New attendance record for Festi’neuch! From Thursday to Sunday, the demonstration attracted some 57,000 people to Jeunes-Rives in Neuchâtel. 2,000 more festival-goers were able to be welcomed thanks to the new main stage, the Cargo. This infrastructure is “one of the strong points of this edition”, Antonin Rousseau did not hesitate to declare on Sunday afternoon at the time of the first assessment of the festival. “The concerts are more impressive because the artists can come with their entire stage production,” explains the director and programmer of Festi’neuch, before adding that “the quality of the sound is also there”.
The first assessment is therefore very positive, before the last evening, thanks to the good feedback from festival-goers on the Cargo stage, but also and above all thanks to this historic attendance. “This figure demonstrates a stronger attachment each year from our public to its event here in Jeunes-Rives,” rejoices Antonin Rousseau. Precisely, the Jeunes-Rives and their redevelopment constitute the second strong point of this 2024 edition of the festival. “Even six months ago, everyone was telling us ‘but how are you going to be able to organize a festival’”, laughs the director of Festi’neuch, who is very satisfied to have been able to take on this “sacred challenge”. “.
In terms of safety and health, no major incident has been reported. “Everything took place in a benevolent spirit,” noted Antonin Rousseau.
Choices of artists who pay
The results on the organizational aspect are therefore very good. The one on programming is just as much. “The public present on all stages and for all concerts and an audience who trusts Festi’neuch and who will discover the artists,” notes Antonin Rousseau. For the director and programmer of the festival, one of the great musical moments of this 23rd edition was the concert by Eddy de Pretto, Saturday evening. “Alone on stage, he managed to establish an extremely powerful connection with the audience! » This was felt at the end of the concert, with a long ovation which almost brought the artist to tears. The Frenchman even told Antonin Rousseau that he had been “really impressed by the welcome from the Neuchâtel public”.
This Sunday, the Jeunes-Rives will vibrate one last time this year with “a grand finale”, according to the organizers. The Toulouse brothers Big Flo & Oli will be the last to set foot on the Cargo stage for a concert that promises to be epic. “They have just finished a tour of the major stadiums in France, they will be in full decompression,” rejoices Antonin Rousseau.
The next edition of Festi’neuch will be held from June 12 to 15, 2025. /comm-lgn
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