The unique OpenAir St.Gallen has been taking place for over 40 years and not just anywhere, but in the nature reserve in the Sittertobel. Fans have had to do without the OpenAir for the last two years, but preparations for 2022 are already in full swing and this much can be revealed - fans can look forward to bands such as Muse, Marteria, Annenmaykantereit and Zoe Wees. In the interview with festival director Christof Huber, you can find out his favorite moment at the OpenAir and more about his passion for the OASG.
"Being Festival Director of OpenAir St.Gallen is my dream job" - Christof Huber in conversation.
OpenAir St.Gallen published its line-up at the end of August 2021. That's earlier than ever before. "We want to give the fans confidence. Something they can look forward to. That's why we went out with the program back in August," says Christof Huber. The program is put together as follows. "In normal years, there are numerous showcase festivals where artists perform. Someone from the OASG is there to spot potential talents - this time, a lot of it took place virtually. We also monitor developments in the charts and streaming services. Another important component is the fan survey. They can help decide which acts they would like to see at the OpenAir. If we see that a proposed band receives hardly any votes, the chance of us booking that band decreases," explains Huber. The OASG cannot be assigned to one musical genre. "I'm not a big fan of genre festivals. Our target audience is so diverse, which should also be reflected in the music. With a varied program, there is something for everyone," says the festival director.
When Christof Huber talks about "his" OpenAir, you can feel his great passion. Born in Wiler, he started his professional career with an apprenticeship in banking, then moved into the travel industry and later organized congresses. He has been an OASG fan since his youth and working for the OpenAir has always been a dream of his. When the opportunity arose to work at the festival, he seized it. Christof Huber has now been involved with OpenAir St.Gallen for almost 30 years. Alongside him, there are a dozen other permanent members of staff in the St.Gallen team. There are also 20 area managers, 80 department heads and over 3,500 volunteers who help out during the festival.
"When it rains, it's muddy, dirty - it's a pure experience, far away from everyday life."
Christof Huber, Festival Director of OpenAir St.Gallen
The fans of OpenAir St.Gallen are loyal souls. Many have been coming to Sittertobel at the end of July for years or even decades. Around 60% of visitors come from the St.Gallen region, while others come from urban centers in Switzerland such as Bern, Lucerne and Zurich. "The OASG is unique, firstly because it is located in a special place in the Tobel, and secondly because OpenAir St.Gallen is also "an honest skin", says the festival director. "When it rains, it's muddy, dirty - it's a pure experience, far removed from everyday life." The fact that more women than men are drawn to the Sittertobel is surprising, even though the OASG is considered a rather rough festival. Huber suspects that the high proportion of women could be due to the fact that the OpenAir has placed great emphasis on a varied program, a good food and beverage offer, safety and a good infrastructure, especially in recent years.
If you ask the OpenAir boss about his favorite festival moment, he answers: "Sunday evening. It takes a lot of pressure off me. When I know that everything has gone well and the fans are happy, then I can also enjoy the festival in the final hours, knowing that we will soon be fully motivated to start preparations for the next festival.
The OpenAir St.Gallen will take place from June 30 to July 3, 2022, tickets are available here available here. For all those who can hardly wait for the OASG, here is the Spotify playlist for the OASG 2022.
This article was created in collaboration with OpenAir St.Gallen.
Impressions of the OASG
Aftermovie of the OpenAir St.Gallen
Hot, hot, hotter: The OASG from June 27 to 30, 2019 in Sittertobel took place with Die Ärzte, Florence and the Machine, Dennis Lloyd, Diplo, The 1975 and many more. Enjoy the aftermovie now and reminisce.
