Strolling through the streets and stumbling upon a guitarist, dancing to the sound of a fanfare … These pleasures offered by the Fête de la Musique will not be possible this year, to the chagrin of the organizers.
In 2020, just a few days before June 21, the Ministry of Culture published a protocol to regulate the Fête de la Musique. Faced with the lack of preparation, many organizers preferred to give up. Others had set up a very supervised event, reduced to the strict minimum, even virtual concerts. The 2021 edition, which falls next Monday, is heading towards the same scenario.
At the town hall of Albi, a first version of this Music Festival had been organized “well in advance”: “we had planned three evenings with stages and concerts, relates Marie-Pierre Boucabeille, cultural assistant. had planned on something convivial, like before “. In May, faced with the evolution of the health situation, the City changed plans. She decides to build two evenings of live concerts, to watch on the internet, on Saturday and Sunday. On Monday, eight music groups are invited to stroll through the streets. “The idea for the 21 is to avoid static so that nobody stops and thus, not to create a crowd”, explains the elected. However, the town hall has not yet received authorization from the prefecture. “We made a great effort to offer this evening in compliance with health instructions. But that does not depend on us”, adds Marie-Pierre Boucabeille, who “regrets” the silence of the State services, less a week before D-Day.
Questioned, the prefect gives again the orientations issued by the government. Priority is given to health stabilization: “Until June 30, we must avoid the acceleration of contaminations and boost vaccination, in order to then have a peaceful summer. 42% of Tarn people are vaccinated, that’s not much” , considers Catherine Ferrier.
With this in mind, a prefectural decree published on June 11 regulates the distribution of amplified music and concerts. Catherine Ferrier summarizes: “What gives rise to a spontaneous and disorganized gathering is prohibited. A seated concert is authorized, with flow management and an organizer who undertakes to monitor the event.” From this perspective, concerts on the terrace of a bar or restaurant are prohibited because, according to the prefect, likely to create a crowd.
“The wanderings are not possible”, adds the prefect. The protocol of the Ministry of Culture on the Music Festival was sent on June 4 to the organizers by the State services. The document specifies that: “impromptu concerts by musicians, especially amateurs on public roads, will not be authorized so as not to create gatherings.” Which seriously threatens the evening planned by Albi. “We are in discussions, we must find solutions. I do not do that out of wanting to upset them,” says Catherine Ferrier.
For the moment, apart from Albi and Castres, seven other events have been declared in the towns of Gaillac, Carmaux, Rabastens, Mazamet, Dourgne, Lisle-sur-Tarn, Lescure, Florentin and Viane.
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