Near Lyon, rapper Booba set the Woodstower Festival alight with his American-style show

On Thursday night, rapper Booba set the stage alight for the opening of the 2024 edition at Miribel Jonage Park. The festival, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary, continues until September 1st with around fifty artists.

Booba, a 47-year-old rapper, put on a real American-style show on Thursday, August 29, with light effects and flame jets for the opening of the Woodstower Festival. The one who is sometimes nicknamed the Duke of French rap opened the festival to celebrate the 25th anniversary of this music festival that gives pride of place to this musical genre. Festival-goers, all generations combined, came just for him. It is the star’s only concert in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region.

Rare on stage, the rapper with hundreds of millions of streams literally set the audience on fire despite being 20 minutes late, by playing his most famous songs from his ten albums, Lunatic until Ad Vitam aeternam with its hits as a bonus Sweet Life Or Boulbi. In the crowd, the comments are unanimous: “Booba is a legend after allt” ; “He is the rapper, the duke, the boss of French rap” ; “I wanted to see Booba because he is impressive.“

This year, only 6,000 people bought tickets for the first concert. A figure well below expectations for the organizers who are facing financial difficulties. Last year, the region withdrew the subsidies granted to the festival. This year, the Metropolis came to its aid. But the format of the festival had to be reduced.We were on four nights for a few years, we came back on three nights, we had to remove one night, we had to remove a stage, we had to remove part of the free stuff so we’ll see how it all ends,” explains Maxime Noly, the festival director.

Around fifty artists, DJs, comedians, singers, are expected until the end of this festival at the crossroads of techno, reggae and rap. This Saturday evening, Meute, electronic music DJ Nina Kraviz and rapper Ziak share the big stage. Sunday will be dedicated to shows, including “Bien reprenons” and “Plastice Boum Boum”, while workshops on creating resin or flower jewelry, herbal teas and upcycling are organized. Several concerts, including Radio Tutti, João Selva and Des Gens Cool will close this festival. The organizers are counting on 35,000 entries by Sunday.

The Woodstower Festival
Until Sunday, September 1, 2024
Miribel Jonage Park, Lyon metropolitan area