“We want to offer something different”: Rémi Cousty unveils the Queyrock Open Air Festival in Dordogne

The third edition of the event will be held in Ginestet, from Friday, August 1st to Sunday, August 3rd. Meet Rémi Cousty, who created the festival with his wife and a group of friends.

For almost two weeks, volunteers and technicians have been busy at Le Queyroux, in Ginestet, near Bergerac (Dordogne), preparing for the third edition of the Queyrock Open Air Festival . Rémi Cousty, who founded the event with his wife Léa and four friends, answered questions from "Sud Ouest".

How did the idea for this festival dedicated to rock music come about?

We bought a family property in Queyroux, in Ginestet, a few years ago. With Léa, my wife, and four friends, we thought we could give it a go because the land is great and rock is a style of music that speaks to us, very intergenerational. But in 2021, Covid hit us. So the first edition took place in 2022.

Why was the edition scheduled for 2024 postponed to 2025?

We wanted to take the time to structure ourselves properly. A festival requires a lot of time and commitment. We had to find a human and economic model. There are six of us in the office, but we formed pairs of volunteers to take turns because it works all year round. Without them, nothing would be possible. Humanity is at the heart of our approach. We didn't want a cheap 2024 edition. We want to offer something different. This year, we've prepared an edition that should be remembered!

You'll be hosting 27 bands, including headliners like Elmer Food Beat. Is it difficult to get them to come to the countryside?

As for the artists, we went all out. We searched for promoters online and contacted them directly. Many of them thought it was great to include the event in their tour. They also agreed to make an effort. We renewed all our artists for this third edition.

You have a budget of 200,000 euros and national communication: what is Queyrock's ambition?

It's something that takes a lot of time and puts our hearts into. We couldn't do it without passion and the help of all the volunteers and technicians. We don't want to compete with the big festivals, but our goal is to have a national reach. In fact, we see that our audience comes mainly from Nouvelle-Aquitaine, but also from Brittany, Paris, and even Alsace.

How do you manage to stand out from the crowd at summer festivals?

Our trademark is being able to welcome bearded bikers as well as families. We love metal, but we don't limit ourselves to it. We're generalists in the world of rock, offering all its derivatives. This year, we only have French bands. We've taken it up a notch in terms of post-apocalyptic scenography and atmosphere. We also have the festival village, with tattoo stands, barbershops, and massages, and we've formed a partnership with the Rosette label.

Is the Queyrock Open Air also an eco-responsible festival?

Yes, we are a rural area and we must respect that. The idea is to reduce our impact as much as possible by sorting our waste and using zero disposable plastic. We will also have volunteers to raise awareness, particularly about not throwing away cigarette butts.