On the other side of the river, in the shadow of the giant that has become the Festival d’été de Québec, Festivent draws more and more international stars. For its 35th edition, the festival lévisien will continue its ascent in the chess board of the great events in welcoming Vance Joy, Milky Chance and Good Charlotte. Initiated in 2009, this shift towards a programming of international calibre, is the work of the general manager Sebastien Huot. Appointed grand patron of the Festivent in 2003, when he was aged only 22 years, Huot has managed to attract The Offspring, Three Doors Down, Snoop Dogg, Sean Paul and many others at Saint-Jean-Chrysostome.
A few days before the kick-off of Festivent, The Journal has discussed with Huot’s past, present and future of the event.
Who were the stars of the Festivent in 2003 when you came in position ?
“It was very Québécois. It could look like the Respectable, Martin Deschamps, Marie-Chantal Toupin. At the time, the operating budget total was between $ 400,000 and $ 450,000. It was minimalist. Today, we are at $ 3.5 million. “
From the outset, is this what you wanted Festivent turns to the international stars ?
“We had no choice. In time, we managed the Agora with Genex (Huot is a former Genex) and we had a lot of bands international. So we had contacts to have artists more hot and more rock. It is at this time that we put the pedal to the bottom. “
Do you have a particular approach in programming ? Do you try to have different styles ?
“No, because it is so hard to sign bands, to have the fair price. I can not give too much money to an artist to Festivent. I always try to have a great name, public to drain. Vance Joy spends a lot to WKND, but this is not a well-known artist in the general public. Good Charlotte and Milky Chance, this is perfect. Sublime with Rome ? People wonder what is it. Sublime is known, but Sublime with Rome, no, not really. “
You present this year, The Australian Pink Floyd Show. Is this still relevant for Festivent have groups tributes ?
“No, but for Australian Pink Floyd Show, yes. When you have a tribute of this quality that fills arenas, I’m willing to make an exception. “
Is it that the neighbourhood of the summer Festival has an impact on an event as Festivent ?
“At the half, I would say. I feel I have the stage through the FEQ did not. There is probably not an artist of the plains of Abraham that I could afford. At the parc de la Francophonie, they are sold out of the artists with whom I could attract more people to Festivent. But I’ve never had a problem with the FEQ. It does not offer the same thing. “
You share Vance Joy and Milky Chance with the Osheaga festival of Montreal. Is it that it can become a map in your game ?
“(Hesitation) I had a lot of discussions with evenko in the last few months. It’s not bad, all I can say. If we can talk about it and make it an ally, so much the better. I will never have the first two rows of their shows, but they have artists that I like. “
What kind of future see you for Festivent ?
“For the past few years, we want shows that are going to make sure that we will have between 30 000 and 35 000 people on the site each evening. In the past year, we made it to The Offspring. “
When you will have your 30 000 each evening, so you could be more aggressive in the programming ?
“Yes, but I don’t want to do it at the expense of people who will not be able to enter the site. If I sell too many passports (Festivent sells about 50 000) and that I need to close on a Saturday night is not cool. Even with a bigger band, I will not be able to return more of the world, I will not sell more passports, no more beer during the show. So how could I make money ? “
The development of Festivent not happen then not its second stage ?
“I would love to leave my site and go somewhere else. Cross the small stage in a parking lot and put 10 000 people, it can be a goal that is enviable. “
The six headliners Festivent 2017
1 August : Vance Joy
A return to the region for the singer in australia, two years after a first contact is successful with the public of Quebec summer Festival.
First part : Foreign Diplomats
2 August : Milky Chance
As Vance Joy, the German group had overwhelmed the park of la Francophonie, two years ago, at the summer Festival.
First part : Matt Holubowski
August 3 : The Australian Pink Floyd Show
The groups of tributes to Pink Floyd can be counted by the dozens, but few can boast the level of quality of this australian group.
Opening act : SHANE MURPHY
August 4 : Good Charlotte
After a break of a few years, the group’s pop-punk has finally picked up the necklace and presented a new album, Youth Authority, in 2016.
First part : Punchline 13
August 5 : The Voice 5
Led by the winner Ludovick Bourgeois, the eight semi-finalists from the latest edition of the popular singing competition, VAT are going to meet their new fans.
First part : Tremblay
6 August : Sublime with Rome
Thanks to Rome Ramirez, the songs of the band Sublime to continue to cohabit with the original documents produced by the trio from california.