Special Envoy to Clisson,
Electric atmosphere. From June 15 to 18, the small town of Clisson became, as every year, the scene of a musical event of unprecedented magnitude. Renowned for being one of the most iconic metal festivals in the world, Hellfest attracted thousands of fans from all walks of life to celebrate music, friendship and passion for rock. As soon as the doors opened, a tide of festival-goers dressed in black, sporting tattoos and hairstyles of the most daring, poured on the various stages of the festival. The overflowing passion of the fans mingled with the contagious energy of the bands, creating a unique atmosphere.
It is difficult to talk about all the groups and the performances as the choices offered are immense and different. Imagine more than 180 bands over 3.5 days of festival. This year, more than half of the bands performed on stage for the first time. We will note the first and highly anticipated performance of the Tenacious D. The rock comedy duo ignited the main stage with their unique blend of humor and crazy rock. The group Fever333, known for their political commitment and their explosive mix of musical genres, between rap and metal, unleashed the crowds with their powerful message and punchy riffs.
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Sum41, for their last concert, unleashed passions with their catchy punk-rock anthems. The Canadian band delivered an energetic performance and reminded fans why they have remained so popular for more than two decades. Porcupine Tree formed by the talented Steven Wilson, Gavin Harisson exceptional drummer, back on stage after a long break, transported festival-goers in progressive and captivating soundscapes. The Indian band fusing metal and traditional music, Bloodywood, had the difficult task of heating up the big stage in the early morning and the audience traveled in a unique and intoxicating musical universe.
The group Architects, in concert on June 15 at Hellfest. Loïc Chaslin
We cannot miss the Nantes locals of the group Carpenter Brut who invited Michael Sembello, interpreter of Maniac, on stage to close their bubbling concert. Two big favorites for two Metalcore bands, the British Architects and the Australians Parkway Drive who were able to deploy a crazy and communicative energy with the conquered public. Not to mention the traditional bands with millions of albums. Iron Maiden, Kiss, and Def Leppard delighted their fans with well-established shows. Lovers of stoner (Clutch) and sludge (Crowbar) among others were able to appreciate the new location of the Valley stage which at night falls takes its place in this universe and musical park.
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Highlights of this edition included the spectacular fireworks that lit up the night sky, the surprise performances of some guest artists and the unexpected encounters between fans from all over the world. Less breathtaking, the group Generation Sex (Billy Idol and two members of the Sex Pistols), was only talked about for its extremely disappointing performance.
The Indians of Bloodywood ensured the show - and the change of scenery - of the festival-goers. Loïc Chaslin
A festival in full metamorphosis
For this 2023 edition, Hellfest has displayed a bundle of novelties and improvements to satisfy festival-goers. The site had been expanded, providing more space to move between the different scenes. In addition, facilities and infrastructure had been improved to ensure the comfort and safety of festival-goers. People with reduced mobility were able to see an even more adapted layout with larger spaces and specific toilets. All these changes allow and will increase the comfort of festival-goers also on the dining areas with still taking into account the ecological impact.
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Despite all these successes, Hellfest 2023 ran into some problems. Wait times at food and beverage stalls were sometimes long, and some festival-goers expressed frustration with the situation. In addition, the mobile phone network has been overloaded, making it difficult to communicate on the site.
Hellfest is also the festival of excess for its detractors. 5000 volunteers, a budget of 35 million and constantly growing and with very few subsidies. Major developments are expected in 2024 and 2025. The "Guardian of Darkness" - a monumental sculpture made by the Machine Company (cost of 3.8 million euros financed entirely by Hellfest) should be inaugurated next year. Finally, the development of a brewery and a playground for children is on the program. These facilities financed this time by the region, the department and the agglomeration community, for a total of 7 million, are expected for 2025.