NOW that’s what I call real underground music! Bands, soloists and fans alike all have to take to the water when playing gigs on a lake deep underneath the Swiss Alps.

Gigs at the Lac Souterrain de St-Léonard are unlike any other. Artists perform on a boat which serves as a stage while members of the audience are floating on other boats only a few metres away.

Shows staged on the lake have ranged from singer-songwriters to blues-rock bands, and from classical string quartets to dance DJs, with a full programme of concerts already planned this year.

They take advantage of the cavern’s exceptional acoustics, and the magical atmosphere that the spectacular surrounds conjure up. Some shows are by candlelight, others with club or concert lighting.

This year, the venue – the largest navigable underground lake in Europe –  is celebrating its 75th anniversary, having first opened to the public in 1949, although its existence had long been known to locals.

Vineyard workers used to cool their bottles of wine in the cold water but nobody ventured into its depths until 1943, when Jean-Jacques Pittard and Jean Della Santa used an inflatable boat to enter the cave.

Today, the cave is evocatively illuminated and easy to access, with guided boat tours on offer throughout the year. Situated between Sion and Sierre, it’s easily reached by road or train.

You can check out upcoming gigs at the attraction website. Advance booking for tours and events is essential. For travel, tourism and accommodation advice head over to the MySwitzerland site.