Solidays
| Solidays | |
|---|---|
 Main stage of the 2013 edition | |
| Dates | Mid-June |
| Location(s) | Longchamp Racecourse, Paris, France |
| Years active | 1999 – present |
| Founders | Luc Barruet |
| Website | www |
Solidays is a French annual music festival that takes place at the Longchamp Racecourse in Paris at the end of June. Organised by Solidarité sida (a French HIV/AIDS awareness group for youth), the event brings together more than 150 artists and 170 000 festival-goers for three days (Friday, Saturday and Sunday). The proceeds from the festival are donated to organisations fighting against AIDS, especially for those focusing on the African continent.
The festival has been held since 1999. The performers involved in Solidays accept a reduced fee or appear for free as a sign of their solidarity.[1] The 2013 edition raised over 2 million euros.[2] The festival also features bungee jumping in addition to the music.[3]
Over the years, many French and foreign artists have appeared at Solidays, including DJ Snake, Bigflo & Oli, Kungs, Mac Miller, Vanessa Paradis, M83, Synapson, Paul Kalkbrenner, Bénabar, Madeon, Shaka Ponk, David Guetta, Kool & the Gang, Stromae, Louis Bertignac, Lily Allen, Louise Attaque, Grand Corps Malade, Earth, Wind & Fire and Diplo.
2020 edition and COVID-19 pandemic
On 13 April 2020, the festival announced on its website that the 2020 edition of the festival would be cancelled because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.[4] Luc Barruet, the founder of the festival, asked festival goers not to ask for reimbursement because he said that the cancellation was putting the festival in danger.[5]
References
- ^ «Hé Solidays ! On va le tuer ce virus ?», Le Figaro (in French), 26/6/2011.
- ^ «Solidays 2013, record battu», Le Figaro (in French), 1/7/2013.
- ^ "Saut à l'élastique aux Solidays" (in French).
- ^ "Sous le choc". solidays.org. 2020-04-13. Retrieved 2020-04-13.
La décision d'annuler le festival est l'une des plus difficiles que nous ayons eue à prendre. Elle plonge Solidarité Sida dans une réalité brutale. 3 millions d'euros de résultat attendus vont disparaître. Dès lors, comment financer les nombreux programmes d'aide aux malades et de prévention menés ou soutenus grâce à Solidays ?
- ^ "Le festival Solidays 2020 n'aura pas lieu : le fondateur Luc Barruet appelle à ne pas se faire rembourser sa place". France Info. 2020-04-13. Retrieved 2020-04-13.
Une procédure de remboursement va être mise en place pour ceux qui le souhaitent. Mais "nous demandons à ceux qui le peuvent de ne pas solliciter le remboursement des billets déjà achetés. Ils ne seront pas valables pour une édition prochaine", indique Luc Barruet.
