First part of 20 years of Electron in several places

2023-04-26 04:07:06

Festival in Geneva

First part of 20 years of Electron in several places

The electronic festival celebrates its two decades. The event will take over various venues in Geneva from April 27, 2023.

Posted26 avril 2023, 06:07

Daniel Haaksman ft. Malaguëra, to be seen on April 27 at La Gravière.

Electron is a staple of the Swiss electronic landscape. In 2023, it celebrates its 20th anniversary. This anniversary will take place in two stages. The first, from April 27 to May 18, will be played in different places in Geneva. The second, the festival itself, will take place in October.

“Our anniversary comes after a complicated Covid period. Which explains these two parts. During the pandemic, in 2021, we had small events in four parts. In 2022, we had done three. There, we do an Electron in the spring and one in the fall”, begins Jérôme Soudan. For the artistic director of the event, present since the first hour, the fact of being deployed in different places in Geneva (Commun, La Gravière, Pavillon ADC, Alhambra, Grand Théâtre de Genève, L’Industrie, Museum of Art and ‘History, PTR) is a form of homage: “We have been collaborating with some of these places, like PTR, since our beginnings. Artistically, this first part is like an assessment of what we know how to do with an exhibition, contemporary dance, concerts or clubbing. These 20 years are also an opportunity for Jérôme Soudan to deliver his point of view on the evolution of the electronic scene. “Today, electronic sounds are everywhere. We even have synthesized voices in the trains. In 2004, there were few festivals like ours. The styles were less mixed. There was a resistance from rock to electro. It has been democratized partly thanks to the internet, but also because in the meantime, we have all had children!” Laughs the Genevan.

On the program side, this first part could be described as a sweep of electronic music from its beginnings to today. “We have an exhibition (note: until May 7 at the Common) around the history of electronic music. At the Grand Théâtre de Genève, on May 5, we bring Tangerine Dream, precursors of the genre. And we offer a contrast between this group and a young person like Airod, techno DJ protected by Amelie Lens, to be seen on May 6 at L’Industrie. We looked for the balance between the heritage and the new generation, ”says Jérôme Soudan.

2004: Creation of the festival within the Factory and the Zoo
2007-2008: Electron leaves the Factory and invests Palladium, BFM and Artamis. Openness to other disciplines
2009: First sold-out on an evening with 2manydjs at the Palladium, a symbolic milestone is crossed
2011: Thousands of people at the Vernets ice rink to see Diplo, Modeselektor or Miss Kittin
2019: Arrival of Laurent Garnier at Audio in 2019, memorable evening
2020: Cancellation of the festival due to the pandemic
2021: Electron plays out all year round with small events