For several weeks now, the people of Mayenne have been impatiently waiting to get out of the vagueness concerning the festival agenda of the department. Due to the coronavirus epidemic, the government imposes strict rules: a gauge set at 5,000 people in seats. Too restrictive measures for the organizers of the Au Foin de la Rue festival: for the organizers, “the programming is not suitable“. It was to be held on July 2 and 3 in Saint-Denis-de-Gastines with Philippe Katherine and Gaël Faye as headliners. After weeks of uncertainties and several meetings with their supervisory minister, Roselyne Bachelot, minister of the culture, the organizers of the Mayenne festival have finally decided to cancel the 2021 edition. “It’s a heartbreak, it’s sad“, reacts François Mareau, the co-president of the association.
Health rules that end up exhausting the organizers
During the last videoconference meetings with the Minister, representatives of the sector have “defended the need for festivals to be able to stand up, for the musical aesthetics they program, for their territory, for their audience, for the volunteers who work, for the entire ecosystem that surrounds them but also for the social bond, the conviviality and the urgent need to LIVE“, explained in a press release this Thursday the members of the board of directors of Au Foin de la Rue.”We do not recognize ourselves in the answers provided by Madame Bachelot!“, they deplore. For the co-president of Au Foin de la Rue, François Mareau,”there are musical styles that do not lend themselves“seated concerts, like rap and electro.”It’s bland, I can’t see people coming to watch a concert without an atmosphere, without knowing if they can eat, drink or even sleep there, it was inconceivable for us to go on this system.“, he regrets.
“It’s deplorable, we had already worked hard on programming”
Since the start of the epidemic, François Mareau, the co-president of the festival, and his colleagues have continued to adapt to the various measures imposed by the government: “We make, undo, redo, propose, compose, recompose, adapt“. He was proud of the programming developed for the 2021 edition, but by dint of adapting the energy of the teams took a hit.”It’s starting to get exhausting for everyone“.
“Say goodbye to our moments of sharing with festival-goers over a beer, the frenzied dances in front of supercharged artists, the smiles displayed, the assembly in conviviality whatever your age or status!”
No question of muting this summer
If the organizers of Au Foin de la Rue have decided to cancel the 2021 edition, they do not want to cut the sound this summer, they are therefore considering other alternatives, such as smaller events. “We have a town that is overflowing with energy, volunteers who are overflowing with energy, so we will succeed in doing something for this summer.“, promises François Mareau.
A financial blow
This is the second time that the organizers have been forced to cancel the summer festivities in Saint-Denis-de-Gastines. However, the festival represents 80% of the operating income of the association Au Foin de la Rue and 70% of their subsidies are conditional on the holding of the festival. “We are currently exchanging with communities to be able to imagine alternative events in our territory during spring and summer.“, assures the board of directors.
The news being very fresh, the decision taken very recently, the terms of repayments have not yet been fixed. They will be in the course of April, “time to manage all budgetary and administrative implications“, says the festival.
–
