“We start from scratch. We do it out of passion. Because music is part of me, of us.” Stéphane Anton and his acolytes are fearless, to say the least.
At a time when the organization of a festival has probably never been so complicated as the costs and other artists’ fees are soaring, the brand new Festenau du Dragon association is embarking on one hell of an adventure.
At the head of the Lou Farniente restaurant in Flayosc, the man has taken it into his head to organize a major musical event: a festival over four evenings, with an enticing programme.
And for that, he surrounded himself… with his entire catering team, ten employees, “all music lovers”. So there’s no need to book your table there from August 17 to 20… the team will have something else on the go.
A project quickly put together
To explain the genesis of the project, Stéphane already evokes a meeting, that with the producer Ludovic Bouziane. “He’s a child from Flayosc who lives in Switzerland, he explains. For his part, he had started a similar festival project in Draguignan last year. But it didn’t happen.”
The two passionate men talk, and, one thing leading to another, the project is relaunched. The producer shares his professional network with Stéphane, and very quickly, things get carried away.
The project relatively tied up, the team met the services of the City of Draguignan who gave their agreement in principle, last March. The two parties then agree on potential dates at Parc Haussmann. And everything is accelerating.
“That’s when we created the Festenau du Dragon association, in April”, a structure dedicated to the organization of this event. After settling a few technical and scenic constraints, an agreement with the City of Draguignan has just been signed. Let it be said, the festival will indeed take place.
A daring step
The second evening of the event will welcome Boney M, without the historical singer, who died in 2010, but with three of the singers who accompanied him. Photo DR.
Still, the organization of such an event requires a substantial budget, a lot of elbow grease, and all kinds of support.
“One thing leading to another, we had to find local partners, underlines Stéphane. This is the case of the restaurant Le Bistrot which will provide the meals for the artists, or even the Hôtel Provence and the Château Les Crostes for the accommodation part”illustrates Stéphane.
As for the City, it provides logistical support which is not trivial, by providing stage, electricity, water, barriers, tables and chairs, barnums, etc.
However, such an undertaking is no less daring. Because budgetaryly speaking, if the association has won a small grant of 1,000 euros from the Departmental Council, the team essentially commits its own funds.
And obviously, the financial balance is not acquired. “It’s a risk-taking, we assume it… But we try not to put too much pressure on ourselves, otherwise we wouldn’t have started…” calmly tempers Stéphane, well aware of the issues.
With a maximum gauge set at 3,000 people per evening, the association estimates that it can achieve financial balance with 7,000 paying entries, spread over the four evenings. “We are betting in particular on the fact that the month of August is rather calm in terms of musical events.”
Before adding: “Whatever happens, it will be an extraordinary human experience from all points of view. And if from all this comes pleasure and happiness, we will have won everything anyway…”
Reggae, disco, electro, Latin…: four evenings for four atmospheres
The Gipsy Kings by Diego Bailardo, co-founder of the historic group, will also be there. Photo DR.
“We wanted to organize a popular event. A festival with four evenings for four atmospheres, intended to satisfy the widest audience possible”underlines the organizer of the festival
And so it’s done, with a deliberately broad artistic line that will combine international and local training.
Headliners include iconic British reggae band Steel Pulse, formed in Birmingham in the late 70s.
Or the disco pop movement of Boney M, “with the singer Orlando and the three singers who accompanied on stage the voice of Bobby Farrell (singer who died in December 2010, editor’s note)” explains Stéphane Anton.
Also place for the Gipsy Kings, “in one of two official configurations”. Because after the separation of the famous group, at the beginning of the 90s, two distinct formations have since offered stage performances under this identity. In Draguignan, it will be the one carried by the co-founder of the historic group, Diego Bailardo.
Local groups will not be left out either. Like the Montferratois from De La Colline who will distill their coppery and often explosive festive mix, between reggae, ska and French song. Or the roots reggae carried by the enchanting voices of the Marseillaises of Gang Jah Mind.
All in all, about twenty artists are expected over the four days, for a first edition that could well call for others…
Festenau du Dragon – From August 17 to 20 at Parc Haussmann in Draguignan.
Doors open at 5:30 p.m., except Sundays from 12:30 p.m. Full price: 30 euros. Reduced: 16 euros.
Cleaning: 06 38 01 60 59.
Complete program on festenaudragon.fr
Call for volunteers
“Many Dracénois are excited by the event, people are offering to help us. We feel a certain emulation around the project”assures the organizer.
However, the team is looking for volunteers to ensure the smooth running of the event. “We will need about fifty people. For the time being, we are short of arms, for the setting up, the management of the refreshment bar and the catering area, etc.”
If you would like to join the ranks of the volunteer team, you can contact the association at the following email address: [email protected].
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