Montreux Jazz Festival 2025: Diana Ross, I Am Roze & Jacob Banks LIVE
The shores of Lake Geneva once again roared with elegance, soul, and discovery as the Montreux Jazz Festival 2025 hosted one of its most magical nights yet. On July 11, fans were treated to a show that seamlessly blended timeless legends and breakthrough brilliance, thanks to powerhouse performances by Diana Ross, I Am Roze, and Jacob Banks.
From the glistening open-air Lake Stage to the intimate, emotionally-charged Casino Stage, Montreux curated an unforgettable experience — a night where history, identity, and artistry collided under the stars.
🌟 A Night of Legends, Emotion & Discovery In Montreux jazz festival 2025
This year’s Montreux Jazz Festival 2025 has already seen some of the biggest names in global music culture, but Friday night stood apart.
Where BLACKPINK recently captivated fans with their explosive “JUMP” world tour debut, Montreux flipped the script by celebrating soul’s roots and future.
If you’ve been following the energy of summer festivals like Stormzy at Roskilde 2025 or Sabrina Carpenter’s BST Hyde Park set, then Montreux offered a perfect mid-summer contrast — warm, introspective, and deeply moving.
🎤 Diana Ross: The Icon Returns to Lake Geneva
Few artists can command a stage like Diana Ross. At 80 years old, the Motown queen gave Montreux a show that sparkled with heritage and grandeur. Taking the Lake Stage at 8:00 PM, Ross emerged in sequins and spotlight, opening with “I’m Coming Out”, a fitting anthem for a triumphant return.
From “Upside Down” to “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”, the set was a parade of soul classics wrapped in elegance. Her connection with the crowd was as rich as ever — smiles, call-and-response choruses, and signature hand waves turned a concert into a ceremony.
Much like Trisha Yearwood’s powerful showing at Macy’s Fireworks this year, Ross proved that vocal endurance and stage mastery only deepen with time.
🌹 I Am Roze: A Debut That Cut Straight to the Soul
On the Casino Stage, a different kind of magic was unfolding. I Am Roze, the Louisiana-born singer-songwriter discovered by Fred again.., delivered one of the most raw and emotionally gripping debuts the festival has seen in years.
Opening at 8:30 PM, Roze shared intimate tracks shaped by personal trauma, including the haunting effects of surviving Hurricane Laura. Her viral COLORS session set the tone, but it was songs like “Baptize Me” and “Soft Armor” that silenced the room.
The small, velvet-draped venue amplified her presence. Without gimmicks or flashy visuals, Roze captivated purely with her voice — trembling, erupting, and stretching with gospel-soaked vulnerability.
In many ways, Roze’s performance mirrored the emotional resonance of Keke Palmer and Ariana DeBose — not just for their vocal delivery, but for their power to tell stories of womanhood, survival, and spiritual transformation.
🎙 Jacob Banks: Cinematic Soul With Thunderous Weight
Rounding out the night at 9:30 PM was Jacob Banks, a returning Montreux favorite. Known for his gravel-rich voice and lyrical storytelling, Banks brought material from his latest album Yonder to a crowd ready to be moved.
He opened with “Unknown (To You)”, one of his most well-loved songs, and followed with a cinematic sequence of soul, hip-hop, and spoken word. Lighting design was subtle but impactful, letting Banks’ presence fill the space like smoke — slow, creeping, unforgettable.
Where the Macy’s Fireworks crowd saw Eric Church command the big stage with country-fused storytelling, Banks delivered his truth through slower tempos and personal lyrics. In both cases, emotion was king.
📍 Event Details & Venue Vibes
Lake Stage: Open-Air Royalty
The Lake Stage is Montreux jazz festival 2025 crown jewel, floating just meters from Lake Geneva itself. This year’s setup for Diana Ross was nothing short of regal — soft breezes, golden lights, and a city skyline twinkling in the background.
Casino Stage: Intimate & Soulful
The Casino Stage, meanwhile, offered what few festivals can — an almost club-like atmosphere with world-class acoustics. Both I Am Roze and Jacob Banks used the setting to draw fans inward. It felt sacred, like being invited into someone’s living room.
🎟 Ticketing & Audience Response
Tickets for Diana Ross reached up to CHF 147, while the double-header with Roze and Banks was priced around CHF 92. And every franc was worth it.
Attendees, many of whom had traveled internationally, praised the lineup’s diversity. From jazz aficionados to Gen Z fans of COLORS and viral performances, this was a cross-generational gathering.
Like the reactions to Jonas Brothers at Macy’s Fireworks — joy was the universal language.
🎶 Why This Night Mattered
The magic of Montreux has always been about blending legends with the next wave, and this night was a textbook example:
- Diana Ross reminded us of the roads already paved.
- I Am Roze showed us where new voices are heading.
- Jacob Banks bridged the two with timeless soul and innovation.
Together, they created a night that wasn’t just about performance — it was about presence, purpose, and personal truth.
🎧 Other Festival Highlights to Explore
If you’ve been enjoying our music festival coverage, don’t miss these recent performance recaps across genres:
- 🎆 Macy’s Fireworks 2025 Recap
- 👑 Andrea the Hula Hooper’s AGT World Record Performance
- 🌆 BLACKPINK’s JUMP Tour Blowout
- 🎤 Keke Palmer & Trisha Yearwood Deliver at Macy’s
💬 Final Thoughts
As night fell on July 11, 2025, Montreux wasn’t just another stop on a tour — it became a sacred memory for thousands. It was where one icon reminded us why she’s forever, where a rising voice claimed her space, and where a soulful narrator kept our hearts beating in time.
This wasn’t just a show. It was a milestone in music history.
Stay tuned — the full set videos will be embedded here shortly for your viewing. Bookmark this page, share with your fellow music lovers, and relive Montreux 2025 as often as your heart desires.
1. 🎷 Montreux Jazz Festival Official Site
URL: https://www.montreuxjazzfestival.com
Where to add: In the intro when mentioning the full schedule and venue layout.
Example sentence:
According to the official Montreux Jazz Festival website, the July 11 lineup was one of the most anticipated of the season.
2. 🎟️ Jacob Banks Artist Bio (Montreux Festival)
URL: https://www.montreuxjazzfestival.com/en/artist/jacob-banks/
Where to add: In the Jacob Banks section.
Example sentence:
As noted in his Montreux artist profile, Banks blends soul, hip-hop, and cinematic intensity into every set.
3. 🌹 I Am Roze Artist Profile (COLORS Session Reference)
URL: https://colorsxstudios.com/artists/i-am-roze
Where to add: When discussing her viral breakout.
Example sentence:
Her COLORS session captured attention worldwide with minimalist visuals and emotional rawness.
4. 🎶 Diana Ross Biography (Official Motown Page)
URL: https://www.motownmuseum.org/legends/diana-ross/
Where to add: In the Diana Ross legacy section.
Example sentence:
Ross’s Motown legacy has left an indelible mark on generations of music lovers.
5. 📍 Lake Geneva / Montreux Riviera Info Page
URL: https://www.montreuxriviera.com
Where to add: In the section describing the Lake Stage and venue setting.
Example sentence:
The Lake Stage, floating just steps from the waters of Lake Geneva, created an idyllic backdrop.