19. August 2025
Home » Music & Media » Spotlight - Flyctory.com Interviews » Spotlight – Flyctory.com meets the Rock Meets Country Festival (August 2025)
Spotlight - Flyctory.com Interviews

Spotlight – Flyctory.com meets the Rock Meets Country Festival (August 2025)

Florian Buechtingby Florian Buechting

This new episode of my Spotlight interviews is a very special one. So far, I always had artists in this section. I always looked out for promoters, music managers and similar people in the industry, but it never worked out so far. This time, though, I chat with Alain Schaffner from the company Southside Events. Alain is doing the media relations for Rock Meets Country. It is a new, three day festival in Sempbach in Switzerland, which is having an innovative concept. Held from 26th to 28th September 2025, every day is dedicated to another genre and style of music.

Sunday is dedicated to country music. With Australian Chelsea Berman, the day will favor one of my most beloved artists on stage. In the interview with Alain, we introduce you to the festival, which is planned to be a recurring one of the next years. If you like it – Tickets are still available for all three days. Hope you enjoy our chat.

 

Spotlight – Flyctory.com meets Rock Meets Country

FLYC: Alain, it is some six weeks until the first Rock Meets Country will take place in Sempach. How are you pleased with the feedback and the ticket sales so far?

Rock Meets Country: We’ve been genuinely thrilled with the feedback so far. Up to this point, we’ve received nothing but positive messages, and people are genuinely excited that an event like this is coming to Sempach. As with any new festival, the first priority is to build recognition, and in that regard, we’re actually very pleased with how ticket sales are going.

FLYC: How did you create the idea of bringing rock and country together in one festival?

Rock Meets Country: Well, I think the music is connected in many ways, and the two genres are a perfect fit for the location where we’ll be hosting the festival.

FLYC: The initial announcement for the festival was already rather early during 2025. When did you start working on the preparations for Rock Meets Country in 2025?

Rock Meets Country: It all started as an idea and a concept in our minds. We thought it through carefully, and before we knew it, it became reality. A festival like this, especially when you’re building it from scratch, requires a tremendous amount of work, and part of that planning and effort had already begun last year.

FLYC: Can you already say whether people appreciate the concept – or is it rather that people buy tickets for one or two days of the festival so far?

Rock Meets Country: No, based on both sales and feedback, we’ve seen nothing but positive signs so far. The three-day format and the overall concept have been very well received by a wide audience.

FLYC: Before we come to the lineup, maybe let’s have a chat about the venue. How will the setup be at the Seepark in Sempach? Will there be multiple stages? Will there be some other entertainment or other vending there?

Rock Meets Country: First and foremost, the Festhalle in Sempach is an absolutely stunning and enchanting venue. Nestled beautifully among the trees right by Lake Sempach, it offers a truly unique setting. We still have a few details to finalize, but one thing is certain: there will be food stands, and we’ll have a small outdoor stage where several artists will perform. We also plan to keep the outdoor area open, meaning that even non-paying visitors enjoying the lake, will be able to experience the beauty of the venue and the festival atmosphere.

FLYC: The first day is themed as Legends of Rock. With Rainbow’s Ronnie Romero and Canned Heat, there are two big names of classic rock in the lineup. What can fans expect from that day?

Rock Meets Country: An incredible show by true legends! It’s an honor for us to present such world-class acts, icons of music, to our audience. It’s almost surreal to think that Canned Heat once performed at Woodstock. These artists have shaped music history and have been delivering unforgettable tunes for decades. That’s exactly what people can expect, a high-energy, jam-packed performance featuring the very best of their hits!

FLYC: Saturday’s label is Shake It Up. Maybe the least straight-forward one. Could you explain, which kind of music will be represented and which are the key acts from your perspective?

Rock Meets Country: We have international artists who will deliver high-energy shows, taking the audience back to the true era of Rock ’n’ Roll. The rockabilly scene is a loyal and passionate community, one that deeply admires all of its performers. That’s why we’re excited for a fantastic lineup and an unforgettable evening filled with pure Rock ’n’ Roll.

FLYC: And then, there is Nashville Night on Sunday. I was personally very delighted that you bring Chelsea Berman from Australia to her very first appearance in Europe. How did you spot her and decide that she will be a valuable part of the lineup?

Rock Meets Country: Country music is experiencing an incredible boom in Europe right now, and bringing this top artist to Switzerland is without a doubt a major coup for our booking agency. Honestly, we’re both thrilled and excited about it. We can hardly wait to see her live on stage ourselves.

FLYC: The other two key country artists are Kendall and Lexi Tucker. How did you pick them?

Rock Meets Country: We deliberately chose these artists because they are incredibly talented, we truly enjoy their music, and we felt they would be a perfect fit for our program.

FLYC: The festival features a mixture of international and regional artists. The most prominent is likely Marc Amacher, who will be on stage on Friday. Is that also the Swiss artist you look forward to the most?

Rock Meets Country: I believe supporting local artists is always a very important mission. For many of these bands, it’s often challenging to secure a spot to perform, which makes it all the more crucial for a festival to promote them. Personally, I’m always excited to feature local and homegrown talent. This year, I’m especially looking forward to the newly formed Swiss band Risen!

FLYC: You also started a band contest. The three best acts win a slot each for the three festival days. How happy are you with the applications so far?

Rock Meets Country: We’re truly overwhelmed, but that ties directly into the fact that smaller and newer Swiss bands are unfortunately far too often overlooked, as festivals tend to book the classic, already well-known acts. For up-and-coming bands, it’s always that much harder to secure a spot at an event, which makes contests like this all the more valuable. Participation was huge, though we honestly expected that from the start.

FLYC: A 2026 edition of Rock Meets Country is already envisaged. Especially from an organizers’ point of view, what does the 2025 edition need to achieve to be successful in your point of view?

Rock Meets Country: Since this is a brand-new festival, every detail is crucial to ensure it runs smoothly and profitably. We started this event with the vision of making it a long-term tradition, and in the future, we hope it will become a well-known name on the Swiss festival map.

FLYC: Last, but not least, a key success factor of a festival are also what the region’s got in stock for your free time. For the people who do not know the Lake Sempach area yet – what can they expect and do for their free time?

Rock Meets Country: Believe me, the venue is a dream. From inside the hall, you have a clear view of the lake. Step outside, and you’re under the shade of a few trees, surrounded by a small patch of land just a few meters from Lake Sempach. You can take a relaxing walk along the shoreline, stretch your legs, or even go for a quick swim in the Lake of Sempach if the day gets too hot. There are also plenty of spots to simply lay down on a towel and unwind. People can truly look forward to this location. And of course, we’re excited that our visitors will also get to discover the town of Sempach and its beautiful surroundings through our festival, it’s definitely worth the trip.

 

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Country Music 2025

Here are all my postings related to country music published in 2025:

 

Switzerland Travel Posting

Here are all my travel postings related to Switzerland:

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