“Whether you like metal or not, Hellfest is still a huge thing. When I go and talk to my friends about it, they’ll be dead of jealousy, that’s for sure. Cloé considers herself to be “lucky”. Aged just 15, she had her first Hellfest this weekend. Her parents, living in the Bordeaux suburbs, decided to take her to the famous extreme music festival in Clisson (Loire-Atlantique) so that she “taste the atmosphere”. “We arrived on Friday evening, says Stéphane, the dad, who has already come three times. Cloé wanted to accompany us and, this year, we decided to take the plunge for her birthday. »
Rock, metal or hardcore, the young woman listens to it regularly “at home”. But in her second class, she feels “a little lonely about that”. “Everyone is into rap or pop in high school. Metal is not really fashionable. It’s mostly seen as a daron thing,” she laughs. In the aisles of Hellfest, indeed, the average age is around 30-40 years old. This is why teenagers are difficult to meet.
“It’s our family ritual”
Black caps screwed on the head, anti-noise caps in hand, Malo and Ewen are part of this discreet generation. At only 11 and 16 years old, they are almost like regulars since they are participating in their 5th edition. They are a bit close, too, since they live in Nantes. “We have been listening to metal and punk since childhood with our parents. So we’re super happy to be here. The atmosphere is great, the sets, the crowd, it’s always impressive. And then the music is great,” enthuses Ewen, a fan of Pantera, Mettalica, Mass Hysteria or Limp Bizkit. “At the beginning, we were criticized by our entourage for having taken our children, especially since Malo was small, says Murielle. We wanted them to discover the atmosphere and they liked it. As a result, we take them for a day at each edition. It’s our family ritual. »
This Sunday evening, Ewen will attend the concert of his idols Pantera and, probably, that of the group Slipknot, scheduled closing at 10:30 p.m.. Malo, he will “perhaps go to bed”, even if he was authorized to miss school exceptionally on Monday. “We let them enjoy, while being careful not to take their eyes off them. There is always an adult with them,” says Murielle.
Naomi, soon to be 12, will not see the fireworks. Allowed by her parents to spend a day at Hellfest for the first time, she does not have midnight permission. “We make him discover the places but, in the evening, it’s for adults, it’s a different atmosphere”, considers Cédric, his father. Like many middle schoolers her age, Naomi “doesn’t particularly listen to metal”. Which doesn’t prevent him from liking AC/DC “in the car” and from appreciating the atmosphere of the festival, in particular “the sets” and “the Ferris wheel”.
“I’m waiting to come back without my parents”
It must be said that everything is there to take full view. “I will have things to tell my friends, confirms, delighted, Malo. As they don’t know, they mostly have clichés in mind, like the fact that it screams rather than singing. “At our age, there are not many who go to a big festival, whatever the style, notes Cloé, a fan of Gojira. We imagine things, we see pictures of pogos, when in fact it’s pretty cool. Well, I’m looking forward to being able to come back without my parents anyway. “.
Basile, 17, traveled from Seine-et-Marne with his father and uncle, but walks alone on the festival site. “It’s a real treat to be here. The lineup is crazy, I saw Iron Maiden on Saturday night! The atmosphere is also impressive, nothing to do with Rock en Seine, my only big festival reference so far. “Next year, he will return, he announces. “Parentless and camping”, rather than comfortable rental like this year. Only one point worries him, the baccalaureate. “In the final year, we will have to see if it is compatible, he nuances. If it does, I’ve convinced some friends to go with me. They are already hot. It’s going to be awesome. “.