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Déferlantes Opening Night in Le Barcarès
10th July 2024 - 13th July 2024
Déferlantes Opening Night….with Laurianne Rawcliffe
Opening night! Words that ignite excitement, anticipation and a sense of curiosity. Will it be busy? Will the line- up be any good? Will the organisation hold up?
Well, it was brilliant. The vibe was fun, the organisation was great and the bands were excellent! There were some (most…) artists I had never heard of, but I am clearly in the minority. Crowds of mixed ages were singing along to the lyrics, dancing and smiling away. It was very busy (the car parks cater for 12 000 and were pretty much full when I arrived at 19h30). But the grounds are spacious, so there are areas that are not crowded at all and there are a few areas to chill: a sandy area at the front of the festival and access to the beach behind the grounded Lydia, the 1930s steam cruise liner that gives its name to the beach itself.
I would recommend giving yourself plenty of time to get there, as finding a space to park took me a good 45 min. But then I arrived at the busiest time… There is a car park for disabled badge holders, though it is still a good 10-minute walk to the entrance. There are also ‘navettes’ from the station and a few other locations. They looked packed but very frequent and I would definitely consider taking one of them if I didn’t live so close to Le Barcarès. They are also arranging their own car sharing platform. It’s all very cleverly put together. All the info is on their WEBSITE
Once inside, you can’t use money. You need to use a QR coded bracelet that you can top up at their ‘banks’. This can also be done online, which will save you queuing time. Any money not spent can be refunded at the end of the festival (set yourself a reminder). You can get chips for a couple of euros, burgers for 10 and there is a decent variety of food options in the huge dedicated area.
Quick tip about toilets – ladies I’m talking to you – the ones closest to the entrance were quick enough as you can push through the crowd to get to the row at the back. Each row of portacabins (mine was very clean and did not smell – update on the weekend!) has its own mini queue that is much faster. (You won’t find THESE but keep an eye out at other musical venues)
The set up changed slightly this year, with a double main stage. This allowed the techies to do the change-over on one side, while another band was playing on the other side, but I have to say that I find it distracts a little from the musicians that are actually performing. Otherwise, the set up and bands were fantastic. The performers were engaged, the crowd was responsive without being rowdy, there were even a few kids there with protective headphones on. The VIP area is on the Lydia boat and the Privilege area is along a raised section above the different branded bars. There are stalls to play, drink, eat, learn, be painted in glitter and even to get a tattoo…
All in all, it’s a great festival, that ticks many boxes. By leaving a little before the main band finished their set (don’t judge me) I was able to exit before the crowd and avoid being stuck in any traffic – which I did once before and it was terrible as there is only one way out…
The Déferlantes have definitely found their feet in terms of organisation and it is understandable that the festival has gained so much in popularity, especially as the P-O don’t have many other options for attending live pop rock performances of contemporary music. I’ll be back again for closing night and let you know more. Rock on!
The site
After over 10 years at Château Valmy in Argelès sur Mer, and a year at Château d’Aubiry, in Céret, the festival’s current venue, Le Lydia, is probably best known for the region’s biggest Christmas market.
But because the site complies with safety standards and the technical requirements of the artists, has large parking areas, a shady campsite nearby, sufficient accommodation facilities, and a venue that is large enough and suited to welcoming the public, it’s also the perfect spot for a summer festival too!
We think last year’s party people would agree…
Line up
More details here.
