The 16th Zermatt Unplugged, where around 70 artists will perform on 17 stages over 5 days from 8 to 12 April 2025, will once again present a line-up with big names such as Stephan Eicher, UB40 and Amy Macdonald. But Zermatt Unplugged also gives young, up-and-coming musicians a platform year after year. For the 2025 edition, the brand identity was also given a facelift under the motto ‘Sounds real’ with the brand colour sun yellow. We spoke to long-serving Managing Director Rolf Furrer about the Zermatt Unplugged success story and the 2025 edition in particular.
Rolf Furrer, before you joined Zermatt Unplugged as Managing Director in 2010, which was launched in 2007, you were at the Zurich Film Festival. What prompted you to enter the concert world?
I have a great affinity for music, I was a co-founder of the Swiss band ‘Hecht’, where I was also the drummer for several years. I was also attracted by the combination of the two locations Zurich and Zermatt, because as Managing Director of Unplugged you are sometimes at our office in Zurich and then again in Zermatt – a wonderful combination.
‘I used to be a drummer with Hecht.’
– Rolf Furrer
How should I imagine the organisation of Zermatt Unplugged? You need a large staff during the festival, how do you recruit them and what does the organisation look like as a company?
We are a team of around 800 people throughout the year. From December to April, we have 22 employees and then 60 to 80 people in the organisation for a few weeks around the festival, followed by around 200 volunteers at the festival, who we recruit from all over Switzerland as well as from the Zermatt region. We have many long-serving employees among both the volunteers and the staff, which simplifies the organisation on site.
What is the biggest challenge before and during the festival?
The biggest challenge is always putting together the programme. We can’t afford many musicians because prices have risen sharply since coronavirus. But we can proudly say that we have always been able to present a high-quality line-up and will be able to do so again in the 2025 edition. Sponsorship is another major challenge. Fortunately, we have our loyal partners here, because finding new ones is not easy. Another challenge is the weather – we can’t influence it, but depending on the weather conditions, we have to make last-minute rearrangements, which we always have to be prepared for.
‘We expect even more guests for the 2025 edition.’
– Rolf Furrer
Zermatt Unplugged had around 30,000 visitors in 2024. How many do you expect in 2025 and how do you explain the success story of the festival in Zermatt?
With our exciting programme, I expect another slight increase in 2025, because the signs for five sold-out main concerts are very good and a great programme is also on the horizon for the Unplugged Pass stages.
For Zermatt, the Unplugged is always a great end-of-season event that generates additional revenue – booking a hotel room at short notice is hopeless. Can you put a figure on the additional turnover?
Five years ago, we commissioned a research institute to conduct a study and the result was that additional income of around CHF 8 million is generated during Unplugged in Zermatt.
‘Always a great end to the season for the people of Zermatt.’
– Rolf Furrer
And now for the 2025 edition: Stephan Eicher, a big name, will open the event on Tuesday, 8 April in the tent with a capacity of 2,200 guests. What are the other highlights of Zermatt Unplugged 2025?
The opening on the tent stage with Stephan Eicher together with a large orchestra will certainly be a special highlight. But I can also describe the other well-known bands and performers such as UB40, Amy Macdonald and Mika as absolute highlights.
Besides great weather and enough snow, what would you like to see at Unplugged 2025?
Many beautiful and special concerts and an unforgettable experience for the guests as well as for the artists and a great end to the season for Zermatt and the local population.
