Two big stages for three rising stars
This summer, together with our partners, we once again set out to find musicians and bands ready to take the next step. The goal: out of the rehearsal room and onto the festival stage. And there was more than one stage up for grabs – at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland and the Sparda-Bank Blues & Jazz Festival in Bamberg.
Montreux Jazz Festival with TANTFREAKY
Montreux was up first. This year, the festival celebrated its 60th edition, with names like RAYE, The Roots, Moby, Deep Purple, Zara Larsson, Sting and John Legend on the bill. And right in the middle of it all, one newcomer act got its own spot in the line-up. Together with Shure and the Montreux Jazz Festival, we once again offered a wildcard for the occasion.
After the application phase, ten acts were shortlisted from all the entries. Then it was over to the community: listen in, find your favourites and cast your vote. The three acts with the most votes made it through to the final, where the jury had the last word.
The winner was TANTFREAKY. Their prize: a slot at the Montreux Jazz Festival, including an artist fee, travel and accommodation, plus Shure equipment worth €7,000. Runners-up ME&T and Nabuma also got to take home some new gear.
And by the time the winning act had been chosen, plenty of people had already discovered a whole lot of new music along the way. Discovering acts that may not have been on your radar before and giving them the chance to reach a few new listeners. For TANTFREAKY, that journey took them all the way to Montreux in 2026.
Blues & Jazz Festival with KOOB und Maura
A few weeks later, we headed around 600 kilometres further north – and much closer to home: to Bamberg.
For this year’s Sparda-Bank Blues & Jazz Festival, we teamed up with Stadtmarketing Bamberg and Backstage PRO to find not one, but two live acts. And plenty of artists seemed keen to take the Bamberg stage: hundreds of applications came in – more than ever before in this contest.
In the end, KOOB and Maura came out on top.
KOOB, from Berlin, moves between avant-jazz, experimental soul and free improvisation. Maura, also from Berlin, blends neo-soul, trip-hop and jazz rap. Two acts, two very different sounds – and two good reasons not to think of jazz as just one thing.
In August, both took to the main stage in Bamberg: KOOB on August 3 and Maura on August 7, becoming part of this year’s international festival line-up.
Where music finds its way
Montreux and Bamberg are two very different places. What connects them are the people on stage and the chance to reach a new audience with their own music.
We can’t promise newcomers that one festival appearance will change everything. But together with our partners, we can create opportunities where something can begin: a new connection, new listeners or simply one hell of a good gig.
In 2026, TANTFREAKY, KOOB and Maura made it happen. And we’re convinced it won’t be long before we see them headlining festival stages around the world.
Will you be joining them next year?