Musical scenes in Lyon
Undergoing forced closures and restrictive gauges, the rock bars and concert halls of the city of gones have nevertheless survived and are resurfacing after two trying years.
“The pandemic has forced us to program local rather than international groups” Pierre Bonnetain, manager of the musical bar Le Farmer, is as cautious as he is enthusiastic. For him, the atmosphere is one of solidarity: the groups are ready to come and play and the public responds present. Independent for 5 years with a small team, their situation contrasts with that of Periscope. Concert hall and center of cultural engineering located near La Perrache, the place is subsidized among others by the Metropolis, the Region or the European Union. But Benjamin Kohler, Communications Officer at Periscope notes all the same that the way in which culture was considered during the health crisis was “infuriating”.
Other places have been relatively spared by the restrictions linked to Covid-19, such as the Marché Gare, an emblematic place in Confluence which launched its renovation work at the end of 2018, or the Trokson, which suffered a fire in October 2019. With 16 years of existence, the unmissable café-concert on the slopes has not been impacted by the health crisis because the team has been too busy restoring the premises. Karl Minetto, boss of the Trokson, is in a hurry: “I really want to find the pre-fire Troskon”.
As of February 16, the new health measures are being eased: nightclubs, closed since December 10, can reopen in accordance with the health protocol, standing concerts can resume and standing consumption in bars is again possible. The aftermath remains uncertain, however one thing is certain: whether it’s Rock’n’Eat next to Fort de Vaise or Trokson in the 1st arrondissement, the Lyon music scene has not finished vibrating.
