a bit more mild bouncing than actual pogoing going on!" Another reader said - "I could "Stay All Day", knowing the Pixies were in town. This iconic, indy-alternative rock group played to a specific audience (wearing rain gear and plastic ponchos). It's the music that was important here, not the show. This can-be-noisy, fabulously complex music brings with it both a screeching Black Francis at one point, and a mellow voiced Black Francis with the change of tune......"Here Comes your Man". How has his voice survived all these years? There was mix of their old classics and 'new stuff', which was received with polite applause and roaring cheers for what has gone before. "La La Love You".........The Pixies were splendid!" Photo above and below - "The Pixies" - courtesy Rowan Unsworth Photo above - "The Pixies" - courtesy Sonia Dugué On the line up tonight ( Thurs 5 June) at Caribana are Kodaline, Miles Kane, Queens of the Stone Age, Aliose, George Barnett, The Crags See more photos below of the first night - All photos C. Nelson-Pollard Above: Left to Right - Alice from Annecy, Pauline from Chambery and Adrian from Marchissy at Caribana to see "The Pretty Reckless" . They recommend the Crazy Chips stall - Fried potatoes on a long barbecue stick Photo above: The "Miss Caïpirinha" Bar - a regular feature at the festival Above - A new feature at the festival "La Tonnelle" a wooden bar in the centre of the festival, a good place to shelter when it rains and also to watch the bands playing on the "Scène du Lac" stage. Photos above: Swiss band Polar Circles (from the Lausanne region) playing on the "Scène du Lac" stage. Note: It is definitely worth checking out some of the smaller names including the Swiss bands that play at the three Nyon music festivals - Les Hivernales, Caribana, Paléo etc, and at Nyon's permanent venues - the Usine à Gaz, and the Parenthèse. These bands often go on to be big names in the music industry- "The Temperance Movement" who recently played at the Parenthèse are currently special guests supporting "The Rolling Stones" on four of their European dates. Dancing at the "Plateforme" bar - There are different DJs playing every night at this bar, playing late into the night.

There will be approximately three months of roadworks between the intersection of the Chemin d'Eysins and de la Fontaine (near the shopping centre Porte de Nyon). For full details and a map of the roadworks planned see here. http://www.nyon.ch/fr/actualite/reamenagement-du-carrefour-a-lintersection-des-chemins-deysins-et-de-la-fontaine-691-93312 The box office is now open for online bookings for the musical Cats - the next Geneva Amateur Operatic Society production. See http://www.gaos.ch

There are two local garden events coming up over the next few days, the first Jardins en Fête in Coppet, and the second, the Jardins des Iris in Vullierens. The Jardins en Fête has become an annual event in the gardening calendar (now nicknamed the "Chelsea of Switzerland") ! Dedicated to plants and the art of the garden, it brings together the best gardens professionals within the grounds of the lovely Château de Coppet. You will find nurserymen, landscapers, designers, unusual plants, practical garden objects, garden furniture and more. The event begins today Friday the 9th May and runs until Sunday the 11th May open from 10:00 - 18:00. Full details here Hester Macdonald of HM Garden Design, told Living in Nyon that this 9th edition of this popular garden event promises to be a fragrant one! She says, "There will be six rose specialists, a perfumer from Bordeaux who has created a special perfume for the event, there will be plant specialists with rare bulbs, peonies, hydrangeas and herbs - all of whom are pulling out the stops for a fragrant-themed experience. Show gardens, mini-workshops for adults and children, there is something for everyone. The expansion of the Verger over the road, too, means that there is space for lots more artisan producers of honey, herb vinegars, tomatoes and anything delicious - you'll find it all in the orchard". Hester herself will be running free mini workshops during the course of the 3 day event at 11:00 - Lawns, 12:00 Pruning, 14.00 gardening with kids, 15:00 pots and containers. All photos above and below of a previous Jardins en Fête taken by Catherine Lewis photography. The second garden event is the opening of the lovely Jardins des Iris in Vullierens on Saturday 10th May. These gardens will then remain open until the 22nd June. Rock in Nyon - Saturday 10th On Saturday "The Temperance Movement" , a UK rock band (their music has been described as a mixture of the Stones and the Black Keys) will play at the Parenthèse bar on Sat 10 May at 22:00. See video here of their track "Midnight Black".

On Saturday 3rd May it's the annual Journée du Velo (Day of the Bike) and there will be a second hand bike sale in Nyon. This is a chance to either sell your old bike or pick up a new second hand bike. If you are selling, take your bike along to the Place du Château in Nyon from 09:00 to be assessed and priced. Sales are then open for those who want to buy at 10:00 and payment is from 11:00 (- 10 % to the organisers). See here for full details. If you missed seeing any films at the Visions du Reél film festival, there is a chance to watch a selection of them on Saturday 3rd May. These are films which have been awarded prizes in the festival. These films will be screened from 14:00 onwards. See listing here

It's the Spring market in Nyon on Saturday 24th May, stalls, food and more from early morning until late afternoon. This year, the market has a Caribbean theme! Also on Saturday, it's "Nature in the Town" Day. Lots of activities going at various venues around the town - full programme below. The COV (Conservatoire de l'Ouest Vaudois) the music school is now taking registrations for its summer courses, piano, flute, saxophone, harp and more. A reminder that on Thursday 29th May, it's the Ascension public holiday. Most local shops and businesses will be closed on that day.

"Kaboul Song" directed by Lisbeth Koutchoumoff and Wolgrand Ribeiro provides a fascinating insight into life in Kabul in Afghanistan today and life as it was 30 years ago, through the true and personal story of Ustad Arman, an Afghan singer /musician who lives in Vaud. Film review from the Visions du Réel film festival (on in Nyon until the 3rd May). Photo above - courtesy Visions du Réel - The jury in "Afghan Star" In the opening scene we see Ustad feeding the birds down by the lakeside in Versoix. He seems just like any another member of the public, but then we discover that he is actually very famous in Afghanistan for his music and singing. 30 years ago when he was a big star in the country, Afghanistan had a lively, vibrant music scene. Musicians (both men and women) regularly appeared on the radio playing both traditional and modern music. Today it's a different story - the studio that Ustad once recorded in, is now an empty room. A street in a quarter of Kabul that once housed many musicians is currently devoid of singers and artists. However, there is some glimmer of hope in the shape of a TV programme called "Afghan Star". "Afghan Star " - An Afghan mixture of "The Voice" and "X Factor" This show, a mixture between "The Voice" and the "X Factor" is watched by 10 million Afghans and Ustad is invited to be part of the jury that selects the winning artists. So he flies from Switzerland to Kabul and on arrival is greeted by fans and old acquaintances. Tellingly, there is only one woman who has entered into the competition, the rest are all men. We see her sing and compete and hear about her struggle to make it this far (her father was opposed to her entering the competition). We see the back story to some of the other contestants, and get to see behind the scenes in their life. Photo above - courtesy Visions du Réel. One of the contestants in "Afghan Star" arriving at the TV studio. Ustad reflects on life as it was back then and shows the female contestant some archival footage of women singers that appeared on the TV many years ago in the country, he talks to the contestants and encourages them in their dream. The final of the "Afghan Star" competition is held on the 21st March, around the time of the Persian New Year, a time for celebration and also a time when millions of viewers will be watching their TV. The excitement builds, and the winner is chosen. Usad prepares to leave and return to Switzerland - with a heavy heart. He dreams of one day returning and spending his twilight years in the country, but he knows he can't. Photo above - courtesy Visions du Reel - Ustad singing traditional music with an old Afghan friend. This film not only has an interesting narrative it provides a fascinating glimpse into life in Kabul as it is today, it also also a story of exile and of a longing for home. With many superb scenes in this film - Ustad in a Swiss sweater cross legged on a bed in a Kabul guest house, the sparse make up room for the contestants at the Afghan Star studio, Ustad trying to cross a very busy street in Kabul, a stark contrast to crossing a street in orderly and clean Switzerland, this is a "must see" film. There are two screenings - Saturday 26th April at 19:30 at the Théâtre du Léman and Sunday at the Capitole 2 cinema at 20:30 Subtitles in French and English. Tickets can be booked online.

The following review of Territore de la Liberté is by film student Fanny Leyvraz - This film will be shown today Weds 30 April at the Salle Communale at 12:00. Reservations here “Territory of Freedom” directed by Alexander Kuznetsov is a joyful, humanist depiction of how life goes in the Stolby nature reserve, with its traditional Russian culture. A place where men, women and children all singing together and living life simply to the fullest. This is a second movie for the Russian director, after having made a film called “Territory of Love”, this time he addresses a more political and contemporary theme, “Territory of Freedom”. The nature reserve has been the target of violence, as it has been on previous revolutionary periods and there are some heated debates about it. Many “isbas” (little ascetic cabins in the reserve, where anyone is welcome to come and go) burned down, but as one of the old wise men tells us, the Stolbysts will continue to rebuild them, and will keep on living in the stopped-in-time forests and mountains of Siberia. Freedom and community Cooking, drinking, singing and cutting wood and most importantly climbing the summits are the main activities in this unrefined-by-mankind place. Everyone is part of the same community; needless to say, the simple and direct interactions of these people can make some of us technological-social-maniacs envious. When the time for midnight baths in frozen water arrives, everyone goes, not only the strong old men, but also the young women. Laughter, stories of the ancients, serious discussions about life and freedom, and moments of grace are all part of the everyday life in the nature reserve. Using skillfully close-ups, and very mobile shots for the nature reserve part where the Russians act and talk freely, and countering them with fixated scenes from the city, where the people are restrained by the military, contained in a limited space, Alexander Kuznetsov manages to give us an authentic vision of the Russian people, without their politics, just with their cultural rites, their recklessness and slight folly of being alive. Some scenes with a little girl and her alpinist father are just delightful. And the snow, ever-present, and yet discreet, dresses the landscape with a soft sugary coat, making dreamlike pictures of a place where the industrial society hasn’t yet set foot.