Montreux Jazz Festival Confronts Politics Head-On
From **Neil Young**’s Protest Anthems to **Saint Levant**’s Palestinian Advocacy
The 59th Montreux Jazz Festival walks a tightrope between its tradition of neutrality and the increasingly politicized world of music, featuring artists like **Neil Young** and **Saint Levant** who aren’t shy about expressing their views.
A Festival of Emancipation
The Montreux Jazz Festival (MJF) has always held intrinsic progressive convictions. By showcasing Black American musicians from jazz and blues, it played an emancipatory role, offering them prominent exposure that was rare in the European club circuit.
Current director **Mathieu Jaton** noted that the festival maintains “a certain neutrality, to speak in Swiss terms.”
However, he acknowledges the increasing complexity of organizing an apolitical music gathering in a world filled with societal and geopolitical issues.
The rise in artists using festivals as platforms for their messages poses a challenge to the MJF’s mission. For example, the English group **Bob Vylan** had their U.S. visas revoked after chanting death, death to the IDF!
at Glastonbury.
Echoes of Protest
**Neil Young**’s appearance at the festival carries significant political weight. As a symbol of rock authenticity, he embodies the spirit of protest that defined an era, from his time with Buffalo Springfield to Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.
His music reflects the American dream, celebrating its achievements while acknowledging its flaws. Whether advocating for small farmers or criticizing GMOs, **Young** has consistently used his platform to address pressing social issues.
In 1970, **Young** released “After the Gold Rush,” in which he linked racism, drugs, and environmental destruction. He sang in support of small American farmers and against the abuse of oil companies, also criticizing GMOs in “The Monsanto Years.”
During his first presidential election in 2015, **Donald Trump** was refused the use of **Neil Young’s** “Rockin’ in a Free World.” The singer later aligned himself with networks in early 2025, declaring him the “worse president of history”
, and said he “feared for his security”
in his own country.
The Omnipresence of Politics
While **Neil Young** represents a legacy of musical protest, **Saint Levant** brings a contemporary voice to the festival, whose music promotes the Palestinian cause.
**Marwan Abdelhamid**, also known as **Saint Levant**, was born in Jerusalem and spent his youth in Gaza. His music blends rap, electro, r’n’b, and Arab folklore. Since the Israeli stagnation on Gaza, his concerts have become platforms for Palestinian advocacy.
Increasingly, societal demands are woven into contemporary music. Issues of gender, race, and environment contribute to a soft power that is displayed at the MJF. The festival, for example, is committed to reaching net zero emissions by 2030 through various sustainability initiatives (Montreux Jazz Festival Sustainability Report).
Feminism and the Festival
**Iseult**, **Jad**, **Raye**, **Fka Twigs**, and **Nathy Peluso** will bring feminist themes to the stage through their songs. **Solann**, a French singer, challenges conventions with her song “Rome.”
**Brandi Carlile** has become a prominent LGBT figure, known for her performances with **Elton John**. Even **Diana Ross**’s concert, and many others, will touch on social issues.
As **Santana** takes the stage, the legacy of Woodstock will be remembered. At the MJF, like elsewhere, politics are omnipresent.
