Search

The 45th edition of the Paléo Music Festival starts today and after a two year break they are back, new and improved with some big changes and some cool innovations. There are two brand new stages - the Véga which has replaced Les Arches stage and a new area and stage named Belleville . There is also a Sphère Mobilère sound and visual immersion installation this year. Read more about these new features in our article here . NO Cash There is no more cash at Paléo! Payments will only be accepted via debit or credit card or app. No worries if you only have cash with you - there is a prepaid system that allows you to deposit cash at exchange banks on site where staff will provide you with a card or bracelet. There is also an option to load up cash online. Simply create a No Cash Account and with the unique number on your card or bracelet, add an amount of your choice. At the end of the night you can also reclaim any remaining balance on your account either in-person at the exchange banks or online. Simple! Blockchain Ticketing There is a blockchain ticketing system in place this year which means that your tickets are more secure and less likely to lead to the problems of fake tickets. Tickets are still transferable but more easily and securely. You can download the Paleo Tickets App on Apple or Google Play which will store all your tickets and allow you to transfer tickets too. Washable Dishes  Paléo being sustainability conscious have introduced a washable and returnable dishes system. A fantastic way to reduce the amount of single use waste.  Similar to returning your cups in the past you can now return your dishes too at return points all around the food stands. Only the cutlery is non-returnable. Hopefully this will reduce the number of overflowing bins. Paleo encourage you bring your own water bottles or dishes too. Especially in this heat! Phone Charging Station If your phone runs out of battery from all the photos and videos you are taking it's no problem! Just head over to the Romandie Energie stand where you can charge your phone using renewable energy. Every year Paleo chooses a Charity Partner and this year they have chosen two. Both have stands on-site which you can pay a visit to. Sunflower A Swiss non-profit association committed to carrying out activities to support humanitarian projects. Support of Ukrainian children in Switzerland and in Ukraine Medical and paramedical aid in Switzerland and Ukraine Various social projects in Switzerland and Ukraine To find out more about Sunflower or to donate click here. Terre Des Hommes Every child in the world has the right to a childhood. Since 1960 Terre des hommes (Tdh) is the leading Swiss organisation for children’s aid and is active in more than 30 countries. They focus on maternal and children's health as well as child migration and access to justice. Learn more about this charity or make a donation here . Quartier Libre This renamed free access space is the place to be if you don't have tickets to Paléo but still want to soak up the atmosphere. There are food and craft stands, four themed bars and lots of entertainment and games. The best bit is, it's open from 11am to 4am and to everyone -  the party doesn't stop! Located between the Festival and the Campsite. More to come on Living in Nyon on the Village du Monde dedicated to the region of West Africa this year. If you don't have tickets, 1,500 are released each morning for the day of at 09:00 (virtual waiting line opens at 08:45) only on paleo.ch . So whether you're getting to Paléo by train, foot, bike or horse - enjoy! (Don't forget your water bottle and sunscreen).

Water bottles, meeting places, food and beer queues. Paléo is big! It covers a lot of ground and there's a lot to see. There can be times when you go with friends and you end up losing them in the crowd or, you want to see one concert and they are interested in a different one on another stage. So sometimes the best way to enjoy the festival is to agree to meet later at a fixed place and time. There was one year at a previous Paléo when the internet went down for a few hours and no one could message each other, so best to have at least one agreed meeting place. The obvious place is at the fountain, which is just inside the main entry, or you could meet by the big Paléo sign on the hill. Cooling off on Tuesday in the fountain.  Photos C. Nelson-Pollard Fill your water bottles on site The weather is due to stay HOT at Paléo this week, so make sure you keep hydrated. There's a place to fill your own water bottle by the entrance (near the fountain) and the water in the taps in the toilets around the grounds is fresh and drinkable. Food queues The queues for the popular food stalls and bars closest to the entrance, can sometimes be quite long.  Particularly so between concerts on the main stage. However, if you head off a bit further up the hill to the food stalls in the Village du Monde, not only will you get to try some interesting food, it's usually a bit quieter and easier to find a bench to sit down to eat! For the purpose of research.. Living in Nyon writers Seema and Catherine, tried out these two different menus from the Akwaaba stall.  Tasty!     .

Day One was a scorcher but that didn't stop people from having a good time yesterday! A buzz in the air on the little red train from Nyon, packed at 5pm. Hot and sweltering, someone is blasting KISS I was made for loving you out of speakers in anticipation for later. Passengers exchanging information on how the no cash system works and who's on the line-up. People are braving the heat wandering around taking it all in. It's been a while since the festival has been back so many are just getting their bearings, kids in tow sporting neon ear protectors. My first stop to La Ruche for some cooler air in the shade. Fabrizio Rosselli in Bakéké (meaning bucket) is on and performing all week. He is building a green pyramid out of buckets to some retro music and the crowd is hooked....will he make it? Switching out buckets to the giggles of adults and kids alike, he makes it to rapturous applause! He then offers a young boy a football to do his worst as the boy launches the ball at the buckets and they come crashing down! Check out who else is on the line-up in La Ruche this week here . At the Village du Monde I caught the last song Lost Zion by Arka'n Asrafokor, a Togolese metal band who had a crowd rocking out already. A slight glitch with the drummer but with loud encouraging cheers they soon get going again and as the sound blasts through the Dôme , heads starting bobbing! Bit too heavy for me but a great start to the Village du Monde's stage focusing on music from the West African region this year. Read more here . Walking past the Club Tent there is a touch of theatrics going on inside with Silver Dust performing their own style of Gothic Rock - they have drawn quite the crowd who are rocking out to the displays of theatre mixed in with the music. Just across the way, down to the new Belleville area and stage and the vibe is immediately chill. Electro Reggae blasting out from Mungo’s Hi Fi bringing the soundsytem culture out of Scotland to Paléo. Lots of dancing in the late sun as the audience relax and sway to the beat as Bike Rider comes on. Situated near the Paléo entrance, the Belleville area gives an inviting welcome. Plus, plenty of food stalls and drinks to keep you busy while you enjoy the music. The Le Versus bar is a good spot to overlook the stage and stalls, with a beer in hand. The sun is starting to go down over the Jura hills and more and more people are coming in with a high energy and the sea of bobbing heads grows. Meanwhile at the Véga stage the band Turnstile are in full effect. In front of the stage a thick smoke of dust being pulled up into the air as the crowd are jumping. A good spot to oversee the stage are bars Le Baratin and Le Tagada on the top level. A special moment for the last song of the Turnstile set as the lead singer makes his way into the crowd with his microphone stand. Immediately the song starts and the crowd moves in a fast whirlpool surrounding him. Suddenly everyone has their phones out looking on in awe trying to capture this electric moment as he asks them to Shake it up! Brilliant end to their set, with a shift in energy to a more emotional moment as he delights fans by hugging and thanking them to claps and cheers as he makes his way back to the stage. A swift walk back down to the Grande Scène stage but first a quick climb up the Mobilière Tower to catch the beginning of Dropkick Murphys - soft Celtic tones lull you in before the energy goes straight up to 100! The first act on this stage for two years with aptly named track The Boys are Back! The boys are back and they're definitely looking for trouble with the banjo, accordion and bagpipes too! The Grande Scène crowd normally taking a while to build was in full throttle as was La Terrasse - full and rocking out! Dropkick Murphys have a great energy on stage, engaging the crowd who are definitely up for it - you can't help but dance along. Spot the crowdsurfer going for it during their set. -M- at the Véga stage. The bars are packed and the floor is shaking as people are dancing away. Shaking off the last two years, they have definitely remembered how to party at Paléo! You can't even squeeze past to get a better spot. It doesn't matter, people are enjoying from wherever they are standing. Electric, colourful lights light up the stage. A very appreciative and receptive crowd enjoying the groove! Funky, good vibes only! Back to Belleville to catch O.B.F. and Charlie P and Sr Wilson. The bass immediately hits you and runs right through your body. Lyrical experts on an electric stage. The back drop of the Bellevue stage at night - impressive! The crowd is thoroughly into it going wild when the bass drops. Charlie P and Sr Wilson showing their great lyrical flow over O.B.F.'s upcoming track. Reggae Dub at its finest. O.B.F. thanks the crowd and Sr Wilson tells the crowd Merci beaucoup. Love. They have a great energy on stage and it's all jokes and love. The Belleville stage verdict so far from me - it is a hit! Then to the Main Act of the night KISS! The Kiss Army, many with faces painted have been waiting patiently all day camped out at the front of the stage for their spot. Walking over from Belleville at 10:58pm it was a struggle to get through the sea of crowds that has built up. Huge statues of the band on the sides of the stage adding to the air of greatness of these rock gods. 10th time in Switzerland and they tell the crowd We come back here because you're awesome! We expect you to get craaaazy! It was nothing short of what you would expect - legendary! See you for Day Two!

After the success of day one, the atmosphere feels more relaxed and thankfully the cooler temperatures help. A nice breeze in the air with the promise of rain at some point during the night. This time while waiting at the train station the air-conditioned Paléo bus turns up so we hop on that instead. Nyon's six district buses and the NStCM train offer a free of charge service during this week. Lots of chatter on the bus - day two buzz is well and truly on! 20:00 - Crowds already building up in the Club Tent with Marina Satti - the soothing tones of her voice echo out and the crowd is chilled and soaking it all in. She playfully engages with her audience who are happy to follow her singing instructions. . Forget the blue man group, the red men are here in Belleville where Tech-House DJ Laola is playing. Moving through the Paléo site all week, entertaining and freaking out onlookers at the same time. Definitely more beers in people's hands than water today in the cooler temps. Over at the Véga stage, Suzane is performing one of her urban pop tracks waving the Pride flag in her hand. She is given a warm reception and seemed a little overwhelmed by the love shown to her by the crowd.  After, some cool, psychedelic dance moves to a more upbeat track. Everyone is jumping!   20:30 -  Long lines at the food tents in the Quartier L'Orient as people grab dinner, seating areas all full. Just next to them The Nerds the mini brass band have turned up and have drawn a crowd. You can hear lots of laughter, good fun music and jokes.  Some fast flows of your favourite contemporary hits on a dictaphone, tapping your feet is a must! Back for an encore at the demand of the crowd with a super short rendition of KISS I was made for loving you - fast becoming the anthem of this year's Paléo. Seats are full with people eating and so is La Terrasse and the Grande Scène area in anticipation of Rag'n'Bone Man. " Does anybody like any sad love ballads? I've got a few!" Stunning, soulful and loved by the crowd. A beautiful soundtrack to the sun going down. The crowd is stretching far back towards La Ruche, happy just to watch the screen on the side of the Grande Scène stage. He has a charm that draws you in and as he nears the end of his set with Human a few rain drops start to fall but people are unfazed and are not gonna budge! He then introduces his band and finishes on a high. Incredible.   Everyone heads off to get food, drink and a loo break before the main stage act, Sting. Catherine has some delicious, veggie samosas from the friendly folk at Le Terroubi Binta stall in Village du Monde. 22:45 - Passing by the Club Tent and P.R2B is halfway through their set and it's a total shift from the soulful tones of Rag’n’Bone Man. High energy and pumping synthetic pop and electro sounds.  Oh la vache! (holy cow) she exclaims before going into the last few tracks. Video below has flashing lights!   Rain starts coming down and there's a mad dash to find shelter but there are plenty of spots. This isn't people's first rodeo, they know the drill. From the Club Tent, The Forum is the spot. A crossover of sounds here with P.R2B Club Tent on the right and the heavy techno sounds of Sama' Abdulhadi at Belleville on the left. 23:07 - Just in time, the rains stops! People seem to be in two camps, well prepared and armed with rain ponchos and umbrellas, and those unaffected welcoming the rain in this heatwave. But all are now scrambling to find a spot before Sting! He launches straight into SOS and then Englishman in New York. Great crowd participation, Sting really takes you on a journey as he goes through his classic hits mixed with some lesser know tracks. He finishes and walks off the stage but the crowd were going nowhere. An encore of course and he obliges and comes back with Roxanne! A quick pit stop at The Champagne Bar near the entrance for a dance to some 80s pop and to wait for the crowds to clear before it's time to head home. Great Day Two! Remember, if you don't have tickets, 1,500 are released each morning for the day of at 09:00 (virtual waiting line opens at 08:45) only on paleo.ch .

The last three days have passed by in a whirlwind of reggae, hard techno, French rap and pop. Here are a few highlights of acts and moments that stood out for me from Paléo Festival days 3, 4 and 5. Each night drew in a different crowd but one thing they all had in common, they were ready to party! Thursday The train in the late evening up to the site on Thursday is cool and quiet. The crowd at the Grande Scène are singing along to iconic, mainly contemporary folk artist, Francis Cabrel . They know all the words and it is a special moment, listening to thousands of voices in unison. Ami Yèrèwolo , the female Malian rapper is in Le Dôme and has great energy and a strong presence on stage. She also brings up two ladies to join her dancing on the stage and the crowd goes wild for them! Ami Yèrèwolo Some Dancehall vibes on the Véga stage with Blaiz Fayah and his DJ who got everyone in the mood and running to the stage, blasting out some classic dancehall tracks to hot things up before Blaiz Fayah and his dancers come on. Angèle had people rushing for a spot, there was hardly any space to move in front of the Grande Scène and a warning of a crowded concert on the screen.  A lovely moment was Britney Spears' Hit Me Baby One More Time playing five minutes before and on the screens the camera sweeps through the audience. Lots of delighted, young girls on shoulders and women with friends  - sweet to watch their faces light up when they realise they are on the big screen. Then, the long awaited return of super pop sensation Angèle - Bonsoir Paléo ! Friday  Welcomed in by GARGÄNTUA on the Belleville stage There is an air of excited anticipation for Parisian rap duo, brothers PNL (Peace 'N' Lovés). A strong breeze in the air to match the strong bass and cool stage graphics. Phones are out at the ready, lit up, ready to capture the first moments of their act. 22:00 Some drops of rain and lightning in the horizon so a quick planchette of meat and cheese at the Bar du Chardonnay in the Village du Monde, with music in the background coming from the Dôme. It's midnight and suddenly the Grande Scène has turned into a massive rave with DJ Snake, commandeering the crowd with faites du bruit ! (make some noise!) and we really do. Incredible show, definitely one of my favourite acts of the week! After DJ Snake, everyone is in the party mood and rush over to the Véga stage to catch SCH to continue the good vibes. Time to head home but not before catching a bit of Makoto San in the Club Tent doing their own style of techno with percussions and bamboo. 01:52 Still trying to leave but the Belleville area is doing what it does best - pulls you in. Big surprise of the night for me was Billx - track after track kept us wanting to stay and dance, making it hard to leave. Switching from soft intros to hard techno beats, a hypnotizing combo that kept us there a lot longer than we had planned. Worth it! Saturday French Rap was on the main stage agenda today. While Ninho tears up the Grande Scène Stage, Meta and the Cornerstones are on at the Dôme. The crowd reaches all the way outside the tent as people are singing along, relaxing and enjoying the sweet reggae music while he sends out his message of peace, love and harmony to all. Joined by two artists from Senegal who now live in Switzerland, they were very happy to be reunited on the Paléo stage. Quick pit stop at The Voyageur in the Village du Mode - a great place to enjoy a beer from around the world as you chill in between acts. At 23:00 there are still long food lines as people are making the most of weekend. 23:47 Another mad scramble to meet up with friends, get the drinks in and find a good spot before the main act comes on and it's super popular French rap artist,  OrelSan .

So that's it, the morning after the six nights before! What a huge success and welcome return for the Paléo festival 2022. A dusty haze in the air, voles in the ground and the night ended in a frenzy of fireworks and the Maestro himself Stromae! Not to mention the stunning views of Mont Blanc from the Véga Quartier and other higher spots - to remind you that you're in one of the most picturesque parts of the world. Voles in the ground all over the site! MEUTE  were a fun techno brass band that kept the crowd engaged. A delight watching them in red uniforms. Very festive for the last day. La Ruche's usual suspects from the week were in full effect on the grounds, entertaining the crowds. I spotted a few more acts I had not seen. Fanfare Balkanique Illimitée and Cie La Passante in “Rue des Dames" (Or the black umbrella ladies , as I like to call them). Vaudou Game in the Dôme gave us some pretty funky vibes and the crowd was singing along with much encouragement from the band. Their encore made for a great finale as the last act in the Village du Monde and this years West African theme. Just before the fantastic firework display, Little Simz  took to the Véga stage wowing her audience with a mix of stories of her life, smooth flows and melodic vocals. We very much enjoyed her set! Stromae  was brilliant (of course) and reminded us how many hits he has and how much you love to dance along to them. Great ending to a week of Grande Scène acts. Caught a little bit of WolfGang in the Club Tent who were keeping the crowd moving from left to right! The beauty of Paléo is that there really is something for everyone, whether that be the music, shows, street and circus art, food stands or installations. It's hard to make your way around to see everything but that leaves you wanting more and keeps you coming back! Using the Paléo  guide really helped me navigate who I wanted to see and where they were performing. This year was a hot, dry Paléo with a few changes and innovations that seamlessly became the new norm. The success of the Véga and Belleville stages was clear for everyone to see. Festival goers of all ages and musical preferences embraced the Belleville, proving its appeal, not just as an electronic music stage, but so much more. The festival had the feeling of a warm, loving embrace between festival goers and all the artists - both thrilled to be back. No Cash worked well and I think helped reduce queues at the bars and food stands. A special mention for the incredible 5,200 volunteers working in all aspects of the festival - they were continuously generous, kind-hearted and helpful. Now to leave you with some pretty epic numbers from the six days and six nights of the 45th edition of Paléo 2022. 250,000 Festival Goers 7,000 Campers 250 concerts and shows 5 main stages Approx 820,000 cups washed on site Approx 227,000 plates and bowls washed on site CHF 27 million budget The dates for Paleo 2023 are 17th to 23rd July. We will give a reminder to get your tickets when the time comes. Until then, see you next year for the Living in Nyon Paléo experience!

This Tuesday 1st August is Swiss National Day - an official National Holiday since 1994. It celebrates the day in 1291 that the three cantons of Uri, Schwyz and Unterwalden signed the Letter of Confederation, pledging to help each other in the case of an attack. There are many ways of celebrating this day throughout the country within the cantons; brunch at your local farm, bonfires, fireworks, children carrying lanterns with the Swiss flag and friends and families getting together. Here is the programme for the day in Nyon PROGRAM 10.15am - Ecumenical celebration led by the Pastorale des églises nyonnaises, followed by an aperitif * 7.45pm - Start of the festivities * - Popular aperitif hosted by the municipal brass band - Bell ringing 8:30 pm - Opening of the official part, presided over by Alexandre Démétriadès, Municipal Councillor * Reading of the Federal Pact of 1291 - Reading of the Federal Pact of 1291 by Mr Marco Carenza, outgoing President of the Municipal Council - Patriotic prayer - Message from the Pastorale des églises nyonnaises by Mrs Catherine Abrecht, Deacon - Address by Mr Vincent Buccino, President of the Local Council - National anthem 9.15pm - Procession with lanterns - From the Esplanade des Marronniers to the Place des fêtes de Rive PLACE DES FÊTES DE RIVE From 6pm - Refreshments and food by the Groupement des sociétés du lac (GSL) / La Confrérie des Pirates de Rive From 8pm - Ball and musical entertainment by the group Mil Sabords & SO 10.15pm - Fireworks and bonfire 1am - End of the event Click here for more information. Living in Nyon would like to wish you a happy Swiss National Day. See you soon!

The summer holidays are slowly coming to an end and children are heading back to school this week. Many of us are also returning from breaks away refreshed and ready to go. La rentrée is the perfect time to ease ourselves (yes, us too) back into a routine and also start looking and planning ahead for up and coming events. Here's something to start you off. Brocante - Flea Market27th and 28th August. Saturday 09:30 - 20:00 and Sunday 09:30 - 18:00 The 45th edition of the Brocante Nyon is in the Quartier Rive down by the lake this weekend. Get your bargain-hunting hat on and head over to this flea market full of treasures and collector's items . Plenty of second hand goods to be found, recycled or upcycled. Throw in lunch and you've got yourself a great day out with friends and family! Happy Rentrée!

This Sunday 28th August 2022, the annual Festival des Sports is taking place at the Colovray Sports Centre in Nyon at 10:00 - 16:00. An excellent way to discover all that is on offer sports wise in one place - it's free and open to all ages. There are just over 50 different sports to choose from including rock climbing, handball, capoeira, yoga, rugby and many more. There will also be activities at the skate park (situated in the swimming pool car park) and the Colovray swimming pool too. Over the road at the pool there will be the opportunity to check out scuba diving, stand-up paddle and sailing. It's a really fun day out as there are demonstrations, trials and activities from lots of the local clubs including FC Stade Nyonnais, Ski Club Nyon, Judo Team Nyon, Boxing Club Nyon. Check out the full programme here .

With the exceptional heat we experienced this summer, the climate crisis is hard to deny. It may be difficult to imagine a green Mont Blanc but that time could come sooner than we think. Whilst it can all seem like doom and gloom and just too bloomin’ hot, there are many small ways that the local habitants of Nyon and surrounding areas can make a difference. One example for those that still drink dairy, is to buy your milk in reusable containers directly from the Bois-Bougy Farm on the outskirts of town. Here are some reasons to buy your milk from the farm: Delicious ice-cold milk straight from well-cared for cows (these dairy cows live in a barn of approximately 350 m 2 and spend the day free on a pasture) Easy-to-use machine for filling your own vessel Competitive price: CHF1.50 per litre Zero waste as no packaging Buy as much or as little as you need No transport costs, no food miles Support a local family-run business Following a plant-based diet can also be a better approach in the long-term. For those making the transition gradually and enjoy dairy in moderation - this could be a more environmentally- friendly choice than supermarket milk. In fact, a sign on display announces that this farm is the last milk producer in the town of Nyon. Yet another reason to support this local, family run business. To learn more about the history of the farm, the current owners and other produce and services (including delicious ice creams and seasonal apple juice), check out their website. The World Wide Fund For Nature (WWF), whose international HQ is located in Gland, also has some useful tips for eating for the planet here .

This week is your last chance for this year to see, smell and enjoy the Nyon Rose Garden, la Roseraie de Bois-Bougy , tucked away behind the Nyon Tennis Club . This garden was established a few years ago to trial new varieties of roses and culminates in an annual rose competition . According to the organisers, ‘such trials of new roses test the value of new varieties, judging in particular, the vigour of the plant, the flowering, the natural resistance to pests and diseases, the decorative aspect and the fragrance.’ There are some nice information panels in the garden about the work that is being done locally regarding land development, the protection of the environment and the beautification of towns, villages and private properties. Located in a space that is temporarily open to the public, the trial aims to help to raise awareness about the evolution of nature, plants and cultural techniques. It is also worth noting that all the roses are grown without any chemical or biological treatment and are authorised to use the Nyon Zero Treatment label to highlight their resistance in a garden without treatment. The rules of the Nyon trial specify, the only trial in the world to do this, that all chemical and biological treatments are prohibited. The garden is free to visit and open to the public from 08h00 to 16h30 on weekdays until 1st September 2022. Read about the inauguration of the Rose Garden that we featured here back in June 2019. How about combining a visit to the Rose Garden with a trip to the last milk producing farm in Nyon , Le Domaine Bois-Bougy, less than a 5-minute stroll away. Or relax and have a picnic in the less formal setting of the Parc du Boiron just behind the Garden.

Literally bringing jazz to the people this weekend here in Nyon, the 8th edition of the Jazz au Peuple Festival is taking place this Friday 2nd and Saturday 3rd September 2022 at the Town Hall. Putting a spotlight on contemporary Swiss Jazz music artists and making it accessible for all with free admission and no reservations required. Definitely worth checking out! See the full programme here.