Bill Drummond, the musician, the maverick, the man who burned a million pounds.   Film review  "Imagine waking up tomorrow and all music had disappeared " from Visions du Réel in Nyon 2015 Screenings today Sunday 19th April at 19:00 at the Théâtre de Marens and tomorrow Monday 10:00 at the Salle Communale. Click here for Info and Tickets  Bill Drummond is no Gareth Malone. Malone, a British TV presenter, natty dresser and populariser of choral singing, travels around the United Kingdom encouraging workplaces to form choirs and inspires them to enter into competitions while filming their progress for a series of very successful TV programmes.  The uplifting nature of these programmes have won Malone many awards and accolades. Whereas Drummond in the film, although he travels around the UK forming a choir of sorts, he does so in very different circumstances in the film,  "Imagine waking up tomorrow and all music had disappeared " . The choir is made up of folk he finds along the way, and although he does occasionally enter into a few workplaces, all he asks if that the workers sing just one note or two. He then records the collective sound to be added to other recordings to make just one choral piece on its own. A sound that will be deleted after it has been played and never to be heard again. Drummond travels from place to place in a scruffy Landrover wearing an even scruffier long leather jacket as he cajoles and persuades members of the public to sing or make a sound for this experiment called The 17. Among the group he finds are nuns, taxi drivers, construction workers, children in a primary school and more, a diverse cross section of society. Although Drummond is a charismatic character - some warm to him and happily go along with his project, other are not so keen and they squirm with embarrassment. Drummond, a musician was once part of the band The KLF and in 1991 he was in one of the biggest-selling singles act in the world. In this film we see snippets of what his life for him was like then including the famous incident when The K foundation  (an art duo consisting of  Drummond and Jimmy Cauty), burned one million pounds sterling and filmed it all. The subsequent backlash and publicity surrounding it are shown in the film along with the obvious question being asked to the musician. Do you regret burning all that money?  The premise and title of the film "Imagine waking up tomorrow and all music had disappeared" is Drummond's way of questioning our instant access via the Ipod, Iphone etc to music, does this ease of access mean that we don't stop to listen to the music around us any more? The sound of the street outside, the wind, the music in simple things such as the noise we hear as we change gear in a car or as in Drummond's case, the gear stick in his trusty Landrover. Director Stefan Schwietert follows Drummond as he pursues The 17 across the country, through urban and country landscapes and into Drummond's own personal space and into his home. We see his possessions, his posters, his books and remnants of his past, from his school reports to a print of  an "epic video the band made".  The 17 isn't the only music/ art project Drummond has instigated, he has done others around the world. This film is a fascinating and interesting insight into an extraordinary character. Whether you think the film fulfils the premise of the title, or whether this film will be just another self promoting publicity stunt for Drummond, you can judge for yourself. At the end of the film Drummond asks those who have watched the film to contribute to his world choir by singing something there and then in the cinema itself. Whether a usually reserved Swiss audience will take up his challenge, will remain to be seen.

Seasick Steve, the American blues musician who performed to great acclaim on the main stage at Paléo on Wednesday night, still can't quite believe his luck. "It's taken me 50 years to get here but now that I am making it as a musician, I still have to pinch myself to make sure I am not in a dream. I am very grateful for my success and I will never take it for granted. I always try to give 100% at each concert. There are some bands who think the audience should be lucky that they are playing for them. With me, it's the other way round, I will never forget that it's the audience who is my boss". At the press conference after Seasick's Steve's concert, Living in Nyon asked the bluesman about a comment he had made on stage earlier that night in which he apologised for not having a big light show or any special effects on stage.  Is one of the secrets to his success that his music is pared down to the roots and that there is a simplicity in it ?  "Yes I think it's good to go back to basics and just have a guy with a few instruments singing on stage and not much else. It's a busy world we live in, keeping things simple is good. On stage Steve played a variety of instruments, many of them constructed out of a variety of car parts, from a guitar made out two old wheel hubcaps and an air filter, to a washboard with just one string.  "Using these kind of instruments keep me on my toes, I never know if they are going to make it until the end of the concert! Plus, you can get some pretty amazing music out all sorts of stuff".  Also during the set, Steve invited a teenage girl from the crowd onto the stage with him and he then proceeded to sing to her. When asked if he often did this in his concerts, he replied,  "Nearly every time, getting the chance to sing a romantic song to a lovely girl, helps roll back the years!" In the BBC documentary "Bringing it all back home",  Seasick Steve is seen in one sequence watching a a train roll by somewhere in Tennessee and he comments to camera, "Do you hear the music in that train as it goes by? " Living in Nyon asked him whether he often hears music in other forms of transport or in objects or in going about his  daily life. "I certainly do. I was once on a ferry boat and the sound of the engine turning over had a real rhythm to it. I was with some other musicians and we just started to jam to the thud and noise of the engine. The other folks on the boat looked on as if we were a bit strange but I do hear music in lots of places, my Max Factor tractor has a unique sound to it as well". At the end of the press conference, Seasick Steve took time to shake the hands of the press and to chat a bit more before heading off to play and jam with Jack Johnson who was playing on the Grande Scène that night.  One of the press had asked him earlier if he had any advice for those starting out in the music industry. "Live your dream, go and do it, it make take you a while, but hang on in there. I'm still living mine and l still can't believe it." All photos Catherine Nelson-Pollard. Below -  Seasick Steve in conversation over a bottle of wine (" I don't need a glass")

Paléo is now into its fourth day. The days have been hot and sunny and last night was warm with great music. Mont Blanc was looking magnificent as a backdrop to it all and the moon shone on the tents and stages. New additions to the festival are a fabulous ramp . Walk up it and you get a great bird's eye view of the festival grounds. At nightfall it is lit up in neon. Check out the swinging rabbits. "Let's meet by the rabbits" was a familiar phrase for our party last night as there was a problem with text messaging. Swisscom are addressing the issue, but if you are going up to Paléo best to have a standby meeting point decided in advance in case it's not fixed. The Village du Monde theme this year is Brazil. Belem in Brazil this way, Mont Blanc the other. There is Brazilian food on sale (try the fechuada, a hearty Brazilian dish - meat with beans), then wash it down with a bottle of Brazilian wine. There is various Brazilian free entertainment in the Village du Monde area and last night the crowd loved seeing the Capeoira dancers. Relax on the air beds If it does gets chilly late at night, warm up by the fires. Images of happy Paleo goers and performers from last night (Thursday) An enormous crowd went to see Manu Chao (below) and what a great performance this band gave, a full two hours set to the delight of the festival goers. Enjoy the final three nights, and remember if you still haven't got a ticket, then all is not lost. 1,000 tickets do go on sale at 09:00 each morning on the Paléo website and at Ticketcorner.

There is always an eclectic choice of goods at the fleamarket in Nyon. These "puces" take place every month down by the lake, they alway attracts a good crowd and Sunday was no exception. Items on sale ranged from a flag of Che Guevara, to postcards of the area, to Vaud sausages and unusual objects from around the world. The stall holders display their wares in imaginative ways too! Check out the musical instruments and lampshades hanging from the trees in the photos below. These and the sun brought a smile to those who were out and about either looking for a bargain, or just wanting to potter amongst the stalls. Too look at the photos click "play", they take a few seconds to load, then when you click each image, you can see it in full colour. The tea being poured from on high was being served by Junes Zerrouki. He has a stall down at the market in Nyon selling herbs and spices, and other Moroccan goods. The mint tea was certainly a winter warmer last weekend! The next market will be on the 22nd February.

Good news for those who need to shop after work during the week, as Nyon shops will now close Monday to Friday at 19:00 (instead of 18:30), and at 18:00 (instead of 17:00) on a Saturday. This new rule came into force on the 1st April.   Shops that are exempt from this ruling are boulangeries, ice cream shops, newsagents, kiosks, florists, pharmacies, and agricultural outlets which sell produce from farm premises.  According to La Côte newspaper between 1,000 and 1,100 employees work in Nyon shops.

If you think the weather is a bit chilly right now, imagine what it would be like at -30 °!  This is the possible temperature that local girl  Rachel Frei Bandieri might encounter when she runs a 150km race in Finland in two weeks time to support the animal park of La Garenne , based in Le Vaud (read more about this animal park below). To participate in the Rovaniemi 150 race, a 150km non-stop race on the 20 - 22nd February, runners must carry all their food and complete equipment (sleeping bag, camping gear etc) with them and manage their race to finish within the 42 hour time limit. It can be done on foot, ski or bike (on fat bike, a specific bike with wide tires to ride on snow). Rachel says; "I have chosen to do this race on foot, because I am definitely much more used to walking and running, than skiing for hours". This race is a dream for me! And I know it can bring a lot to the La Garenne animal park. Animals and nature hold a special place in my life, and I am very happy and proud to give my support in an original way to the proper functioning of the park. By the way: the wolf, which is one of their emblematic animals is also the logo of my personal training company! The Animal Park of La Garenne in Le Vaud itself has four missions: to collect and take care of injured or rescued wild animals, to participate in the preservation and reintroduction of threatened species, to provide educational services to the environment and finally, to present European fauna to the public, so it seemed  an obvious choice of charity for me to support. 36 year old Rachel is an all-terrain athlete, animal and outdoors lover. Having developed an early taste for adventure and unconventionality, Rachel travelled around Australia for 6 months when she was just 18. The following year, she set off for a trek on horseback in Mongolia, a newly open-to-tourism country. In between studies and work commitments, she travelled the world, often on foot or in a 4 x 4 vehicle and says; "I always did this in a spirit of respect when meeting other cultures". In 2006, she discovered trail running and fell in love with the discipline that combines sports adventure, surpassing oneself, friendship, authenticity and discovery and says "I enjoy pushing my limits and love the feeling of being in harmony with nature. After being the first to travel the 500km of the Alptrekking in solo in 2010, having led and coached a team at the 100km Charity Oxfam Trailwalker in England in 2012, I needed a new challenge, incorporating the notion of solidarity and support to a cause that is dear to me. Growing up and working in the area, I followed the development of this very special zoo, I brought them small injured and rescued animals and have visited it on many occasions. Their work for local wildlife as well as their educational programmes is truly exciting and admirable and deserves to be supported". If you too would like to support Rachel in this fantastic adventure in the heart of the polar winter and play an important part in the success of this outdoor and charity project then you click here. You can also follow Rachel's progress on her training, follow her blog , see photos on her  Facebook page here  See You Tube Video here of  the start of last year's Rovaniemi 150 race.

Rocking Paléo- Danko Jones, Arctic Monkeys and Smashing Pumpkins Several generations of rock legends united last night as 90's band the Smashing Pumpkins mingled with their younger colleagues of the Arctic Monkeys . Varying from metal to calmer pop, all the bands on stage had a resolutely rock feel to them. The Arctic Monkeys. Courtesy Paléo / Boris Soula On the main stage, Canadian rock band Danko Jones opened the show, trying to get started an audience that stayed rather calm, despite the energy and brawn of the lead guitarist. They were followed on the main stage by the main act of the night, Arctic Monkeys, the Sheffield rock band who have shaped rock music over the past ten years. This was their second time at playing on the grounds of l'Asse, and it was plain to see the band had gotten much more confidence than when they came in 2007. Whilst their first concert had lacked any contact with the crowd, a visibly intimidated band coming on, playing their music and then leaving the stage without a nod to the crowd, Alex Ferguson was far chattier this time round. They played all the favourite songs, from “ I bet you look good on the dance floor”, “ Fluorescent Adolescent ” to the songs which will feature on their next album, due for this Autumn. The crowd was pretty mad, and there was quite a bit of dancing (and its slightly more violent version, “pogoing”) going on. Quite a few people, who hadn't reckoned with the heat and the crush you find at the very front of the crowd had to be taken out by the security staff, pulled over the barriers in front of the stage. This tends to happen quite often, as enthusiastic but inexperienced fans wander into deeper waters than they can manage. Paléo takes good care of its festival-goers, and glasses of water were handed out several times during the show to the sweaty fans at the front, to prevent any dehydration, something that can happen all to easily with such heat and an hour and a half a frenetic jumping about. From high-pitched pop to roaring metal Aficionados of high-pitched soaring pop gathered in front of the Arches to listen to Asaf Avidan , the Israeli singer known for his distinctive voice. The rasping, high-pitched vocals enraptured the crowd, who enjoyed a great musical experience. Smaller bands played too last night, including Dorset native Merz , who unfolded his mix of electro, folk and world music under the club tent. School is Cool , a Belgian pop band, delivered their joyous and cheeky pop under the Détour. I should also mention the high-octane performance of Mass Hysteria , a French band who combine heavy metal music with hip-hop like vocals. They played with the crowd, inviting people to dance on stage, climbing down to play in the crowd, or initiating a "wall of death" (for people who have never been to a metal concert before, this is basically a moment where the crowd parts facing each other, leaving a huge gap in the middle, and at the start of the next song, hurl themselves at each other in that space). Mass Hysteria Street theatre around the grounds Street theatre isn't only to be found in the Ruche (the Hive), as the artists such as bees collecting their precious pollen, wander about the grounds, collecting bits of laughter and a few smiles wherever they go. Look out for the several troupes who walk the grounds every day, for moments of visual poetry or outrageous comedy. Street performances are all about occupying the space around you, and interacting with passers by. La cie Tonne have a very interesting way of doing this. This couple, inspired by a couple of love songs and animal documentaries on mating, tease each other, courting wherever they go, totally oblivious to the surrounding crowd of slightly bewildered people. Clad only in white underwear, they stay really discreet and silent, weaving their way through the crowd, sometimes hiding behind a tree or climbing on a table. Suddenly, they might be lying on top of each other on a table top in the middle of amused drinkers. Courting in public.... La cie La Passante are slightly more visible, but just as silent. These unsettling women, clad in black and veiled by tent-like umbrellas, walk around the grounds in groups, waltzing around the people in high heels. If you are lucky enough to get invited inside,you will live two or three minutes of intimate poetry, as a lipsticked woman quietly recites you a story in the dark. But try entering without their consent, and you will get pushed away, as they evade contact with people who approach them to brusquely. I myself spent a couple of minutes in a slow dance with one of them, as a sort of introduction, before going under the veil. What a great experience! La Passante, and their intriguing veils You might also meet three boxes with ping-pong like heads walking around the grounds. When they stop, Les frères cartons become live jack-in-the-boxes. These three awkward, monstrous characters, with their terrible haircut and abominable dentition will clumsily try to seduce you, or maybe play a nasty trick on one another. Wandering music A few musical acts also wander the festival, such as Grand-mère indigne , and their energetic brass band, and the all-feminine orchestra “Mlle Orchestra ”, who sport a mixture of music and comedy. La Grand-Mère Indigne You can see all of these acts across the grounds all week. Just keep an eye out! The Paléoblog issues a best-of of the previous night each day, here is Tuesday's video.

Living in Nyon would like  to wish its readers a Very Happy New Year. We will be back with more articles on the 4th January. Check in to find out about events coming up in the area from the winter music festival Les Hivernales  to dates to put in your diary for 2011.

There are a lot of activities going on in the Nyon and Geneva region at this time of year. Read on for a selection of these below. Winter issue of Hello Switzerland now out. The image above and in the banner on this post, is taken from the winter issue of  "Hello Switzerland" magazine. This magazine is free to subscribers and contains a wealth of useful articles. This latest issue features an interview with a mountain guide (he gives advice on how to remain safe in the mountains), to an article on the night watchman of Lausanne cathedral. There is a dedicated section for the Romandie area too. Whether you have been here living in Switzerland for just a few months, or for many years, it makes interesting reading.   Click here to find out more about this magazine and to subscribe. You can also read the articles in the magazine on line by clicking here Events coming up in the area Saturday 8th December - Olivia Pedroli will be singing at the Usine a Gaz in Nyon at 20:30.  For full details of concert click here   For more info on the singer (in English)  click here  Thursday 6th December - Fashion event to celebrate 10 years of Karen Millen in Geneva plus - 20% discount of Autumn winter collection plus champagne and canapés will be served! Monday 10th December -  Movie in Nyon in English, the comedy  "Ted" at 20:30.  Short synopsis -  "As the result of a childhood wish, John Bennett's teddy bear, Ted, came to life and has been by John's side ever since - a friendship that's tested when Lori, John's girlfriend of four years, wants more from their relationship". La Côte Anglican Church - Sunday 9 th  December   La Côte Anglican Church - Nativity Service performed by children at 16:00 10.00  Holy Communion in Divonne celebrating Advent 2  and then  16.00  Nativity Service in Gingins See here for more details Morges  5th-9th December  Christmas Market.  The biggest covered Christmas market of French-speaking Switzerland in the  wooden hall at Morges railway station. More than 190 artisans  displaying their wares.  More details click here   Free entrance. Photo above  courtesy - Morges Tourism Nyon 7th December - Trad Jazz  at 20:30 at club 1306  in Nyon Group - The Fats Boys, an homage to Fats Waller. Full details see here

The Poster for the 2013 Paléo Festival Nyon was launched last week, you can read all about its design and about Marion Erard, the student who designed the poster here. Paléo will take place next year from  23rd to 28th July .  The line-up will be revealed on  Tuesday 16 April and tickets go on sale  on Wednesday 24 April 2013 . If you want to avoid the mad rush for tickets in 2013, then there is always the option to buy a 6 day pass at this time of year. Starting 4th of December until 21st of December, you can buy your pass for the festival on the Paléo website (limited to 2000 passes) or at the Paléo Shop (unlimited until 21 December)   Price:  CHF 325.- (adults) / 275.- (students and reduced tariffs). No booking charge at the Paléo Shop (however, payments with credit cards are not accepted at the Paléo Shop). Full details here Caribana also sells tickets in advance for 2013   The Caribana Music Festival also recently unveiled its poster for 2013. The poster which comes with a funky Pirate theme was designed by Emile Fessler,  a 22 year old student at Eracom (Ecole Romande d' art et de communication) in Lausanne. Caribana are also releasing tickets for sale in advance for concerts next year.   See website here.   The festival will take place from the 5th-9th June 2013 Tickets for either festivals would make great Christmas prese nts!

"The Meal" is returning to Nyon on Saturday 24th September 2016 and will take place in the courtyard of the Château. The concept of "The Meal" is to gather people together to share a meal made up of local products and food that is in season, and to encourage us all to support local farmers, fishermen and food producers. The Meal will take place in the centre of Nyon at the Place du Château between 11:00 and 15:00, and is open to all, friends and family, associations etc.  To reserve (must be made by 20 September)  click here .  Any questions? email themealnyon@gmail.com The cost of the meal is CHF 25 CHF for adults, CHF 18 for students/chômeurs/A.V.S, and CHF 10 for children. This is to include an entrée, a plat principal and a dessert. The Meal is a global event happening around the world on the same day ( see the main website here) , It originally started in Geneva in 1999! The Meal will be buffet style, served by volunteers, whilst the drinks can be bought from local producers. There will also be Nyon tap water available.

Want to find out more about the local clubs and cultural associations that are in the Nyon and surrounding area?   Tomorrow the 22nd September, there will be an ideal opportunity to do this at the  "Foire aux Associations". This  fair/open day will be held in the grounds of Nyon castle from 11:00 onwards. Over 20 associations  and clubs will be present with stands and information on their own clubs. The cine-club of Nyon will be there (they have just released their programme of films for the upcoming season) see here .  Go and chat to to Andreas, the club's president, he speaks English and can tell you more about the club, the film and the benefits of becoming a member. Nyon's two permanent music venues, the Usine a Gaz and the Parenthese will also be  represented, each with their own stand, it's an ideal chance to find out what bands and musicians are scheduled to play in both clubs in 2012/ 2103 The Bains des 3 Jetées  associati on will also be present on Saturday. This association organises many events alongside the lake (and they are the ones responsible for installing the temporary sauna each winter!) There will be many other clubs present, food, drink  and music on offer throughout the day. More info see here Talk in English on local schooling There are still a few places left at the talk on the 1st October in Nyon on understanding the local school system. For full details and registration, see previous post here .