EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
Rise Festival, the world’s biggest independent ski fes- tival is gearing up for a colossal 10-year anniversary. Set in the picturesque French resort of Les 2 Alpes this December, Rise is the ski season opener. But more than a jam-packed week of skiing and snowboarding, it is a celebration of cutting-edge electronic music, attrac- ting snow ravers from across the globe to party on top of the world.
Mixmag can vouch firsthand for Rise’s growing popu- larity. Armed with enough thermals to trigger excess baggage, we jetted off to Rise Festival last year, which - save for a mild rib injury from an overzealous boar- ding session – was the perfect mix of snow, music, and adventure we were promised. By day, Rise is a sce- ne of wobbly beginners and fearless pro’s on the slo- pes, and also those simply enjoying the apres-ski and spectacular views. By night, organisers transform the snow-covered village into a bouncing festival hotspot across three main stages, five indoor venues, and one warehouse. With music programmed until around 5am, there’s no rest for the wicked at Rise: you ski, rave, sleep and repeat, until the transfer arrives days later for the journey back to reality.
Looking ahead to the upcoming 10 years of Rise, it’s clear from the lineup that organisers have gone all out for the birthday bash. At the time of gong to print, the bill includes Chase & Status, Gorgon City, Sub Fo- cus, Sammy Virji, Bou, Hedex, blk., Enzo Siragusa, Joy (Anonymous), Fish56Octagon, Hannah Laing, Josh Baker, SOSA, Badger, Arielle Free, and more, all primed to serve up the good stuff in what’s shaping up to be an exceptional event.
For organisers, reaching a 10-year milestone is both cause for celebration and reflection. Founded by Ben Simpson, Ru Wood, and Will Habergham, and joined by current partner and Festival Director Jamie Thomson, Rise has evolved from hosting a modest 1,500 festi- val-goers in 2014 to welcoming 7,500 from all over the world in 2024. Ahead of the event, taking place from 7th - 14th December, Mixmag caught up with Jamie Thomson to discuss the evolution of Rise, the cha- llenges of staging a festival up a mountain and some standout moments from the 10-year history.
How did the birth of Rise Festival come about?
Rise Festival kicked off thanks to a vision had by my partners Ben, Ru, and Will. Originally, it was all about merging the best parts of university ski trips with mu- sic. There was an opportunity to combine snow sports with incredible music experiences - a perfect mix of “Snow, Music, and Adventure,” as we like to say. Over the past 10 years Rise has grown into something really special.
What are the main ways in which it’s changed over the 10 years?
The festival has grown and evolved in so many ways. Back in 2014, it started small with one stage per day, outdoor shows in the Les 2 Alpes town square, and an indoor arena in a converted sports hall. We had about 1,500 attendees, with acts like Gorgon City, Artwork, and Hannah Wants. By 2015, we introduced a secret party on the mountainside where attendees were led by a theatrical performer to a hidden lodge for exclusive sets. Fast forward to 2021, after the pandemic, we ad- ded the Muzelle Stage - named after the mountain you see driving into Les 2 Alpes - and the festival expanded to five nights of music.
The biggest transformation came with the scale of the event. We’ve gone from a niche festival to welco- ming over 7,500 people from 60 countries around the world. In 2022, we added a new after-party series, with events running five nights a week, doubling the original three-night format. It’s become more than just a ski festival.
What have been some of the standout moments?
We’ve had so many amazing moments, but Sister Sle- dge closing the Alpine Stage in 2022 stands out. Just as they played “We Are Family,” snow started falling, and the crowd went wild—it was magical. Being able to bring such an iconic group to Rise Festival and Les 2 Alpes will go down as a moment in our history. We’ve been lucky to host incredible talent like Kano, Chase & Status, Michael Bibi, and Bicep. Bringing a multi-genre approach has been key, keeping things fresh and exci- ting every year.
What are the main challenges of staging a festival up a mountain?
The location itself is the biggest challenge. There’s no such thing as a “local supplier” - everything has to be brought in. Plus, dealing with extreme temperatures, snow, and the sheer logistics of building stages on a mountain is no easy feat. Then there’s the customer experience side, ensuring everyone gets their ski pas- ses, gear, and accommodation sorted while managing a smooth festival production. We’ve got an incredible team that makes the impossible happen, and that’s what makes Rise truly special.
What would your advice be to someone who’s consi- dering their first ski festival but is reluctant to try it?
Go for it! Even if you’re not a pro on the slopes, there’s so much more than skiing. You’ve got world-class mu- sic in a setting like no other, surrounded by beautiful mountains. It’s hands down the most unique place to catch your favourite artists. Plus, we work hard to make it accessible and affordable so everyone can have the experience. It’s one of those bucket-list festivals you won’t want to miss.
What special activities do you have planned for the 10th birthday?
For our 10th birthday, we’re going all out. We’re expan- ding our Festival Feast programme to give people even more ways to immerse themselves in French mountain culture. The lineup will be bigger and more diverse, ea- sily our biggest to date with headliners such as Chase & Status, Gorgon City, Sammy Virji and we’re partne- ring with Another Rhythm for stage takeovers showca- sing some of the freshest talent out there. Les 2 Alpes has had a makeover too, with a brand-new high-speed gondola taking you from 1650m to 3600m in just 15 minutes. And that’s just the start - we’ve got a lot of surprises up our sleeve.
Rise Festival, 7-14 Dec ‘24, Les 2 Alpes, France.
rise-festival.com
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