In Valencia, Dionysos celebrates his thirty-year career on the stage of the “Sur le Champ” festival

The French rock band from Valencia reunited Friday evening with the audience that saw them born. A free concert that is part of a 2024 tour dedicated to this anniversary.

Dionysos is touring festivals this summer. So, quite naturally, the band stopped in the city where its original members gave their first concert. At the end of 1993, four high school friends created the band. Mathias Malzieu, who would become its charismatic leader, Eric Serra-Tosio (aka Rico), Michaël Ponton (aka Miki Biky) and Guillaume Garidel (aka Guillermo) are the founders. They perform in the bars of Valencia.

In 1996, they released their first album, which was broadcast on local radio stations. The group began to make a name for itself. In 1997, Elisabeth Ferrer, known as Babeth, joined Dionysos as a violinist and singer. Their third album, Haïku (1999), brought the group notoriety among rock fans.

It was in 2002 that mainstream success arrived with Song for Jedi, the group’s first hit. A flagship title which of course was one of the unconditional hits of the 30th anniversary tour. “Jedi is a rallying point that unites generations, people who knew us twenty years ago and who make their children listen to it. We still have just as much fun playing it.” Mathias Malzieu enthuses.

Coming to sing in Valencia is always a homecoming rich in emotion for Dionysos. The group had already come to celebrate its twentieth anniversary. “Ten years ago, we celebrated our twentieth anniversary at Parc Jouvet. It almost turned out to be my last concert. I had a serious illness just after that, but I recovered.” confit Mathias Malzieu. “So, coming back after what I went through, emotionally it’s quite strong” he adds.

On stage, there are only three of them left to share memories of their youth. Guillaume Garidel, the bassist, left the Dionysos adventure in 2015. “It’s good to play in the boys’ city. They’re a lot more nervous than me. They’re really the locals of the stage.” says Babeth amused. Dionysos continues its 30th anniversary tour at the ancient theater of Vienne (Isère) on July 25. Other dates are planned until the end of 2024.