In Mios, the “Let’s mix our cultures” festival promotes musical unity for all

Last year, for its very first edition, it attracted 3,000 participants. Demand was as good as supply. This year, for its second round, the “Mixons nos cultures” festival has set a capacity of 5,000 people. Still in Mios, on the Pop’Potes site, at Birabeille Park, and still in the same spirit where music rubs shoulders with art, in a festive and family atmosphere.

At the helm, a team of six friends is steering the helm of an event that resembles them. It all started at the beginning of 2023, without any premeditation. “We were tired of running around festivals on weekends, we wanted one close to home,” smiles Damien Signoret, the president of the Crew association, created with his wife Paola around improvisational theater.

Six friends at the helm

He spoke about this idea to the Celtic punk band Les Ramoneurs de menhirs during a concert. “All these bands are ultra-accessible, there are no production companies. In short, we talk about it like that among ourselves and when we saw on the networks that they had planned Mios on their tour, we said to ourselves that we had a few months left to put the festival together!”

Let’s Mix Our Cultures, which owes its name to a refrain from Ruda Salska, was born in reverse. The programming before the festival itself existed.

“We called our friends, Val, Toto, Julien and Marco. We met at Pop’Potes, we called on private sponsorship and we set up the event,” continues Damien. On the bill, the name of the Ramoneurs is enriched by that of Daddy Mory (founder of the group Raggasonic), Pastors of Muppets, Run Over Cats Paradise and even the Matchottes. Punk, ragga, metal, rock, brass band: yes, cultures mix. Added to this is a craft market and tattoo artists. The formula proves to be a winner.

260 groups contact them

“We made a bet on the adhesion of all ages, all social classes, all musical genres. We all have something to contribute with our differences”, assures Damien who refutes the “punk” label that immediately stuck to the festival. At the end of its first edition, no less than 260 punk bands contacted them to come and play this year. “Result, we already have names for next year”, smiles Paola.

Committed to a dynamic of culture for all, the municipality, which, for the past few years, has organized a free pop rock festival during the summer, “Mios en fête”, immediately gave its support to the Crew association.

That being said, what to see this Saturday, September 28? Comedian, humorist and rocker Didier Super, punk poet Bob’s noT Dead, female electro-punk-rap group Les Vulves Assassines, La P’tite Fumée (electronic music), Yaniss Odua (reggae) and Astaffort Mods (hip-hop).

The craft market becomes a creators’ market, new tattoo artists join the festival, the Komono circus participates, the improv theatre is always there and a special children’s corner is offered all afternoon with entertainment.

Participation remains free. Another signature of the festival. “We don’t want to set an entry price, we want it to be accessible to everyone,” insist Damien and Paola.

Let’s Mix Our Cultures Festival: Saturday, September 28 from 2 p.m. at Birabeille Park in Mios.