Prince concerts at Montreux festival sold out within minutes
Last Updated: Saturday, July 4, 2009 | 3:11 PM ET
CBC News
Organizers of the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland say more than 7,000 tickets for two concerts by Prince were sold out within eight minutes of going on sale Saturday.
The multiple Grammy award winner was only announced on the lineup on Friday, following weeks of rumours about the musician's possible appearance.
"The Montreux Jazz Festival will be even funkier this year because a musician of genius will perform not once but twice," said organizers in a statement.
Prices for his concerts top out at 316 euros ($513 Cdn), with a two-ticket limit per person.
Prince — whose hits include Purple Rain, Let's Go Crazy, 1999 and Raspberry Beret — will play consecutive concerts on July 18, the last day of the festival, which began on Friday night.
The 51-year-old performer last played at the event two years ago. He also surprised the audience at a late-night jazz café there in the early morning hours to jam with his band.
Launched in 1967, the two-week festival features a lineup of eclectic music stars this year, including B.B. King, Herbie Hancock, Black Eyed Peas, Alice Cooper, Steve Winwood, Lily Allen, Wyclef Jean, Marianne Faithfull and Grace Jones.
