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The metal of Iron Maiden headlining, a focus on the Caribbean rhythms and the disputed presence of the North Irish group Kneecap: the Belfort Eurocks are opening this Thursday, July 3 for four intense days of concerts.

“We are approaching a big crowd this year with between 115,000 and 120,000 tickets sold, which is very good in the general climate of major festivals”Savor Jean-Paul Roland, director of the festival. Last year, 127,500 spectators came to see David Guetta and Co during the 34th edition.

And for the 35th, once is not custom, the headliner will not be on stage at the end Sunday evening, but as soon as the opening on Thursday, with the legendary British group Iron Maiden.

We are the only festival in France to have them, and there are not many festivals in their world tour. The fact that they come to the Eurocks is still a recognition. We made a big blow.

Jean Paul Roland, director of the Eurockéennes de Belfort

For the Belfortain festival, hosting this scenic war machine represents an unprecedented technical challenge: “We will have the biggest screen we have never had! Something even more than Daft Punk or Depeche Mode”promises the director. “Their strength is to be trad-modern with elements of show in hyper realism”.

“This is the first time that there have been technicians who have arrived on Tuesday for a show on Thursday”notes the director of the festival, highlighting the cost of these 50 additional technicians.

But in general, faced with the increase in costs – stamps, insurance -, the Eurockéennes hold good: “We have so far succeeded in having the means of our ambitions. Aid from communities have not dropped, especially that of the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region”.

Among the fifty concerts, the Eurocks offer as every year cultural light on expanding musical genres. After the Shatta, place at Bouyon, another Caribbean style in vogue embodied by Holly’g and Totally Spice’s. “It’s a musical journey that is close to our hearts,” explains Jean-Paul Roland. “The idea of ​​the festival is also to open up to new cultures”.

And the Eurocks also rely on hexagonal talents: “We have a beautiful edition on the side of French artists. By going from Clara Luciani to SDM, or Philippe Katerine”in full light since its performance during the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games last year, lists the director.
Acid Arab will offer a Mediterranean set and the Comédie-Française will also be present with a tribute to Serge Gainsbourg, “The first time people from the theater have been doing something about us.”

On the electro side, DJ Snake, Justice or Bicep will ensure the show. “For justice, the New York Times said it was the biggest live that we could see today”slides the director.

On the other hand, two cancellations are to be deplored, those of Uncle Waffles and Ultra Vomit. As a replacement, rapper Freeze Corleone had been announced, but the prefect of the Territoire de Belfort, Alain Charrier, signed a decree on Tuesday to ban the singer’s planned concert regularly accused of anti -Semitism and homophobia: “The feeling of appeal to hatred did not seem to me to have its place in this place”he commented, saying that he had discussed at length with the organizers. “The programmer regrets that I make this decision and I regret that he programmed this”he added. “The law will speak, and it’s best”had estimated this weekend Jean-Paul Roland about Freeze Corleone.

For their part, the Irish of Kneecap, expected on Sunday evening, also arrive in a sulphurous reputation. One of the three members was charged in Great Britain of “terrorist offense” for having sported in concert a hezbollah flag and their show at the Glastonbury festival on the past weekend made scandal across the Channel since the artists notably accused Israel of being a “war criminal” state.

With AFP, Eva Chibane

Festivals of summer 2025

From July 15, 2025