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Freddie Celebration Days 2019

"I won't be a rock star, I'll be a legend." This famous quote from Freddie Mercury has not ceased to resonate throughout this new edition of Freddie Celebration Days!

On the eve of the event, the statue was decorated with the most beautiful flowers, texts and attentions from fans from all over the world. And the next day, as the grey sky dominated, the sun's rays appeared at the time of the opening speech punctuated by the touching interpretation of LOVE OF MY LIFE by the SMILE! choir of the Vevey schools.

This young generation gave a different breath to this celebration with the highly acclaimed performances of Alfie Thomas, the 13-year-old boy who plays a more real than life Freddie Mercury but also the female quartet offering a high quality "Air Queen" show.

The adults were not to be outdone, however, with the three cover bands invited this year: the '39 QUEEN TRIBUTE, VLADAMIR HRON AND THE DROPS and QUEEN IN ROCK! Each in their own way, they dragged the audience with them and set fire to a packed covered market! Note the surprise appearance of the members of BULSARA AND HIS QUEENIES during the 39 QUEEN TRIBUTE concert or that of Peter Freeestone himself during the "Wembley" show of VLADAMIR HRON !

Speaking of Phoebe, his interventions (on stage, on the boats or under the covered market), were extremely attentive and touching. Spending a few minutes with him was enough to easily understand why Freddie could not part with it no matter where in the world he was. Peter is very humble, very kind and very funny! Montreux Celebration thanks him with all its heart.

Another very nice surprise, even if we had already had the opportunity to meet him and hear him, was MILAN and his BOHEMIANS. Charismatic and passionate, he gave a unique concert to the delight of the audience, without forgetting the shooting of a sequence for his next video including the fans present on the market place!

This edition broke all attendance records thanks to the success of the film BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY. The casino evening organized by the MERCURY PHOENIX TRUST had been Sold out for several months! It was an opportunity to admire magnificent costumes!

A big thank you also to the two fan club organizations (French and Belgian) who exhibited all their treasures under the covered market and to Marialexie for his fresco worked throughout the festival.

Several improvised moments, several surprises participated in the magical atmosphere of this edition. Take for example the presence of three of the members of the British Airways baggage handlers, made famous by their video clip paying tribute to Freddie Mercury who himself had been a baggage handler in London. They appeared on stage at the end of the show offered by the Smile choir!

Moreover, this children's choir has also created surprise, by the quality of its voices, the omnipresent emotion but also by appearing on the boat LA DEMOISELLE to perform the song IS THIS THE WORLD WE CREATED in front of the statue.

Finally, the flashmob proposed by the association FREEDOM FOREVER made the market place vibrate to the sound of DONT STOP ME NOW!

To close this festival, the women's group QUEENS IN HEAVEN presented several a cappella songs of rare beauty, reminding everyone of Queen's rich repertoire and harmonies.

Montreux Celebration like the thousands of fans who attended these four days are waiting for only one thing: to start again next year!

The dates have already been set: from Thursday 3 September to Sunday 6 September 2020!

We look forward to seeing you next year and thank all those who participated in one way or another in this exceptional edition.

Save the Date!


Videos

Freddie Celebration Days 2019

Here is a retrospective video of this free event organized by Montreux Celebration.

We look forward to seeing you next year and thank you with all our heart, all the musical bands who offered us unforgettable concerts, the volunteers, the city of Montreux, Eurotel, Zurcher, the Riviera and Villeneuve "Taxe de Séjour" as well as all the people who contributed directly or indirectly to the success of this 2019 edition.

THANK YOU and see you next year.


Freddie Celebration Days 2019 - Review

Here is a short summary of the Freddie Celebration Days 2019


Queen in Rock live at Freddie Celebration Days 2019

A live video of their fantastic concert given in Montreux under a crowded Covered Market, thank you Queen in Rock for this wonderful evening!


SMILE! - Freddie Celebration Days 2019

The SMILE! Elementary and Secondary School Choir from Vevey that performed for the first time during Freddie Celebration Days 2019 under the direction of Christophe Farin.


Photos


Thursday September 5th - Freddie Mercury's birthday !

6pm
Around Freddie Mercury's statue

Opening of food and drink stalls and Queen music

6:30pm to 7:30pm
Around Freddie Mercury's statue

Freddie Mercury 73rd Birthday Celebration

More info

You all know that September 5th will be Freddie’s birthday. To celebrate this anniversary day, Montreux Celebration, the Confiserie Zurcher and the Commune of Montreux invite you for an aperitif around the statue.

A birthday cake as well as local wine from Montreux will be offered to the inhabitants and Freddie Mercury's fans who came to Montreux to celebrate the birthday of their idol.

7:30pm to 9pm
Covered Market

Concert : '39 Queen Tribute (IT)

More info

'39 Queen Tribute, second year in Montreux, will play a new gig on September 5th for the Freddie Celebration Days 2019.

This will be the day of Freddie’s 73rd Birthday under the Market Place.

The band, founded by Angelo Malatesta, guitarist owner of Innuendo Studios – Milan - and known to the Italian audience also for his guitar-tech role in the Italian version of Brian May's "Red Special" book (published by Tsunami Edizioni and translated by Raffaella Rolla). Musicians are Mitia Maccaferri - frontman and singer, Angelo Malatesta - guitar, Roberto Brogi - bass, Gabriele Grossi - drum and, Maximilian Agostini piano and keyboard.

’39 Queen Tribute is officially supporting the Mercury Phoenix Trust to raise funds in Italy since september 5th 2016.

Follow the band #39queentributeofficial on Facebook, Youtube, Instagram and Twitter official pages.

Concert : '39 Queen Tribute (IT)

Friday September 6th

11am
Around Freddie Mercury's statue

Opening of food and drink stalls and Queen music

from 2pm
Covered Market

Realization of a fresco by Marialexie

More info

After 5 years at the Beaux-Arts, Marialexie became a comic book author.

Close to the LGBT community, her work is tinged with Queer themes, of which Freddie Mercury is still a leading model to this day. Her first comic strip on Queen: "A Kind of Music", partly autobiographical, tells how Marius, a young artist, overcame depression thanks to Freddie.

A fresco on Freddie will be drawn live in front of visitors to the Freddie Celebration Days 2019.

Instagram

Realization of a fresco by Marialexie
7pm to 7:30pm
Covered Market

"Peter Freestone Evening" - Making-of Bohemian Rhapsody Movie

More info

Milan Satnik, the young Czech singer, actor, director, producer, composer and all round good guy will introduce the evening with Peter ‘Phoebe’ Freestone, whom you all know.

They will talk about some of the projects that have found them working on together.

Video Screening with Peter Freestone & Milan. They will talk about their experiences both sides of the camera on the film ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’.

7:30pm to 8pm
Covered Market

Introducing the TFA Project - Titanic-Freddie-Aids

More info

Something Peter Freestone considers the most important venture in his life is the TFA Project. Created by Milan about 7 years ago.

They have spoken to over 11,000 students from schools around the world, warning them of the dangers of HIV/AIDS, raising awareness at the time when young people most need it.

www.tfa-project.com

Introducing the TFA Project - Titanic-Freddie-Aids
8pm to 8:30pm
Covered Market

Concert : "The Bohemians" (CZ)

More info

Peter Freestone and Milan Satnik will introduce Milan Satnik’s BOHEMIANS, A group of Czech musicians who have come together to create the album "Another Step In Time", the music of which is performed to texts by Peter, covering Freddie’s and his thoughts and feelings during his 12 years with Freddie and beyond.

BOHEMIANS will perform a selection of their original songs, Queen and songs with specific reference to the wonderful city of Montreux.

www.facebook.com/BohemiansCZ

Concert :
8:30pm to 10:30pm
Covered Market

Concert: "Vladimir Hron and The Drops" (CZ) - Queen The Story

More info

Invited by Peter Freestone and Milan

From the begining to Live Aid! Celebration of musical genius of Freddie Mercury and Queen. Three songs out of every album, from Queen to A Kind of Magic and a special bonus: the greatest Rockn' Roll gig of all times Live Aid!!!

Join us for 90 minutes of musical ecstasy, let's sing together and move to the rhythm of Queen's greatest hits of all time!

www.thedrops.cz

www.vladahron.cz

Concert:

Saturday September 7th

11am
Around Freddie Mercury's statue

Opening of food and drink stalls and Queen music

12pm to 12:30pm
Covered Market

Concert: "SMILE!" (CH) - Chorus from Vevey school

More info

SMILE, the choir of the Vevey schools, beats to the rhythm of the Anglo-Saxon musical comedy under the pulse of Christophe Farin, their musical director.

These young artists participate in many projects whose motto is always the same : to share the pleasure of being on stage.

From a few voices only to more than fifty, the number of people in the choir varies according to the events. After having recently accompanied Laurent Voulzy on the prestigious stage of the Stravinsky Auditorium in Montreux, adapted the musical HAIRSPRAY, they launched into Queen's repertoire!

Aged between 11 and 15 years old, they will be present throughout the festival to participate in the various events and remind us that Queen's music is intergenerational.

Concert: Concert: Concert:
1:30pm
Market Place

"Heroes Project", participatory project led by Milan

More info

Milan and his Bohemians will be recoding a music video to go with their new song "Everyone’s A Hero".

This song describes how people from all walks of life can be and are heroes for others, whether a soldier, a nurse or a rock star, everyone has their hero.

We need you, fans of Freddie and Queen. Any of you who would like to be part of the video for this song need to be by Freddie Mercury Statue.

You have heard the song and you will hear the part that is being recorded. Milan will take you through your paces and it should not take too long and certainly will be FUN!

2pm to 3pm
Covered Market

Concert : "Alfie Thomas" (UK) - 13 years old who idolises Freddie Mercury

More info

Alfie won best solo performer at Battle of the Bands last year.

Alfie is a 13 year old boy who idolises Freddie Mercury. He became interested in Queen when he heard Bohemian Rhapsody on the car Stereo a couple of years ago. He fell in love with the song and this is where his fascination with Freddie all started.

His mother got him a vocal coach but he didnt like it because she was trying to mould him into something he didn't want to be. He wanted to be different like Freddie and knew that Freddie didn't have any vocal training.

Alfie has Asperger Syndrome which means he has no real friends. He is a very lonely young man and he learnt from Freddie that it is ok to be different and that it doesnt matter what other people say.

Alfie is self taught on the piano, he sings and he also plays the guitar and bass and he has already written 21 of his own songs and recorded 4 of them up to now.

He won best solo performer at Battle of the Bands last year. He also won student of the year at his vocal school even though he only attended a few lessons. He doesnt just sing, he performs, just like Freddie did

Concert :
from 3pm
Covered Market

Realization of a fresco by Marialexie

More info

After 5 years at the Beaux-Arts, Marialexie became a comic book author.

Close to the LGBT community, her work is tinged with Queer themes, of which Freddie Mercury is still a leading model to this day. Her first comic strip on Queen: "A Kind of Music", partly autobiographical, tells how Marius, a young artist, overcame depression thanks to Freddie.

A fresco on Freddie will be drawn live in front of visitors during Freddie Celebration Days 2019.

Instagram

Realization of a fresco by Marialexie
6pm
Covered Market

Concert: "SMILE!" (CH) - Chorus from Vevey school

More info

SMILE, the choir of the Vevey schools, beats to the rhythm of the Anglo-Saxon musical comedy under the pulse of Christophe Farin, their musical director.

These young artists participate in many projects whose motto is always the same : to share the pleasure of being on stage.

From a few voices only to more than fifty, the number of people in the choir varies according to the events. After having recently accompanied Laurent Voulzy on the prestigious stage of the Stravinsky Auditorium in Montreux, adapted the musical HAIRSPRAY, they launched into Queen's repertoire!

Aged between 11 and 15 years old, they will be present throughout the festival to participate in the various events and remind us that Queen's music is intergenerational.

Concert: Concert: Concert:
In the evening
Casino Barrière - Montreux

Freddie Mercury's 73rd Anniversary Party hosted by the Mercury Phoenix Trust

More info

This event, which is sold out, is organized by the Mercury Phoenix Trust and will take place at the Montreux Casino.

Our association Montreux Celebration, is a partner and supports this event but is not responsible for its organization. For any request or information related to this event, please contact the organizers directly: Mercury Phoenix Trust.

Informations HERE

Freddie Mercury's 73rd Anniversary Party hosted by the Mercury Phoenix Trust
In the evening
Covered Market

NEW : The Overflow Party

More info

For all fans who didn't get their precious ticket for the Freddie Birthday Party evening organized by the Mercury Phoenix Trust at the Montreux Casino, Montreux Celebration will offer you a colourful evening with free concerts and entertainment under the covered market !

8pm
Covered Market

Concert : Queen in Rock - The Rhapsodya Tour 2019 (IT)

More info

Queen live on stage is almost impossible to imitate but these amazing musicians offer to their public a truly unique and unforgettable show.

From 2014 "Queen in Rock" are among the tribute bands recognized by Brianmay.com, the international Queen Fan Club, supported by the Italian Queen Fan Club "We Will Rock You" and by the "Brian May Guitars".

Their show is faithfully reconstructed and imitates Queen’s most famous gigs including stage costumes reproduced in a precise, almost maniacal way, and the Red Special guitar.
This is a show that cannot be missed.

They all come from the magnificent island of Sardinia. Ladies and gentlemen ... are you ready for "Queen in Rock - A Magic Tribute" ?

Francesco Sedda - Voice
Andrea Pinna - Red Special
Carlo "Superpippo" Serra - Bass
Gigi Bernardinelli - Keyboards
Daniele Siddi - Drums

Follow them on:
queeninrock.jimdo.com
www.facebook.com/queeninrock
www.instagram.com/queeninrock

Concert : Queen in Rock - The Rhapsodya Tour 2019 (IT)Concert : Queen in Rock - The Rhapsodya Tour 2019 (IT)Concert : Queen in Rock - The Rhapsodya Tour 2019 (IT)

Sunday, September 8th

11am
Around Freddie Mercury's statue

Opening of food and drink stalls and Queen music

12pm
Around Freddie Mercury's statue

Flashmob organized by Freedom Forever Association

More info

Participate in the shooting of a Flashmob organized by Freedom Forever Association. By participating, you help to alert public opinion to the banalization and recurrence of AIDS. Let us be mobilized by the dance!

www.freedom-forever-association.ch

Choreography

Tutorial

Flashmob organized by Freedom Forever AssociationFlashmob organized by Freedom Forever Association
1:30pm
Covered Market

Concert : "Alfie Thomas" (UK) - 13 years old who idolises Freddie Mercury

More info

Alfie won best solo performer at Battle of the Bands last year.

After his first show under the market place Saturday, Alfie will perform again and near the statue on Sunday Sept 8th.

Alfie is a 13 year old boy. He decided he wanted to do what Freddie did and sing and perform just like him.

Alfie has Asperger Syndrome which means he has no real friends. He is a very lonely young man which is why he probably relates to Freddie. He is self taught on the piano, he sings and he also plays the guitar and bass.

He won best solo performer at Battle of the Bands last year. He also won student of the year at his vocal school even though he only attended a few lessons.

Sunday September 8th 2019 at 1.30pm

Concert :
2pm
Covered Market

Concert: "Queens in Heaven" (CH) - Female a cappella vocal show

More info

“Queens in Heaven" is an A Cappella vocal group of 10 women created and directed by Claire Benhamou.

The original idea of ​​this set is based on the desire to make known or to re-discover Queen and their songs which are less known to the general public but appreciated by fans around the world.
The A Cappella arrangement of 5 women's voices echo the genius’ of Mercury, May, Deacon & Taylor in a unique way.

Claire Benhamou, an unconditional fan of the English group, is a teacher at the Ecole de Musique Lausanne. Trained in Paris in piano, singing, theory, writing, musicology and music education, she is also choirmaster and vocal coach.

She gathered her ten singers from diverse backgrounds, all sharing the passion for singing and the love of Queen's music.

The group is delighted to pay tribute to these legends by singing at Montreux Celebration Days 2019 on the shores of Lake Geneva, in this mythical place so dear to members of the group and especially to Freddie Mercury.

Concert:

Freddie Tours www.freddie-tours.com

Guided tours and exclusive events are organised in Montreux, follow in the footsteps of Freddie Mercury!

Montreux Events www.montreux-events.com

Montreux Events is your preferred partner for organising public and private events in the Montreux-Riviera region.

mercury-phoenix-trust www.mercuryphoenixtrust.com

The Mercury Phoenix Trust is fighting HIV/AIDS around the world, support their action!