As American actor Robin Williams once remarked: “Spring is nature’s way of saying ‘Let’s party’!”

It’s definitely party season in the Alps, with many resorts now hosting end-of-season parties as part of their annual calendar of events.

Many resorts are celebrating in style with open-air music festivals and huge end-of-season parties.  We have have already reported on some of the Scandinavian celebrations here.

Over the past few weeks, the Alps have been alive with the sound of music!…

Mayrhofen in the Tyrol had their 6^th annual Altitude Comedy Festival, with John Bishop headlining a star-studded comedy line-up which included Phill Jupitus, Marcus Brigstocke and many others.

Mayrhofen also partied hard at their Snowbombing celebrations earlier this month – a resounding success with crowds of 5,000-plus, great snow and 150 different artistes performing across 15 venues, including such stellar acts as Kasabian, Katy B and Ms Dynamite.

Tignes hosted The BRITS for the first time this year.  Now in its 24^th year (older than many of the attendees!), it is one of hte longest established snow-and-music festivals in the Alps.  In recent years, it has been staged in the Swiss resort of Laax.  The Nextmen headlined, with numerous gigs by night and world-class competition on the slopes by day.

Then there was Crans Montana’s Caprices Festival, featuring Björk, The Killers, Fatboy Slim and Portishead; the Zermatt Unplugged Festival with its typically relaxed, chilled vibe and bands including Bryan Ferry and Marianne Faithful; and Vossa’s internationally acclaimed 40th Jazz Festival in Norway (a mix of international acts and home-grown talent, and even more chilled than Zermatt Unplugged) to name but a few…

For us here at FamilySkiNews.com, the Portes du Soleil’s Rock The Pistes festival has stood out from the rest to-date!  With most ski music festivals the idea is that you ski hard all day and then go to gigs in the evening.  At Rock The Pistes, the main (free!) gigs were staged at lunchtimes in breathtaking locations around the vast ski area (12 resorts straddling the Franco-Swiss border).   This enabled families with kids to enjoy the music without having to sort out babysitters for evening gigs!

But it’s Ischgl’s 18th annual Top of the Mountain Closing Concert on 30 April which promises to be the ‘party to end all alpine parties’.

Their annual end-of-season is the biggest music event on snow each winter.  Ever since Elton John headlined here in 1995, the resort has attracted A-list stars to its slopes, including Mariah Carey, Rihanna, Katy Perry and Kylie.

This year Deep Purple is performing to at least 20,000 fans – the highlight of a full weekend of party celebrations.  You need a lift pass to get up to the venue – at 2,300m on the Idalp, literally ‘Top of the Mountain’, but the gig itself is free!  Perhaps they’ll play “Smoke on the snow…”?!
Other related features:
Take your teens Snowbombing in Mayrhofen
End of season celebrations in Norway
Saas Fee’s Season End Apres Ski Parade