Guitare en Scène

Guitare en Scène: the passion for the six-string at the gates of Geneva

It was in 2007 that a handful of friends, united by a common passion for the guitar, took on the crazy challenge of organizing a festival dedicated to this instrument in Saint-Julien-en-Genevois, a small town in Haute-Savoie located a few kilometers from the Swiss border. The concept immediately appealed: offering high-level guitar concerts in an intimate format, where the audience can see the artists up close, without barriers or giant screens.

In less than twenty years, Guitare en Scène has become one of Europe's most prestigious guitar festivals. Its program, which embraces rock, blues, jazz, metal, soul, and funk, annually attracts legendary artists and guitar heroes from around the world.

A unique format: the intimacy of a big festival

The capacity deliberately limited to 5,000 seats per evening is one of Guitare en Scène's major assets. No giant screens as far as the eye can see, no impenetrable crowds: here, every spectator can see the musicians' fingers running over the strings. This exceptional proximity fosters moments of grace and spontaneous improvisations that the festival actively encourages.

Legends on stage

Over the editions, the Stade des Burgondes has hosted a parade of legends: Santana, ZZ Top, Slash, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Deep Purple, Jeff Beck, Carlos Santana, Simple Minds, Dream Theater, Scorpions and many others. Each evening has its musical color, and the festival also programs young local bands as opening acts via its Tremplin GES, offering a valuable springboard for emerging talents from the region.

A cross-border anchorage

Located at the gates of Geneva, Guitare en Scène benefits from an exceptional cross-border population base. The festival attracts spectators from all over France, Switzerland, and more broadly from Europe, contributing to the cultural and tourist influence of the Genevois haut-savoyard. The event is supported by the Communauté de communes des Monts du Genevois, the Département de la Haute-Savoie, and the Région Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes.

More than a festival, a celebration

Guitare en Scène is not limited to evening concerts alone. The festival also offers masterclasses, lutherie exhibitions, meetings with artists, and a lively festival village. The Guitar Night Project, a nocturnal jam-session gathering, extends the party long after the last encore and offers unforgettable improvisation moments between professional and amateur musicians.