John Rech on Dudelange's upcoming festivals, the importance of small stages

John sat down with Sam to share exciting details about the upcoming schedule at Op der Schmelz, including must-see concerts and performances. He also dived into the much-anticipated Zeltik Festival, Luxembourg’s premier Celtic music event, which brings together incredible artists from across the world for a celebration of traditional and contemporary Celtic sounds. With its vibrant atmosphere and impressive lineup, Zeltik continues to be a major highlight on the country’s festival calendar.

Beyond Zeltik, John gave listeners a sneak peek into Fête de la Musique Dudelange 2025, an event that promises to transform the city into a music lover’s paradise, and the Usina Festival, a dynamic and diverse festival that showcases an eclectic mix of genres and talent.

John also spoke passionately about the importance of small festivals in discovering new talent and preserving cultural diversity. "We have that at Zeltik Festival, of course, but we also have it at Fête de la Musique a lot. We've always built our reputation on discovering artists before they get known, and we kinda do the same at Usina. And I think that, you know, imagine no one had discovered U2 or Coldplay or Radiohead at some point, and they wouldn't have had a chance to play at decent places."

He also addressed the lack of industry support for emerging acts: "I'm not talking about you, but radio stations just play, like, the top 30 acts. They hardly go and discover new acts anymore, it's a firm telling the computer what to eat, there's no personal involvement like it used to be, in newspapers and radios because the record companies are not interested in music. They're interested in making money."

John also raised concerns about the disappearance of small venues: "And if now these places are disappearing as well, and, you know, all the small clubs as well are disappearing. And everyone just wants to make money, which is logical if you wanna survive as a private promoter. But on the other hand, you need to build up something. And then not just be dependent on what, Donald Trump or Live Nation are telling you to like. So if we want a diverse cultural landscape and we want people thinking differently and acting on their own, then we have to feed them also on the cultural part."

His words served as a strong reminder of why these grassroots events need continued support from both audiences and governments alike: "It's really, really important. It's why festivals are important, why clubs are important, and why it's important to go out and listen to something else than just those mainstream acts that all sound the same."

Don’t miss this insightful and inspiring conversation!

Catch up with the interview above and to Today Radio in general to get the inside scoop on some of Luxembourg’s most exciting upcoming cultural events.