As the 9th occasion of the Hop Pop Hop festival has just ended, it's time for me to look back at the highlights.
This is the second time I have participated as a volunteer in this beautiful urban music festival. Last year, I had the chance to interview the folk music band Back and Forth in order to write an article for this blog. This year, I was commissioned to take pictures and videos reflecting the atmosphere of the festival.
The volunteer's kit : wristbands, a T-shirt and the festival's programme.
When I first laid hands on the programme, I have to be honest: I didn't know any of the guest artists. And that's the whole point of this festival: to highlight emerging bands or singers from different backgrounds, whether musically or geographically speaking.
If I had to describe this occasion in a few words, I would say: lighting effects, volunteers, international, local, gems, joy and surprises.
The technicians did a superb job to ensure that each concert was not only musically but also a visually impressive.
At Salle Barrault and at The Institut.
The good thing about taking photos is that you can go from site to site. Thus, I had the joy of talking with volunteers present at the bars or at the reception. I also appreciated the different stands, such as the Family Planning one, the glitter dust make-up with Yep's, the screen printing workshop with Atelier Pomme, the flipbook of the city of Orléans...
The festival is also about the joy of the festival-goers. Some of them stood out for their outfit.
The artists invited to this edition were of a high quality...! It was a real cultural and geographical journey. We almost went around the world and the musical genres. It was impossible not to have a good time. There was something for everyone.
Also, the advantage of not knowing the bands is that you don't have expectations. It's the best way to be surprised, and surprised, I was !
Here are the bands that I loved to see perform.
At the Théâtre d'Orléans, on the Barrault stage :
Uto : a totally captivating electro-pop band because of its look, its gestures and its strange but vibrant music !
Double Vitrage : techno band from the region of Tours. On that stage, it was my favourite because of the lighting effects, the intensity of the music and the undisguised pleasure of the artists to do what they love.
On the left: Uto. On the right: Double Vitrage.
At Campo Santo :
Bøl : a band from Toulouse who, through their music, shares a little of their southern warmth thanks to their jazzy-rock style.
Karkwa : a pop-rock band from Quebec. I loved the interactions with the audience, their humour and their musical universe.
Ibibio Sound Machine : a London-based band with African influences. They made the spectators dance !
Eesah Yasuke : a rap singer who touched me through her words and gestures. Her dancer, translating her words into sign language, was absolutely sublime.
Johnny Jane : a pop singer from Orléans. I was charmed by his declaration of love to the city of Orléans. Inevitably.
Bøm; Karkwa, Ibibio Sound Machine, Eesah Yasuke; Johnny Jane
At the Institut :
Augusta : a French-English folk singer. Magnificent in her sincerity and simplicity.
Geysir : a pop band from Vendôme. Pure vocals accompanied with a synth: a true moment of grace.
The singer Augusta.
The Hôtel Dupanloup's courtyard has also hosted a few shows. Thus, I had the pleasure of hearing Soma Exe, a singer from Orléans whom I already knew, and the Astrovox choir, composed of some volunteers from the Astrolabe.
The Hôtel Dupanloup's courtyard - Soma Exe - Astrovox.
Can't wait for the 10th occasion !
La Nouvelle-Orléanaise
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