REPORTAGE
No guitar riff, no guttural voice ... For the first time in 15 years, Hellfest, the biggest heavy metal event in France, is not resonating in the Nantes vineyards, canceled because of the coronavirus epidemic. Clisson, where the music festival was to take place this weekend, spent the month of June without the excitement generated by the concerts. And it is not without consequences on the local economy.
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"In normal times, there are 7.400 inhabitants in Clisson", details the mayor of the town, Xavier Bonnet, who explains that with the festival-goers, his city "exceeds 70,000". And the cancellation of Hellfest is not just a demographic consequence. The local economy also takes a hit.
"A loss of 8 to 9 million euros"
"It is a loss of 8 to 9 million euros," says the mayor. There is for example damage in the vineyard, of which the Muscadet is very popular with festival-goers. Sylvain Paquereau, from the Domaine de l'Epinay, claims to sell 15,000 to 17,000 liters of Muscadet at the wine bar every year during this period.
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At the Café du Val de Moine, the shortfall is also significant. Located less than 500 meters from the site, the terrace was almost empty for what was to be the first day of Hellfest. However, Irene the boss, wants to be positive because, after all, "it's not the end of the world, they will come back next year!".
Two editions in 2021?
In 2021, if all goes well, the Hellfest will indeed return to Clisson, with potentially two editions. The affair is certainly far from obvious but Xavier Bonnet, the mayor, nevertheless confirms that the question has been addressed. "You should never say 'no' but you cannot say 'yes' like that either, we must discuss it with the prefecture", he warns.
A certainty in any case, the disappointed of 2020 will be there next year. Less than 1% of seat holders have requested reimbursement.