Outdoor music and concerts: a festival for everyone!
Who says summer usually means seaside holidays (for the lucky ones), sun, heat ... But summer is also the season for festivals and outdoor concerts. As such, France is very well off, with major events all over the country. So, if you want to wow your eyes and your ears, here are the 10 must-see music festivals every year!
Hellfest
Also called Hellfest Summer Open Air, this music festival specializes in extreme music. It takes place in Clisson, in Loire Atlantique. It was first held in 2006 and now attracts over 150 people each year. Hard rock and metal are the hallmarks of this event, associated with other more “anecdotal” styles such as doom metal or hardcore punk.
Practical information :
Hellfest Summer Open Air in Clisson (near Nantes)
- Dates: June 17-19, 2016
- Price: 197,50 euros for a 3-day pass
– Principaux concerts 2016 : Megadeth, Black sabbath et Rammstein[/mks_toggle]
Solidays
Since 1999, the Solidays festival is organized by Solidarité Sida at the Longchamp racecourse in Paris. It brings together 175 festival-goers and more than 000 artists each year. They perform there for a reduced fee or on a voluntary basis and all profits are donated to associations fighting against AIDS.
Practical information :
Solidays at the Hippodrome de Longchamp, Paris
Dates: June 24-26, 2016
Price: Three-day pass from 39 to 89 euros depending on the date of purchase
Main concerts 2016: Louise Attaque, Louane, The Avener
Nights of Fourvière
It is one of the oldest cultural festivals which, since 1946, has skilfully combined theater, music, dance, cinema and themed evenings. Taking place from June to July, it brings together more than 190 spectators at the Fourvière ancient theater in the 5th arrondissement of the city of Lyon.
Practical information :
Nuits de Fourvière at the Ancient Theater of Fouvière in Lyon
Dates: from June 2 to July 31, 2016
Price: between 17 and 48 euros depending on the chosen show
Main concerts 2016: Radiohead, Thomas Dutronc, Michel Polnareff
Eurockéennes de Belfort
Created in 1989, it is one of the biggest rock festivals in France. Located near Belfort, this festival attracts more than 100 people each year because of its quality programming. Each year, more than 000 artists perform at Eurock '. The Malsaucy lake site contributes a lot to its success.
Main Square
Initiated in 2004, the Main Square Festival takes place every year at the Citadel in Arras, the first weekend of July. Marked by an international program, it brings together more than 120 people.
Practical information :
Main Square Festival at the Citadel of Arras
Dates: July 1-3, 2016
Price: 115 euros for the 3-day pass
Principaux concerts 2016 : The Offspring, Iggy Pop, Disclosure
Old Plows Festival
Created in 1992, mixing genres and accessible to all audiences, this festival lasts four days in mid July and takes place in Carhaix-Plouger, in Finistère, Brittany. The Old plows have already gathered more than 262 festival-goers.
Practical information :
Festival des Vieilles Charrues in Carhaix-Plouger (between Quimper and Guingamp)
Dates: July 14-17, 2016
Price: 45 euros for the day, 150 euros for the 4-day pass
Main concerts 2016: Pharrell Williams, Jain, Lana Del Rey, Pixies
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYUZT0R8K0M
Electrobeach
THEElectrobeach Music Festival, electronic music festival, started in 2009. It now welcomes more than 60 people and takes place over three days and three stages (including one on the beach) in Barcarès, in the Pyrénées Orientales.
Practical information :
Electrobeach Music Festival at Barcarés (near Perpignan)
Dates: July 14-16, 2016
Price: 168 euros for the three-day pass
Main concerts 2016: David Guetta, DJ Snake, Nicky Romero
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4ti1iButnE
Musilac
Organized for the first time in 2002 in Aix-les-Bains, the festival Musilac is today the biggest pop-rock event in the entire Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. Its incomparable setting (Esplanade du Lac du Bourget) and its programming contribute to its success: 80 to 000 people flock there each year.
Practical information :
Musilac in Aix-les-Bains (Savoie)
Dates: July 8-10, 2016
Price: 59 euros for the day, 129 euros for the three-day pass
Principaux concerts 2016 : Elton John, les Insus, Lily Wood and the Prick
Francofolies
Created in 1985 in La Rochelle in Charentes Maritimes, this festival takes place every year in mid-July and has already gathered a record attendance of over 130 people. Its success is well established. Now the Francofolies are even exported to Montreal in Quebec, Spa in Belgium or Geneva in Switzerland.
Practical information :
Francofolies de La Rochelle (Charentes Maritimes)
- Dates: July 13 to 17, 2016
- Price: from 35 euros per day
- Main concerts 2016: Mika, Marina Kaye, Bigflo & Oli
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSpep-PuoEA
The Green Cabaret
The festival of Green Cabaret is a complete festival in the sense that it opens up to a wide variety of music ranging from reggae to pop, including rock, funk, electro, metal but also jazz and blues. It has been taking place since 2005 in Charleville Mézières in the Ardennes.
Practical information :
The Cabaret Vert in Charleville Mézières (Ardennes)
- Dates: August 25 to 28, 2016
- Price: 38 euros for the day, 92 euros for the 4-day pass
- Main concerts 2016: Indochine, Mass Hysteria, The Brian Jonneston Massacre
