The biggest music festival in Hauts-de-France was resolutely oriented towards young people, with a good dose of hip-hop and electro, ten years ago. The Arrageois event, however, has never abandoned the rock, folk and chanson territories. Saturday night, Vald shook up the youth and -M- brought the generations together. It’s a clever dose.

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The literate rock of Fire! Chatterton then the song of a P.R2B still unknown to the general public, followed by the colorful party of Marcel and his Orchestra, planetary hits by Sting and finally rap grenades from the Niska/Gazo/Tiakola set. All this in a few hours on Friday evening.
Few festivals practice the frenzied eclecticism that marks the mark of main square festival (MSF) for several years. It is not the Breton Karen, 40, crossed yesterday in front of Vald, which will say the opposite. “
I take my vacation every year at Main Square. In Brittany, I don’t find such eclectic festivals. She stays with her cousin Ludivine, 20 years old. ” We introduce each other to groups. She rather hip-hop, me rock, song… »
Cementing the generations, attracting young people without repelling their parents, arousing the curiosity of this colorful crowd: this is the precarious equation that the director of Main Square, Armel Campagna, tries to renew each year. ” I need the general public link: getting 40,000 people to come a day is a challenge! But I want it to remain a place where you discover music. There has to be folk, hip-hop, electro… I want us to remain representatives of music with a capital M, in its diversity. »
Ten years ago, the MSF saw itself as a cousin of the Belgian raouts that pile up international rock and electro stars. ” But we don’t have this culture in France.
» After the 2012 edition, the boat was taking on water. ” It was too specialized. We thought we were folding the festival. Mr. Campagna listened to young people.
Without giving it all up either. ” I won’t just do hip hop or electro even if on paper it might be easier. MSF’s DNA also includes stars like Sting, indie rock legends like Pixies [qui a dû annuler cette année à cause du Covid]. I want it to remain a place where you discover music. In Arras, the discoveries are often “dinosaurs” that Generation Z (born after 2000) knew nothing about. ” I want them to take a spanking on the quality of the show, because these bands are very strong! »
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