So here I was, going to Charleville-Mézières, et tiny town in the North of the Champagne region of France, for the 5th edition of the « Cabaret Vert » Festival (green cabaret), a 3 days festival, with an ecological idea behind it. An overall very nice journey, to the heart of why I like so much what is not my daily job. Taking pictures, photos that will last as memories and moments I’ve experienced…

After a little detour to see a friend, here I was on my way to the town of Charleville-Mézières, not far from Sedan and the Belgian border. My howetown is not that far (like 2hours drive), never been there tho.. a perfect way to discover the town and region under a heavy sunny weather, what more can you ask really ^^ Thinking about it, it’s actually going to be the first festival (for pictures i mean) that i will do outside of Belgium, now looking forward to see how it goes, bc usually, the standard in a belgian Festival is quite high already

No issue at all with the photopass, and i was on my way to discover the site, site that is actually really in the middle of the city, no joke about that, yes, it’s a square at the beginning, but surrounded by buildings and everything, interesting to discover ^^ loads of security and fences, people on their way to the Camping place.. you know, the beginning of a festival It’s « only » a 2 stages festival, but it will be more than enough (Dour has 6 stages I think… ) and the sun is there, which will help a lot overall

« Exit Wounds » was opening on the smaller stage the event. One of the very nice principle is the price.  1 euro per artist, and you got the price of the 3 days festival. It’s actually very good and not oftenly we see that kind of simple mathematic explanation. Next would be the opening of the Big stage by « la grande sophie », a french artist.

« Yeti Lane » went on the Small stage and it was time to see Tricky on the main stage, and his downtempo Trip-Hop creating a perfect mood to start the evening/nite. Some tracks are just awesome in live (2nd time I actually saw him live this summer after Les Ardentes ). And this time, i really appreciated some tracks.. First, true he was the singer of Massive Attack on their first « bluelines », but he actually went solo back in 1995 (yes, dunno why, would have though it was was closer to 2000ish… wow). And now, I can say that tracks like « Hell is round the corner », the bass line from « overcome », or one of his latest « puppy toy » is really overwhelming with good intentions, quiet periods that will go slowly and slowly higher, until it blows at ur face. Francesca, the singer that is also on stage is actually helping, her feline way to move her body while sharing the mic with Adrian (yes, less exciting than Tricky right?) is just an image you wanna keep. Sensuality, and good lyrics <3

After the 3 songs, us, photographer are kicked out of the photo pit.. and it suddenly actually make sense for once, when Tricky actually decided to make people come all over the stage.. and the people actually stopped coming when there was no more room left.. wow… but well, everything went well, but my 2 cents is that it was kinda unplanned by the security lads ahah ^^ Tricky’s picture are worth seeing, tatts, floating on the music, open hearted.

Going way up North in denmark to see « the asteroids galaxy Tour », that are famous for being one of the song of the latest ipod ad… Nice sweet pop on stage, it’s during the private 2 songs acoustic session that it makes me happy to be where i’m standing, sharing a moment that only a few can say they have lived. And that is really something worth going through the lack of sleep, hurts, wasted time and all. Totally don’t care right now, just enjoying 3 guys singing for us how sweet life can be sometimes…

Then it will be time to be hit by Ghinzu once again. Saw those Belgian band (from Brussels to be more specific) live a couple of weeks ago after being one of the first belgian band i’ve known, at that time still being in France. Little did I know I was going to shoot them some years later, and feel damn good about it. Gosh now I really have to see them for a full show and not for an hour in a festival… but damn.. it’s pure power, madness, the riffs are just deadly awesome, John is doing his show, the other guys are following and spicing all of that (prop on for the guitarist). Damn, just feel like hit by a truck, but this sensation, for this week end, is a good one, and because it’s unexpected to actually be there for 3 days, then i’m even more appreciating the moment

I’ve missed « zone libre », or at least wasn’t allowed anymore to take any pics, rumor has it it was nice tho. So well, back to the main stage, to jump on the heavy electro of « Birdy Nam Nam », 4 Djs/MCs, 2002 World champion, offering an übercrowded square a way to jump and have a fun that appeared instantly on everyone’s face. Really something to discover, to be on the other side of this fence, and see everyone going crazy for a tune, or bc everyone is simply jumping and enjoying the moment. An absolute blast, and the 4 sound makers are talented, nothing to say about that, they know what they’re doing

Twas then time to head to the Hotel, true i’m not playing 100% hardcore festival style, i’m not drinking either so well ahah ^^ a very nice first day overall, 2 cameras and the gears are kinda heavy tho, but well, you get used to it and don’t feel much more at the end of the day… I’ll remember the good spirit that everyone is having despite the 30 000 people, the proximity with the artists, a shame we weren’t able to do the Acoustic Session with Ghinzu, but well, i’m happy bc i’m making pictures, listening to good people, and overall just happy, which is already quite something

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In My ears : Depeche Mode -A Pain that i’m used to- : ♫« All this running around/ well it’s getting me down/ Just give me a pain that I’m used to/ I don’t need to believe/ all the Dreams you conceive/ You just need to achieve/ Something that rings true » ♫