Frauenfeld Stays At The Peak

Frauenfeld Festival maintained its position as Switzerland’s largest festival July 6-8, although the crowd figures were down on the previous two years.

But the 42,000 per day who showed at the old horse-racing track about 20 miles from Zurich still puts the festival’s crowd about 10,000 clear of its nearest Swiss rival.

In 2010 Frauenfeld sold out its 50,000 capacity on all three days but promoter Andy Locher was quick to point that he can’t get headliners of the calibre of Jay-Z and Eminem every year.

Last year he was happy with 142,500 over three days, 7,500 fewer tickets, but the money saved on the talent budget made it the most profitable Frauenfeld he’s produced.

Locher’s Pleasure Productions took over the event in 2003, shortly after former Frauenfeld promoter Gert Hubatka’s Event AG had crashed with debts of around $240,000.

Locher made it a specialist dance music festival, arguably the world’s largest, and it quickly became the country’s most popular outdoor.

This year’s lineup included Drake, 50 Cent, Wiz Khalifa, Beenie Man, Lauryn Hill, and Looptroop.