Nuziq: a festival that sparkles

The Puppetmastaz caused a sensation on Wednesday. Originality, humor and hip hop rhythms, the group from Brooklyn offers a surprising show to spectators. Armed with puppets, it delivers a musical comedy with a well-crafted scenario leaving room for some improvisation and interaction with the audience. You don’t necessarily understand everything but you let yourself be carried along. You are amazed by an unprecedented show. You wonder: would the concert have the same appeal without the puppets? And then you let yourself go… You fidget, you move, you have fun and you enter the PuppetMastaz universe. For three years, the organizers hoped to invite them to Nice. It was their objective. Just after the concert, you understood this interest better.

Just before, in a different style, more jazzy, soul and sometimes rock, The Bellrays with their singer Lisa Kekaula as master of ceremonies dispense a soft musical flow. Lisa’s voice recalls that of the great jazz divas. It’s listened to, savored, soothing. The instruments, rather rock, add rhythm. The small flaw, because it’s always more objective to find one, is that all the audience was waiting for PuppetMastaz. Those are the constraints of festivals.

Thursday, Roni Size and “his orchestra” blew a very hip hop and rap atmosphere in the purest Anglo-Saxon style onto the stage. Co-founder of the mythical Full Cycle label with his associates DJ Krust, DJ Suv and DJ Die, Roni Size is one of the most well-known and respected producers of the Drum & Bass planet. The live formula he presents this season has proven itself across the Channel. It was explosive at the Théâtre de Verdure.

Friday, change of venue for Nuziq, heading to the lawns of the science faculty, Valrose. A location appropriate for the programming of this evening which could be called a UFO. Between the usual DJs but nonetheless very talented, the audience was able to discover two wild groups: Chevelure and CongopunQ with Mr Bum from Bumcello (also drummer for M, Alain Bashung, ONB) accompanied by Dr Kong, “a prehistoric man” as the audience present nicknamed him, a kind of dada somewhat dancer, somewhat comedian who delivered, to the sound of Cyril Atef, an amazing performance.

Saturday, meeting a few meters further at the sublime Villa Arson, for a totally electro show with Krikor, Ménéo, Catroad and I Become DJ in 3 Days. An electrified atmosphere within the main enclosure of the art school, contrasting with the calm of the erotic psychedelic projections in the gardens. The audience was there for this grand finale which ended around 3:30 in the morning.