Arenas on stage in Bayonne: “Lomepal, Kendji and Christophe Maé, it’s total spectacle”
The boss of Euterpe, Michel Goudard, who produces Arènes en scène in Bayonne, amputated by several cancellations (Kassav’, Pagny, Bruel, Ivanov), details a tight program around three dates, with rap and variety stars
In the den of the Aviron Bayonnais pelota basque, those in charge of the Festivals insisted on a more muscular anniversary program than in other years, “because we had to mark the occasion of the 90th anniversary, but without major upheavals either, we remain in tradition, with the return of flagship events, such as the Paquito chocolatero or the Tamborrada”, confided Henri Lauqué, president of the festival committee.
1 More musical parties
These Bayonne Festivals will be more musical with a hundred balls, concerts, events and free shows around a central point: the Place de la Liberté. Which will host, for example, the famous group Sinsémilia on Friday evening. “There will be more than a thousand musicians during these five days, reveals Yves Ugalde, deputy in charge of culture, starting with the concert of the Sinfonia Navarra as a prelude, on Sunday July 21. »
In addition to Jazz Spirit – place de la République, where big bands and small formations play their swing – which attracts the most music lovers of the festayres, the most restless can let off steam in place Paul-Bert with the cha-cha reggae mix of El Gato Negro (Thursday) and the Latin salsamuffin sound of Sergent Garcia (Saturday).
2 More sporty parties
“It will be like Oxford-Cambridge! Or almost, but in any case the rowing race for the Holidays promises to be lively on the banks of the Adour between the Aviron Bayonnais and the Société Nautique, on Saturday at the end of the day. “At least it will be a club from Bayonne that will win,” smiled Biarrot Lilou Echeverria, president of the French Federation of Basque pelota, the sport king of the holidays. Federation that will manage the Holiday Masters, an unmissable event from the bare hand to the modern Trinquet.
Bayonne on July 11, the presentation of the Bayonne Festival program in the presence of Jean-René Etchegaray.
Emilie Drouinaud/SOUTHWEST
Still sport, with the arrival of the 21st Foulée du Festayre scheduled for Place de la Liberté, “at the heart of the celebrations”, La Nive en fête (canoe races, descent on paddles) which is expanding with a program from Wednesday morning.
3 Safer parties
The overall cost of the parties for the City is 3.2 million euros. On the rise, “due to constrained expenses, increased costs, such as the budget for showers / WCs for example, and security-related charges”, according to the mayor. Municipal services must agree with state services on the overall issue of security, before communicating on the device chosen next week.
In the meantime, security measures are renewed such as the closure of the city center to vehicles, anti-ram barriers or video protection cameras installed in various places in the city.