Live Nation Partners With Openair Frauenfeld Festival

10 July 2017 - Press release

Live Nation Switzerland GmbH has announced that it will become the majority shareholder of Openair Frauenfeld Festival, working alongside festival founder Wolfgang Sahli and First Event AG managing director Rene Götz, who will continue to produce the festival.

Held annually on the Allmend in the city of Frauenfeld, Openair Frauenfeld is considered Switzerland’s largest music festival as well as one of the most prestigious urban music festivals in continental Europe. The festival started life in 1985 as “Out in the Green” playing host to international superstars like Lenny Kravitz, The Rolling Stones and David Bowie over the years. In 2004, the festival was transformed with a new name, design and line-up completely focused on the best Urban, Hip-Hop and R’n’B artists.   

Since then, Openair Frauenfeld has welcomed artists including Eminem, Jay-Z, Drake, Kanye West and Kendrick Lamar. Last year, over 50.000 fans attended each festival day and the 2017 edition, with headliners The Weeknd, Usher & The Roots, has sold out again.

“We are incredibly proud and excited to partner with Openair Frauenfeld, which sees us add one of the world’s finest festival brands to our portfolio. The partnership will give media and our brand partners a unique platform for the Swiss and German speaking markets. We look forward to working with First Event AG to build and grow this unique festival brand, offering an unparalleled festival experience to thousands of fans,” says Andre Lieberberg, President of Live Nation GSA.

“This partnership demonstrates the strong commitment and substantial presence of Live Nation in the Swiss market. With our Openair Frauenfeld cooperation we are now part of the Swiss festival landscape in addition to the remarkable volume of successful stadium, arena and club shows,” comments Ralph P. Schuler, Managing Director Live Nation Switzerland.

“We believe joining forces with the world’s leading live entertainment company, Live Nation, has given us a strong and innovative partner with which to continue to grow and evolve Openair Frauenfeld. We are truly looking forward to our partnership,” says Wolfgang Sahli, founder of Openair Frauenfeld and Chairman of First Event AG.

With more than 90 festivals in its global festival portfolio including some of Europe’s finest such as Download, Lollapalooza, Reading & Leeds, Way Out West, Rock Werchter, Splendour Festival Australia and US favourites Bonnaroo and Austin City Limits, Governors Ball, Live Nation has the largest and most diverse platform of festivals in the world.