The monumental 60th edition of the iconic Montreux Jazz Festival just kicked off with an absolute masterclass in live music. British powerhouse RAYE took over the Auditorium Stravinski for a one-night-only, custom-commissioned production titled ‘This Stage May Contain Moments in Time’. Dubbed by RAYE as “one of the greatest, if not the greatest, festival in the world,” the evening delivered massive surprises, historical tributes, and legendary guest appearances. Here are the 5 biggest moments from an unforgettable night on Lake Geneva.

1. A Historic Live Debut Duet with Alicia Keys

In what will easily go down as one of the most iconic pairings in the festival’s 60-year history, RAYE and R&B royalty Alicia Keys shared a live stage together for the very first time. Co-created alongside Audemars Piguet, the exclusive performance left the sold-out audience spellbound, culminating in a deeply moving, collaborative rendition of RAYE’s hit “Oscar Winning Tears.”

2. Mark Ronson Gatecrashes the Stage for “Uptown Funk”

Just 20 minutes into her set, RAYE sent shockwaves through the crowd by launching into the global mega-hit “Uptown Funk” before welcoming her close friend and the track’s co-writer, Mark Ronson, to the stage. The duo followed up the explosive surprise by performing their collaborative track “Suzanne.” This surprise appearance marks yet another legendary chapter in Ronson’s long-standing connection to Montreux, following his past history-making appearances with Adele and Nile Rodgers.

3. Deep, Full-Circle Tributes to Montreux Legends

The entire evening was intentionally engineered as a love letter to the musical giants who have shaped the shoreline of Lake Geneva over the past six decades. RAYE seamlessly wove covers and clever interpolations of past icons directly into her setlist:

4. An Immersive Rotating Stage Transformation

This wasn’t just a standard concert setup—the Auditorium Stravinski was completely re-engineered into an immersive amphitheater unlike anything the venue has hosted before. Positioned in the dead center of the arena and fully encircled by the crowd, RAYE and her live band performed on a custom-designed rotating stage. Suspended high above them were vast, flowing fabric sails brought to life by striking, real-time video projections.

5. A Growing Family Affair and Legacy at Montreux

Montreux has rapidly developed into a deeply spiritual musical home for the British singer. After her viral 2024 debut—where her Swiss grandfather watched her perform live for the very first time and inspired her Live at Montreux album—she returned to headline the Lake Stage in 2025. This year, she made it a family affair by bringing her own sisters, Absolutely and Amma, out onto the rotating stage to perform the track “Joy” before closing the monumental opening night with a triumphant performance of “Where Is My Husband!”.

How to Catch the 60th Edition Livestreams Free

Missing out on the action in Switzerland? Montreux Media Ventures is continuing its rich history of premium audio-visual capture by broadcasting a massive selection of this year’s concerts entirely free. You can watch high-definition livestreams directly on the official Montreux Jazz Festival YouTube Channel or on your connected smart TV. Tune in throughout the festival to catch full live sets from massive artists including John Legend, Moby, Joy Crookes, Vulfpeck, Marcus Miller, and Van Morrison.

For full line-ups, schedules, and virtual tickets, visit the official Montreux Jazz Festival Website.