The exceptional artist RAYE performs in Montreux and writes music history in the process. For the spectacular opening of the 60th edition of the legendary Montreux Jazz Festival, the British singer presented a breathtaking show uniquely conceptualized for this occasion. During her third consecutive festival appearance, she brought Alicia Keys and Mark Ronson, two of her greatest musical inspirations, onto the stage. Together with her talented sisters Amma and Absolutely, the singer took the audience on an emotional journey. For over two hours, the musicians celebrated six decades of music history, spanning from Nina Simone and Aretha Franklin to Prince. Under the title „This Stage May Contain Moments in Time“, the evening, developed in collaboration with Audemars Piguet, transformed the famous Auditorium Stravinski into a completely new concert world. RAYE and her energetic band performed right in the middle of the audience on a specially designed rotating stage surrounded by large-scale video projections.

Magical Moments and High-Profile Surprise Guests on Stage

After only a few songs, the British star provided the first massive surprise of the evening. During an energetic version of the global hit „Uptown Funk“, she welcomed producer Mark Ronson onto the rotating stage. Right after that, the two played „Suzanne“, their successful collaborative track from last year. Later, another moment followed that completely shook the Auditorium Stravinski. As the artist started singing the first lines of „If I Ain’t Got You“, Alicia Keys actually appeared on stage to the roaring cheers of the fans. In front of 4,000 enthusiastic spectators, one of those magical moments was born for which the festival is world-famous. Following their joint interpretation of this classic, both artists also performed RAYE’s hit „Oscar Winning Tears“. It was the very first time that these two voices stood together live on stage. At the same time, Alicia Keys celebrated her return after nearly 20 years.

A Deep Homage to the Legends of Jazz

For this unique evening, the singer cleverly combined her own songs with works by those icons who shaped the rich history of the festival. She opened the concert with „Who Knows Where The Time Goes“ as a homage to Nina Simone. The legendary singer had performed one of her most famous concerts at this exact venue 50 years prior. Captivating new interpretations of classics followed, such as „Georgia On My Mind“, „Summertime“, a James Brown medley, and Al Green’s classic „Let’s Stay Together“. Her own songs were also specially rearranged for this night. Her track „Skin & Bones“ received a clear reference to Aretha Franklin’s „Rock Steady“, while „Nightingale Lane“ transitioned seamlessly into Prince’s masterpiece „Purple Rain“. With the song „Joy“ alongside her sisters Absolutely and Amma, as well as the finale „Where Is My Husband“, the band set the emotional closing mark of an extraordinary night. RAYE performs in Montreux at a level that impressively underscores her deep roots in jazz music.

At a Glance

• Artist: RAYE with band and her sisters Amma and Absolutely
• Guests: Alicia Keys and Mark Ronson
• Occasion: Opening of the 60th edition of the Montreux Jazz Festival
• Special Feature: A rotating circular stage in the Auditorium Stravinski surrounded by the audience