Woodkid in Montreux: an audiovisual show rather than a concert

After a lengthy opening act, Woodkid treated the Montreux Jazz Festival to a performance that felt almost more like an audiovisual show than a concert: between his command of the crowd and the dazzling light show, the performance was breathtaking.

At 10 p.m. sharp, the lights go out: the sound swells in the stalls of the Stravinski Auditorium in Montreux on this Sunday evening, July 10, giving way to a melody with futuristic and unsettling tones. And this goes on long enough for the audience around me to have time to crack a few jokes about Woodkid, the French singer-songwriter who’s now a regular at the Jazz Festival. «He’s clearing out the room right now!» someone shouts, or «Maybe he has COVID!» What a sense of humor. The crowd perks up after a few long moments, but then drifts back to sleep… until finally the lights burst on and Iron resound at full volume, until it makes all the walls shake.

A spectacular light show 

We are then drawn into Woodkid’s world—a blend of pop, folk, and electronic music accompanied by a choreography of light, graphic visuals on screen, and meticulously choreographed movements, all orchestrated to perfection. “Almost too much at times,” my companion for the evening admits. Yet the rest of the audience seems spellbound by this spectacle for the eyes and ears. On the screen behind the stage, robotic and futuristic images flash by, sweeping Woodkid into mesmerizing explosions and transporting the audience into space at times. The artist’s deep, powerful voice seems to orchestrate this ballet, though it can sometimes be overshadowed by the sheer grandeur of the performance.

A gentle contrast accompanies us throughout the hour-and-a-half-long concert: some pieces are deafeningly calm, while others sweep the audience into a joyful frenzy. And these moments follow one after another, leaving no time for boredom or fatigue to set in. The lighting also creates a visual dissonance that is at times intense. Flashes and beams dance to the rhythm of the eight musicians accompanying the artist, accentuating the dramatic and epic effects of Woodkid’s music. While this contrast may seem somewhat surprising, it ultimately creates a sense of balance.

At 39 years old, Woodkid commanded the stage with all the grandeur needed to captivate the crowd as the show demanded. While, between songs, he spoke with great emotion about his very intimate connection to the festival, it was at times almost tedious. The concert, however, was structured to satisfy the audience and dazzle both their eyes and ears: upon leaving the venue, it became clear that we had just experienced something quite unique and powerful.

Write to the author: erica.berazategui@leregardlibre.com

Header image: French singer-songwriter Woodkid at the Montreux Jazz Festival on July 10, 2022 © Lionel Flusin

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