Sion’s Music Fest Celebrates Decade of Stardom

Behind-the-scenes stories from ten years of Switzerland’s Sion Sous les Étoiles festival.

Against the odds, Valais’s Sion Sous les Étoiles has thrived. Celebrating its tenth anniversary from July 15-19, festival founder Michael Drieberg shares some of the wildest moments of this musical adventure.

Turbulent Beginnings

Even when concerned, Michael Drieberg can still laugh. Launching an annual festival with a budget of 5 million francs faces constant unforeseen challenges. The inaugural edition nearly turned into a disaster.

For the first edition with Patrick Bruel headlining, Drieberg rented the transparent stage previously used by Johnny Hallyday at the Eiffel Tower. However, during Bruel’s performance, a storm struck, threatening to turn the stage into a hot air balloon.

“We had to cut the back-scène with a knife to prevent it from flying away! A real heartbreaker…we had to remove all the instruments, it was panic.” he recalls. Those initial festivals led to nearly 2 million francs in losses.

The **Sardou**–**Sting** Showdown

In 2017, Michel Sardou was scheduled to perform on the same night as Sting. “When he learned it, he really freaked out,” Drieberg recounts. Sardou worried that everyone would come for Sting, leaving him with no audience.

Drieberg promised him this wouldn’t happen, and he was right. Not only did the crowd stay for Sardou, but Sting himself watched half of Sardou’s concert from the side of the stage. “Ten years later, Sardou still talks about it,” Drieberg says.

A Valais Love Affair

“I have known him since I was a kid, I had parachute there,” says Drieberg, expressing his affection for Valais.

The Grand Raid invited him, and after seven concerts in Tourbillon, while enjoying local wines, he conceived the idea for the festival.

**Liam Gallagher’s** Football Frenzy

In 2018, Liam Gallagher’s concert coincided with the Euro semi-final between England and Croatia. Gallagher demanded to watch the match, threatening not to perform if he couldn’t.

Drieberg agreed to broadcast the match on stage, but Gallagher surprised everyone by broadcasting it on the giant screen behind him. According to FIFA, the 2018 World Cup final was watched by 1.12 billion people worldwide (FIFA.com).

“When Croatia equalized, there were applause in the public, he mumbled ‘Fuck You’ and he came out of stage,” Drieberg recalls. After England’s loss, Gallagher reportedly caused a scene, leading Amir to fear for his safety.

Mourning and Music

This year brought unprecedented sorrow with the deaths of two announced artists: Werenoi and Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys. While Wilson was never scheduled to perform, his passing led to slower ticket sales.

**Johnny Hallyday’s** Struggle

Securing Johnny Hallyday in 2016 was a major achievement, but also a challenge. Upon arriving at his hotel, Hallyday collapsed due to breathing problems exacerbated by the altitude.

“Johnny, it was a UFO,” Drieberg reminisces, recalling Hallyday’s determination to perform despite his declining health. Even in his final concerts, Hallyday continued to captivate audiences.

Comedy Mishap

An attempt to incorporate humor in 2015 with Gad Elmaleh worked well, but the following year’s Jamel Comedy Club was a failure. Drieberg attributes this to the lack of control over the show’s content and the performers’ inability to connect with a large audience.

**Scorpions’** Mercedes Demands

The musicians of Scorpions requested the latest Mercedes models for their transportation. Their insistence on having the newest models led to a comical situation.

“They made me so much ch… with these cars that I went to wait for them in front of the backstage entrance to see them arrive,” Drieberg says. The band members were so engrossed in determining who would stop right in front of the door that they circled the festival until they reached an agreement.

Breaking Exclusivity

For years, Paléo enjoyed a de facto exclusivity on artists in the region. However, Drieberg challenged this monopoly, leading to fairer negotiations.

In 2016, both Paléo and Sion Sous les Étoiles wanted to feature Indochina. Ultimately, the band chose Sion, demonstrating the artist’s freedom to choose.

**Florent Pagny’s** Emotional Return

Florent Pagny’s 2023 performance was particularly moving, as it followed months of treatment for lung cancer. Despite announcing a recurrence, Pagny delivered a powerful performance.

“There was such energy from the public, it wore him. These are images that remain,” Drieberg concludes, highlighting the unforgettable connection between Pagny and his audience.