No Rain on Travis – Just a Perfect Sunset on a Caribana Crowd

Settings for rock concerts don't get much better than this. A clear sky with a view of Mont Blanc, a setting sun turning the the Salève mountains red. Boats moored alongside a glistening lake, lights in the trees around the Caribana stage framing it all to perfection. Nyon put on a picture postcard great show last night and so did Travis.

From the moment the band came on stage to a short intro from "My Favourite Things" from "The Sound Of Music" , the audience had already been warmed up by the rays of the day's sun and were ready not only for their favourite musical things, but they were ready for a good night. They got it.

Travis know how to please an crowd by giving them the hits; "Driftwood", "Flowers in the window", "Sing", "Why does it always rain on me," and also because front man Fran Healy engages and pleases the audience with his good-natured banter. Last night they took him up on his suggestions to sway in unison like a metronome or to pogo together. Some of them (though not all) shook hands with the person next to them in Healy's bid to "let's get to know each other". It could have been clichéd, it could have been cringeworthy, but it wasn't, it was one big communal Caribana collaboration and it worked. Surrounded by so much goodwill, the crowd couldn't fail to be pleased, only diehard cynics could have been critical. The band kept the energy throughout the evening, even playing over the allotted time scale and the audience were ecstatic.

Travis were the headline act along with the Editors and Chris Cornell, but there were other bands playing over at the lake stage as there are every night. Local, Swiss and emerging bands play that have won a Caribana contest to peform at the venue. Full Blast from Geneva attracted a decent sized crowd which was encouraging to see, not only for them but for other up and coming bands.

The contest provides an opportunity for new artists to shine and gives the audience a chance to be there at the start of a potential "big name's" career. Tonight bands playing at the Scène du Lac are the increasingly popular hip hop groove band Tweek, the Swiss reggaeists Junior Tshaka and Didier Awadi and Nneka with soul and groove. UB 40, Madcon, Dub Inc and Stress are headlining. The weather forecast is looking good for tonight. A great way to start the weekend.

Tuning up for Travis on the Main Stage.

The Lake Stage

Full Blast - Music, Matching Ties and Laces