In Bourgoin-Jallieu (Isère), Ben, 48-year-old DJ, songwriter and performer of the group “Apple Jelly”, deplores that in this year so special for artists, the city festival does not program any local artist or regional for the next edition. Friday, the town hall unveiled the set of the 7th edition of the Belles jours, scheduled for September 10 and 11 at Parc des Lilattes.
We had to send a strong signal to the local scene for Ben
Are announced Boulevard des Airs, Catherine Ringer, LEJ or Lilly Wood and the prick … but no artist in the sector. From where as Ben confides it “a stroke of blood”, “a rant” on his Facebook page. “It did not seem normal to me in this period of pandemic where we are trying to stick together that a municipality does not give a sign in that direction”, he explains.
He cites the examples of major festivals that open with the local scene: Musilac, the Eurockéennes de Belfort or even the Nuits de Fourvière, in Lyon. And he argues that this is a strong signal that could have been sent to a few local artists without any prospect of a concert today. “For me, it is a missed appointment (…) We have possibilities to do it and there, we do not reach out to us.”
For lack of concerts, he makes aperitifs-mix on social networks or even interventions in schools. And the fact that local artists are not invited questions him, not without bitterness: “Aren’t we good enough?”
And add : “people complained a lot at the beginning that this festival was a little” above ground “, that it was placed there. (…) I find that really unfortunate. It is a way of hanging up this festival to its territory. Bringing in local artists means opening the festival earlier, allowing people to come and consume in Bourgoin-Jallieu, to get to know Bourgoin because they come a lot from Lyon, Grenoble. on the city. We have everything to gain there and budget it is not what will be expensive compared to the headliners programmed. The stage is mounted, the technique is there. “
The town hall says it supports local artists
Solicited by France Bleu Isère, Marie-Laure Desforges, cultural assistant, informs that it is for technical reasons that the festival does not open its stage to more artists. Three are scheduled on Friday. Same on Saturday. Artists for the most part who should have performed last year, the 2020 edition having been canceled due to the health situation. “The artists need to make scales. The scales often start from noon (…) There is no place on that stage. We need a second stage”, she says.
She puts forward the many uncertainties linked to the health context which call for caution. Marie-Laure Desforges explains that this second scene as the creation of a third day are part of the wishes of the town hall, but that everything is put on hold.
She refutes the accusation of the City’s lack of support for its artists : “The cultural facilities of Bourgoin-Jallieu or a little wider on the Capi work with these young artists, these young groups by welcoming them in residence. This is the case at the Abattoirs, a scene of contemporary music. And there we are. working with the Abattoirs so that perhaps during the Beautiful Days they can accommodate something in their premises “, while indicating that it is “pending” due to the health context.
If it does take place, she says there will also be stages for local artists during the Fête de la Musique on June 21.
–
