A look back at the latest edition of the Carcassonne Festival, which saw several generations of groups, including Greta Van Fleet.
Here again, the weather will have played spoilsport. So, when the big blue and the southern heat of good quality impose themselves again halfway through this 2024 edition, the smiles become as if by ricochet more radiant on the faces of the organizers and members of the staff. The Carcassonne festival is one of those that claim absolute eclecticism, in the arena of the Jean-Deschamps theater, at one end of the medieval city, all sorts of audiences come to greet the presence – for this year's edition – of -M- accompanied by Thibault Cauvin, of a Status Quo in a double bill with The Stranglers, of a Shaka Ponk preceding Bigflo et Oli by a day, before IAM, Ludovico Einaudi, Scorpions, Grand Corps Malade, Mika, Louise Attaque, Toto, Sting and Patrick Bruel follow in their footsteps!
Breaking the voice could have been on the agenda, as the one in charge of shouting has not been exempt from small worries on that side, despite his relatively young age (28 years old). Fortunately for them, Josh Kiszka and his brothers – not to mention their school friend, Danny Wagner – will not have to worry about such a setback tonight. Greta Van Fleet is in the place, to the great anticipation of the 3,000 spectators of a sold-out evening. Clearly, the former kids from Frankenmuth, Michigan, have reached a milestone. Or even several. It is now for them that a good part of the audience moves, singing verses and choruses generously. Forgotten the curiosity effect in the mode of a Zeppelinian fairground phenomenon? Significantly attenuated in any case.
Cause and effect relationship or not, coupled with the incessant tours of recent years, Greta Van Fleet has gained in ease. And if it still often overdoes it in the flamboyance of its hard rock drifting happily towards a progressive rock still sometimes leaving the feeling of a nice shambles, it will not have been only the female fans in the front rows rewarded with a bouquet of flowers who will have largely found their account there. Failing to be always bloody, Greta Van Fleet can proudly raise its standard. For good or for bad, it is to no one other than itself that it will now be compared…
Take a tour of this summer’s festivals in our issue 165, available on newsstands and via our online store.
