Solidays
{{short description|French music festival}}
{{infobox music festival
| music_festival_name = Solidays
| image = Solidays 2013 - La scène Bagatelle - 007.jpg
| caption = Main stage of the 2013 edition
| location = Longchamp Racecourse, Paris, France
| years_active = 1999 – present
| dates = Mid-June
| attendance =
| founders = Luc Barruet
| genre =
| website = {{url|https://www.solidays.org//}}
}}
Solidays ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|s|ɒ|l|ɪ|d|eɪ|z}}) is a French annual music festival that takes place at the Longchamp Racecourse in Paris at the end of June. Organized by Solidarité sida (a French HIV/AIDS awareness group for youth), the event brings together more than 150 artists and 170 000 festival-goers for three days (Friday, Saturday and Sunday). The proceeds from the festival are donated to organisations fighting against HIV/AIDS, especially for those focusing on the African continent.
The festival has been held since 1999. The performers involved in Solidays accept a reduced fee or appear for free as a sign of their solidarity.[http://www.lefigaro.fr/musique/2011/06/26/03006-20110626ARTFIG00070-he-solidays-on-va-le-tuer-ce-virus.php «Hé Solidays ! On va le tuer ce virus ?»], Le Figaro (in French), 26/6/2011. The 2013 edition raised over 2 million euros.[http://www.lefigaro.fr/musique/2013/07/01/03006-20130701ARTFIG00324-solidays-2013-record-battu.php?cmtpage=0 «Solidays 2013, record battu»], Le Figaro (in French), 1/7/2013. The festival also features bungee jumping in addition to the music.[http://www.sautelastique.org/saut-elastique-solidays-598.htm "Saut à l'élastique aux Solidays"] (in French). The 2022 festival happened on June 24-26.{{Cite web |title=Festival Solidays 24>26 Juin 2022 Paris-Longchamp |url=https://www.solidays.org/ |access-date=2022-07-19 |website=Solidays |language=fr-FR}}{{Cite web |title=Search for setlists: solidays {{!}} setlist.fm |url=https://www.setlist.fm/search?query=solidays |access-date=2022-07-19 |website=www.setlist.fm}}
Over the years, many French and foreign artists have appeared at Solidays, including DJ Snake, Bigflo & Oli, Kungs, Mac Miller, Vanessa Paradis, M83, Synapson, Paul Kalkbrenner, Bénabar, Madeon, Shaka Ponk, David Guetta, Kool & the Gang, Stromae, Louis Bertignac, Lily Allen, Louise Attaque, Grand Corps Malade, Earth, Wind & Fire and Diplo.
2020 edition and COVID-19 pandemic
On 13 April 2020, the festival announced on its website that the 2020 edition of the festival would be cancelled because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite web
| url=https://www.solidays.org/on-a-tout-essaye/
| title=Sous le choc
| date=2020-04-13
| publisher=solidays.org
| quote=La décision d’annuler le festival est l’une des plus difficiles que nous ayons eue à prendre. Elle plonge Solidarité Sida dans une réalité brutale. 3 millions d’euros de résultat attendus vont disparaître. Dès lors, comment financer les nombreux programmes d’aide aux malades et de prévention menés ou soutenus grâce à Solidays ?
| access-date=2020-04-13}} Luc Barruet, the founder of the festival, asked festival goers not to ask for reimbursement because he said that the cancellation was putting the festival in danger.{{cite web
| url=https://www.francetvinfo.fr/culture/musique/pop/le-festival-solidays-2020-n-aura-pas-lieu-le-fondateur-luc-barruet-appelle-a-ne-pas-se-faire-rembourser-sa-place_3913161.html
| title=Le festival Solidays 2020 n'aura pas lieu : le fondateur Luc Barruet appelle à ne pas se faire rembourser sa place
| date=2020-04-13
| publisher=France Info
| quote=Une procédure de remboursement va être mise en place pour ceux qui le souhaitent. Mais "nous demandons à ceux qui le peuvent de ne pas solliciter le remboursement des billets déjà achetés. Ils ne seront pas valables pour une édition prochaine", indique Luc Barruet.
| access-date=2020-04-13}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|http://www.solidays.org/}}
{{Portal bar|France|Music}}
{{AIDS}}
{{Visitor attractions in Paris}}