19 September 1998. The sun splashes Paris. And the bass will vibrate the bitumen. Marc still remembers the "euphoria" that spilled over onto the sidewalks that afternoon. "It was the first time there was tech everywhere on the street," the 49-year-old IT manager said. He was barely 24 years old. Like nearly 200,000 lovers of electronic music, he was experiencing his very first Techno Parade.
A festive event, free and open to all that celebrated its 25th anniversary this Saturday. Sixteen floats paraded between the Place de la Bastille and Nation, passing through République. With on board a hundred DJs who took turns to make dance the 400,000 fans expected.
"Before, it was more marginal"
Marc has tried the experiment a dozen times since 1998. But this weekend, he came from Sartrouville (Yvelines) accompanied by a neophyte. Perched on his shoulders, Gabriel, 2 and a half years old, attends his first Techno Parade, his eyes wide open and his ears protected by a large helmet. "The next generation is here," smiles his father.
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A quarter of a century later, the public is still present. And generations mix on the dancefloor. "There are not so young people like us but also a lot of young people," says Marc. Now techno touches everyone. Before, it was more marginal. »
Marc, 49, attended the very first edition of the Techno Parade. This Saturday, he came with his 2 <>/<> year old son, Gabriel./LP/Pauline Darvey
In the middle of the crowd, the forty-year-old was able to see Jack Lang. The former Minister of Culture does not miss a Techno Parade. It was he who launched the concept in 1998 on the model of the Love Parade in Berlin. The creator of the music festival wanted to de-demonize electronic music, which was then in the sights of the French authorities. Since then, the Technopole association has taken over the reins of the event, always with the same objective of democratizing and promoting electronic music.
"As a woman, you rarely get annoyed"
Mission accomplished according to Matthew. "The Techno Parade showed that we were not savages," says the 24-year-old maintenance worker. It allows you to express the art of techno in the street. "It's an environment with a very open mentality," says Alexandra, a 33-year-old customer relations manager. As a woman, it's very rare to get annoyed by men at techno parties. »
Gaëlle and Matthieu came from Sens in the Yonne to enjoy the Techno Parade./LP/Pauline Darvey
This Saturday, Alexandra and Matthieu came with a whole bunch of friends. With glitter sparkling on their faces and a furious desire to enjoy "the sound and atmosphere". For some, this is a first. For others, a second. But it remains to be seen whether they will still be there in twenty-five years.
