The Techno Parade celebrates its 25th anniversary on Saturday September 23 in Paris. Route, schedules, demands, after party: Franceinfo Culture takes stock, with details from the president of Technopol who organizes the event.
For 25 years now, the Techno Parade has been taking place every year (except during the pandemic) in Paris, a French showcase for electronic music. Born in 1998, based on the model of the Love Parade in Berlin, under the leadership of the Minister of Culture at the time Jack Lang, the first Techno Parade concluded with a giant rave party with 200,000 people at Place de la Nation. Saturday September 23, the organizers hope to attract 400,000 people, including a large audience from abroad, for this historic edition which marks 25 years of fight for the preservation of electronic music culture. No slogan or official sponsor this time: “the only subject is the 25 years“, underlines Tommy Vaudecranne, the president of Technopol, the association organizing the event.
A Techno Parade for whom and why?
The Techno Parade is “one of the lungs to experience a moment of free celebration, free, open to all, without discrimination of age, social origin or other, with respect for each other”, summarizes Tommy Vaudecranne, president of Technopol. “I think it’s important today that these spaces of freedom exist so that people can access culture without talking about money, especially at the moment with questions of inflation.” The best gift for 25th birthday? “Let the weather be nice”hopes Tommy Vaudecranne, and “see the smile on the faces of the people dancing behind the floats. It’s a moment of sharing and the more there are, the better..”
What demands?
Since its creation, the Techno Parade has defended techno culture and claimed “access to a freer party“. This year again, she calls for better consideration in France of electronic music and fair treatment for actresses and actors of electronic music from the authorities and institutions. She also calls for the creation of reception areas adapted for electronic music events and festivals and the adaptation of the “sound decree” to the specificities of this music, and in particular certain frequencies specific to this movement.
What is the 2023 route?
Meet on Saturday at noon at Place de la Bastille for 3 hours of dancefloor, then departure of the procession at 3 p.m. towards Place de la République via Boulevard Beaumarchais, Boulevard des Filles du Calvaire and Boulevard du Temple. The route then takes Boulevard Voltaire towards Place de la Nation where the arrival is scheduled for early evening with the sound cutting out at 7 p.m. sharp.
Who are the main floats and DJs?
Sixteen floats (compared to around ten in normal times) on which dozens of DJs will take turns are planning to roam the streets of the capital to add atmosphere to this 25e birthday. We note in particular the float of Heretik System, pillar of the underground scene and historic player of the free party, that of the southern festival Family Piknik, which also organizes the after party of the Techno Parade this year, but also that of the collective artists from Toulouse Plein Phare, from the Lyon evening NOGENDER and that of Projet44 which brings together several collectives launched by a Nantes club.
As for DJs, it’s difficult to name the hundred or so artists announced, often underground or under fanciful pseudonyms, but we nevertheless note Popof (on the Heretik System tank), Maud Geffray, winner of the best soundtrack for Split at the Séries Mania festival in B2B with RAG, DJ and artistic director of the queer and feminist collective Barbi(e)turix (on the Sacem x Adami float), Tom Pooks and Kiko (on the Family Piknik float) or even S3A (on the float Haribo).
How much does a tank cost?
We asked the question to the president of Technopol. “Everyone mobilizes as best they can. It all depends on whether you have the equipment or not. Some go out on their own and make their tank themselves for a fairly low price by finding a friend who has a truck, another who has sound., explains Tommy Vaudecranne. “And then there are those who want to have it built, and there it costs around 10,000 to 20,000 euros, or even more for certain brands who want something more sophisticated. Others achieve this by crowdfunding. Today, this is clearly a big budget for a medium-sized organization that plans events. What’s good is that every year we have a renewal, with new collectives joining us. For their part, this allows them to gain visibility while showing that they are becoming professional.”
Where does the after party take place?
“This year we have a beautiful closing event which takes place on Saturday and Sunday at Parc de La Villette, a magnificent place under the ring road which can accommodate 3,500 people., welcomes the president of Technopol. “These two days of celebration are organized by the Family Piknik festival. It’s something we haven’t had for a while and we’re happy to partner with a festival from the south of France.”. Saturday September 23 from 6 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. and Sunday 24 from 2 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. around fifteen DJs will take turns on the Périphérique decks. Detailed program, prices and tickets here.