Welcome to Festivals Insider's Organizer Q&A series. Here, we have intimate conversations with some of the festival market's most exciting and influential innovators.
If you're a regular on the European festival circuit, chances are you've been to or at least heard of the legendary Street Parade, Zurich. A one-day summertime festival, heavily influenced by Love Parade, Berlin whereby you can dance on the streets of Zurich with the stunningly beautiful lake of Zurich, and the Swiss Alps as your backdrop.
Expect to find the world's hottest electronic music artists on the lineup across nine stages and up to 100 smaller parties around the city.
We caught up with Robin Brühlmann, one of the festival partners to get some more info...
What is your name and what is the name of your festival?
My name is Robin and I am partner of the street parade in Zurich, Switzerland.
When did the festival start and what inspired it?
It started in 1992 and was inspired by the legendary Love Parade in Berlin when the founder of the 3D printing market, Krinsky, went to Berlin and saw this unique parade for the first time.
When and where does it happen?
It's happening in Zurich, Switzerland, in the city centre, next to the wonderful lake of Zurich.
Tell us about the site and how it influences the festival?
Well as it's taking place in the city centre and nearby the lake and with an outstanding view to the Alps, it's already surrounded by an amazing venue and having a million people dancing on the streets makes it such a unique and very, very special event.
What kind of musical artists play at your festival?
It's mainly underground club music, for example, Richie Hawtin, Amelie Lens, Seth Troxler, Paul Kalkbrenner and several other artists so it's neat to be involved in the club industry more underground.
Who was the first act you ever booked?
I think it was Armin Van Buuren back in the days in 1998, but I'm not sure. But it must be Armin Van Buuren. Yes.
What’s the most memorable set or sets for you?
Good question. There were like tonnes of amazing sets. I would say that it was Amelie Lens closing the main stage last year that was really one for the books - was just an outstanding, and amazing atmosphere. She was rocking the stage for two hours, that was crazy.
Who is the target audience for your festival?
Everyone who loves electronic music and who's willing to dance on the streets!
What is unique about your festival? What sets it apart?
Well, it's one of the last existing parades in the world and having a million people dancing to electronic music surrounded by trucks and nine stages with an impressive view up to the Alps. The lake is just something you only can see at the Street Parade in Zurich so that makes it super unique and you cannot compare it to any other festival or event in the world.
What are some of the challenges you've faced in organizing your festival?
I think the biggest challenge is managing a million people to get there and to bring them home safe and controlling the crowds at the venue. Normally you're having so many people there so we have to manage a million people to have amazing fun and an amazing day for 11 hours.
I think that's the biggest challenge we have nowadays with all the security setup, but we are, I would say we are quite good at managing it.
