From the height of her 9 years, Olivia would not miss the Rio Loco festival for the world, which is played at her home in the pink city! “I like being in nature, there is grass and you can look at the water and the Pont Neuf when you are there”, she says. On the banks of the Garonne, we also stroll along the Pont St-Pierre to reach the 6-hectare park of the meadow of filters, where this very family event is in full swing every year.
Since its creation in 1995, the Rio Loco festival has given pride of place to current music from here and elsewhere. “I like going there because we can dance, continues Louise. I saw the singer Ayo. It was too good and I was able to take a picture with her!”
Cultural diversity as a standard, the Rio Loco festival juggles between live performances, visual arts and concerts. For this 27th edition, Virginie Choquart, its director, has invited around fifty artists.
“Last year, she explains, we were very limited because of the restrictions, we only had two stages. This year, it’s back to normal, there are four large stages arranged in this meadow, for example the large Pont Neuf stage.
Among the headliners: the funk star Keziah Jones and the Danish pearl Agnès Obel who distils her jazzy pop-folk. “Agnès Obel reveals an aerial simplicity, moments of dream, exploration, very intimate transport. This is the first time she has come to the festival and I think it will be a moment of grace.”
The Toulouse duo, Cats on Trees, will also perform there for the first time. Also expected is the Franco-Portuguese Lucie Antunes, creator of electro-acoustic shows. Because this edition offers a place of choice to Portuguese artists and electro.
“We called on scenographers to create a fairly intimate atmosphere that lends itself to partying, dancing with a proximity to the DJs to be able to let go, we really need it!” So let’s go crazy at Rio Loco!
And like every year, the event offers a program dedicated to young audiences with circus shows and installations for the little ones. Moreover, the entrance is free for children under 12 years old. The entry pass costs 15 to 35 euros (presale, 5-day pass at 30 euros).
Reservations on the site rio-loco.org