The festival season opens against the omnipotence of the Olympic Games

The Printemps de Bourges opens with music a festival season in France marked this year by the concomitance of the Olympic Games, a global event voracious in mobilized law enforcement.

In October 2022, the curtain was not sure of rising in good weather in 2024. The Minister of the Interior, Gérald Darmanin, had cast a chill at the time by mentioning cultural events “cancelled or postponed” this summer 2024. The reason? Ensure the security of the Olympic Games (July 26 to August 11), but also that of the passing of the Olympic flame (from May 8) and the Paralympic Games (from August 28 to September 8). From the end of 2022, a framework has been defined and major musical festivals, such as Vieilles Charrues (July 11-14) or Rock en Seine (August 21-25), have been protected. As well as blockbusters for other disciplines, such as Cannes for cinema (May 14-25) or Avignon for theater (June 29-July 21).

In current music, among the big events, only the Lollapalooza Paris, in collision with the opening ceremony, will not take place this summer. Other parameters are at play. Thus, the large concert venues (Stade de France, Paris La Défense Arena or even Bercy) are requisitioned for the Olympics. International artists, Coldplay and Justin Timberlake, are skipping the Paris region, without rescheduling their arrival until later.

“Encrypted returns”

The Ekhoscenes union (formerly Prodiss), the voice of private performing arts entrepreneurs, estimates the loss of ticketing revenue for show producers at 150 million euros. Coming back to festivals, while the context is already “rising costs”the organizers face the “extremely powerful competition from the Olympics” which creates “tensions” in terms of “materials, service providers, labor”, describes Malika Séguineau, general director of Ekhoscenes. Without forgetting, according to this manager, the “brand partnerships” traditionalists preferring to bet this summer on the Olympic Games.

Ekhoscenes has not yet “encrypted returns” on this point and awaits his “assessment in the fall, hoping that there is not too much damage”, explains Malika Séguineau. The opening ceremony of the Games, with the Seine as a backdrop, also raises a question for certain places, such as Petit Bain, a Parisian concert hall on a barge. “We are between despair and vehemence, still not settled on the exact conditions of access, less than 100 days from the ceremony, while we were waiting for details for the summer of 2023”, laments Laurent Decès.

Double uncertainty

This operator is faced with a double uncertainty. “First, the programming. On July 16-17-18, I have options for concerts or clubbing on stand-by, without knowing if it will be able to take place”, begins the one who is also leader of the SMA (Syndicate of Current Music). “And for our quayside terrace, up to 300 people possible, we have to recruit staff and seasonal workers need stable plans. And, there, we don’t know if we will be able to work from July 18 to 26. This staff will go to other establishments”, he continues.

Furthermore, Ekhoscenes and the SMA remain vigilant for festivals “less visible in communication than blockbusters, those with more modest gauges”, as Malika Séguineau says. These meetings “are difficult to achieve a firm position from the prefecture concerned” with regard to their conduct, explains the manager, “which is unprecedented”.

“Officially, these festivals are being held, but some feel like a sword of Damocles, because they are told: You have the authorizations, unless security conditions force us to review them,” observes Stéphane Krasniewski, in charge of festivals at the SMA.