IN IMAGES, IN PICTURES. Garorock 2024: stages, rides, camping, the festival site is ready to welcome tens of thousands of people

“There, we must have 350 people working on the site.” Manu Poyen, the festival’s general manager, faces the same challenge every year: ensuring that everything is ready for the opening of Garorock’s doors. For four weeks, he has been on site, with a handful of faithful companions who ensure that the attack plan goes smoothly. Two days before the start of the festivities, everything is falling into place. The work is titanic. Aboard his electric cart, festival boss Ludovic Larbodie takes us on a “tour of the Grand Dukes” to discover the new features of this 2024 edition.

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Two days of editing for Calvin Harris’ stage material

The festival boss, excited a few hours before the launch of these “four days of celebration”, slaloms from one pole to another. The Garonne Stage area and the Wonderland Stage are identical to those of last year. New in the air of the Filhole, next to the Ferris wheel, a huge mast with flying chairs has appeared. Sensations guaranteed, but be careful not to have your stomach and throat too full… “We will also have a hot air balloon that will fly over the site, with a DJ set inside, for a handful of winners in a competition organized by Red Bull ” slips the organizer. So much for aerial activities, back on dry land.

On the stage side, the Agen-based company JMSon is responsible for installing all the equipment. A long-standing partnership between the two entities, beyond Lot-et-Garonne solidarity. Lights, screen, the Agen teams are busy making way for the superstar DJ, headlining this edition, Calvin Harris. “It’s going to be something huge, it’s going to take two days of assembly for the equipment,” explains Ludo Larbodie. The Offspring and Shaka Ponk have also planned to come with several trucks, to impress the Garorock spectators.

Eventim, the new owners, expected on site

A Filhole plain which will certainly be teeming with tens of thousands of people every evening, but the organizers expect a slight drop. “Election obliges”, ticket sales two days before the event are down “16%” compared to last year. Ludovic Larbordie would have set up a polling station in the heart of Garorock, but the law prohibits it. There will still be people, from the campsite to the concert area and “wonderland”, the site now resembles what the boss had in mind when he started the adventure, almost 30 years ago.

“A trip to Glastonbury” that started it all, Garorock has gone from “amateur to international” over the years. An unprecedented scale in the South-West, which has caught the eye of entertainment giants. No more Vivendi money – “a good experience” says the creator of the Lot-et-Garonnais festival – this 2024 edition will be the first under the aegis of the Germans from Eventim. “I don’t know them,” he assures, “they’re professionals, the boss comes from artist production.” The meeting will take place this weekend in the boxes overlooking the main stage. And who knows, maybe they will come across the “defeated” from the Top 14 final: “We prepared a Brennus shield, made with chocolatines” smiles Ludovic Larbodie. Everything is ready for four memorable days of celebration.