Nice Premium: On May 25 and 26, the 5th edition of Les Enfants du Rock will take place at the Théâtre de Verdure featuring Louis Bertignac and Matmatah as headliners. Can you explain to Nice-Premium how you convince these artists to come and participate in a festival in Nice?
Patrice Bouchon: Actually, we don’t contact the artist directly. We call their representative: producer or manager. So, we pick up the phone and use our best voice to tell them that we would like to host their artist in Nice. In both cases here, Bertignac and Matmatah, the productions were interested. The “negotiations” for Matmatah started in mid-August 2006, and for Bertignac in mid-February 2007.
Originally, the festival was supposed to last just one day, with MATMATAH as the headliner. BERTIGNAC was added to the lineup later.
NP: How did Les Enfants du Rock start in Nice? How did this idea come about and what is the ambition of such a festival?
PB: Initially, Les Enfants du Rock is a traveling concept. We gather two or three local bands to perform in different venues. After starting in bars in Nice and Monaco in August 2006, Les Enfants du Rock moved to the stage of Nikaïa 700 (in November 2006 and March 2007). To climb another level, a larger venue was needed. And consequently, artists capable of attracting much more people were needed. The choice of Théâtre de Verdure imposed itself naturally. It is truly a legendary venue, which I am particularly fond of.
The ambition of this festival is to become one of the rock events of the spring; and to give regional bands the opportunity to perform in the opening act for headliners. Few of them have the chance to play with renowned artists, because in most cases, the production of the “headliner” bands imposes its own opening act, and does not want to bother with local opening acts (in the most pejorative sense possible). How many bands have wanted to open for The Strokes or Motorhead without success.
NP: Maupity, Chinaski, Amadéus Tappioka, bands from Nice, will be present at Les Enfants du Rock 5. Tell us about them and how is the rock scene in Nice doing? Is it false to say that listening to these three bands, they have nothing to envy musically to nationally known groups?
PB: Precisely, the rock scene in Nice is doing well, but does not have many opportunities to play in this type of setup.
Chinaski, Maupity, and Amadeus Tappioka are part of the closed circle of “good local bands”. They perform often, are used to this type of stages. Each of them has albums or maxis, and some of them have traveled hundreds of kilometers to showcase their music across the country. In short, by booking them, I know they won’t disappoint the audience. Musically, the only thing they might envy from nationally known groups is the marketing budget. Because nowadays, music is made with hundreds of thousands of euros. The most famous aren’t necessarily the best…
NP: What are your wishes for Les Enfants du Rock 5? Can you reveal any secrets about Les Enfants du Rock 6?
PB: Make sure that rock attracts all audiences. Some people will come to listen to “Cendrillon”, others to mosh on “Lambe An Dro”, and yet others to support their little local band. It doesn’t matter, the main thing is that they are all there at the same time. As for Les Enfants du Rock 6… It’s in preparation with the same principle: regional bands and a headliner. Logically, it should take place at the Théâtre de Verdure, in May 2008…
Links:
[Les Enfants du Rock](https://www.enfantsdurock.com/)
[Matmatah](https://www.matmatah.net/)
[Louis Bertignac](https://www.bertignac.com/)
Chinaski
Maupity
Amadeus Tappioka
