Paris (AFP)

Pandemic, current confinement and deconfinement to come pose a great uncertainty on the holding of the big current music festivals this summer, from the Vieilles Charrues in July to Rock en Seine at the end of August.

The references of the genre abroad have already set the tone: Coachella, in California, is postponed in October, The Great Escape and Glastonbury will not take place in 2020 in the United Kingdom, while Primavera Sound in Barcelona has folded up at the end of August.

What about the big summer events in France that are We Love Green, Hellfest in June, Eurockéennes, Francofolies, Vieilles Charrues, Main Square, or Lollapalooza in July, or even Rock en Seine, late August-early September?

"It is highly uncertain", exposes for his part to AFP Arnaud Meersseman, at the head of AEG Presents France, which has in its portfolio Rock en Seine.

"Will we have the authorities' agreement for large outdoor gatherings in July and beyond? I am not talking about those in early June, which seem unthinkable, he analyzes. Then, the economic crisis hangs in our face: will people spend 80 to 100 euros on a festival? "

"And then there are the American artists, who are building their European tour in a six-week block: will they come when their number of dates has already reduced with the first cancellations? Without our headliners, the situation becomes untenable, "says Meersseman.

- "Better to say quickly" -

The head of AEG Presents France requests a "clarification" from the public authorities for better "visibility". "Better to say quickly if it is necessary to cancel to avoid a disaster", says AFP Jérôme Tréhorel, director of Vieilles Charrues.

"With a decree or a decree, we enter the force majeure regime, the contracts become null and void, each one takes back his balls and that allows not to incur costs", details Mr. Meersseman.

This framework would avoid turning to insurers with whom "discussions are long and complex", particularly around the interpretation of the pandemic factor. Mr. Tréhorel speaks to him of "arm wrestling" with insurers in perspective.

The Minister of Culture has for the moment created a support unit for the 2020 festivals to "adapt the responses of the State" between those who "already wish to be able to cancel their 2020 edition" and others who "wish to wait until 'evolution of the situation ". This is the case of Nuits de Fourvière who hope to be able to "open", even "on a deferred date, even with a modified program".

Regarding the Vieilles Charrues, Mr. Tréhorel finds it "difficult for him to imagine an authorization for an appointment of more than 70,000 people per day when questions around deconfinement arise". "The big gatherings, festivals or concerts, were the first to close, they could be the last to reopen to hear the speeches of the public authorities", he underlines.

And to point out another parameter: "A festival like ours works with 250 rescuers, a field hospital, but will they be available on our dates?"

- Think about the after -

The Vieilles Charrues are already sold out, but Mr. Tréhorel wonders: "What will be the reaction of the people, those affected personally or those around them? Will they want to party? And the others, what will it be it if a vaccine was not found? "

The Vieilles Charrues are also based on partners and patrons whose activity is currently stopped. "Without them, this edition, even complete, would be in deficit," insists the director.

If AEG has other costumes - turner, producer of shows, etc. - Les Vieilles Charrues are mono-activity, like many other festivals. To perpetuate this type of event, Mr. Tréhorel counts on the State's mechanisms in the event of cancellation, "partial unemployment for induced jobs, loans, exceptional aid" and on provisions "to widen the possibilities of patronage" .

For him, there will inevitably be an after: "it will be necessary to think about the way in which we + buy + the groups (bidding between festivals, note), it will be necessary that everyone plays the game to keep their place and that the public does not offer not by paying more. "

© 2020 AFP