"I've been coming to Paléo since I was a few months old, my dad works here, many of my friends too, so it's part of my life, I also love discovering all the different kinds of music and bands that play here "
Jonas Parson - writer and volunteer ar Paléo.
Living in Nyon is delighted that this year Jonas Parson will be writing for this site all about his experience of Paléo from the atmosphere, to the music. Jonas is 17 and has just finished his studies at the Gymnase of Nyon. Whilst there he was part of the editorial team of the school magazine called "La Herissé".
Jonas also works at Paléo as one of the thousands of volunteers, this year he is there in the capacity of "Aspirator" (Vacuum Cleaner). The Aspirators keep the place tidy and the loos clean for the festival goers. There will be more about these Aspirators on this site later on in the week. Jonas himself says he has an eclectic taste in music; " I like lots of stuff, Leonard Cohen, Neil Young etc. Ialso like the Artic Monkeys and the Fratellis. Last year at Paléo there were three particularly good French bands; La Rue Ketanou, Les Ogres de Barback and Debout sur le Zinc, it was a good year. However there are some years when I go not really knowing much about the performers but end up liking them and then maybe making the effort to see them elsewhere. For example last year the group Caravan Palace came to Paléo and it was such a good night I went to see them again at the "Docks" (Ed note: See review of Caravan Palace on last year's Living in Nyon). As for going to other local music venues, Jonas likes to go to the Parenthese in Nyon or the Usine a Gaz or L'ecurie (a venue in a building behind Geneva railway station). Why the barefoot writer? Jonas says from the month of March onwards he ditches his shoes, he even did this while studying at Gymnase. Most of the time he alternates between barefeet or Doc Martins, just like his choice in music, an eclectic taste. Here is Jonas's impression of last night "After a beer and sweat laden Tuesday evening with the bearded villains of Mötörhead, on Wednesday it was way time for some gentler – but none the less "full of punch" type bands. The evening started off to the tune of Olivia Ruiz’s mushroom pancakes. (Oh, please come back ! If you do, I’ll make you some crêpes aux champignons…). Dancing and whirling about on stage, this girl really knows how to make a show ! With her magic rotating mirror, about three metres high, her musicians just made you want to dance, Ruiz had the crowd singing away at some moments, and swinging away all the time. Even under the burning sun of the Paléo festival, the « femme chocolat » did not melt away in front of the crowd ! The concert ended just as it started pouring down, the timing perfect to the second. It rained just enough to moisten the grounds and keep the dust where it should be (not in our eyes and throats, but on the ground…) Finding something to eat - The national sport of Paléo
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Before the next show of the evening, Charlie Winston the handsome "hobo", it was time for one of Paleo’s national sports : finding something to eat. Over the years, you tend to stick to one or two favourite stalls where you know you won’t be disappointed, but discovering new food is also part of the fun. My personal favourite is the Paprika, (one of) the Indian stalls in the oriental district of the Paleo, where you can get gorgeous plates of Daal- lentil stew- for ten francs, and chicken for about fifteen. It’s worth a try !
Then off to Charlie Winston barely digesting the meal, but who cares, this is Paleo! What a show that was ! The Cornish dandy, was here to spend a quality moment with us on the grounds of l’Asse. Corresponding with the crowd in quite good French-(he lives in Paris)- he delivered a pop folk performance of top class. Everybody at l’Asse became a hobo for a few minutes, singing away with him with gusto. And after a concert filled with class and energy, we were granted the surprise visit of M on stage. Barely recognizable without his sunglasses and his super-hype haircut, he was invited to riff away on his guitar with the band for their final song. Now that was something worth seeing ! Allthough big bands, loads of excellent artists play one after the other at Paléo, it’s not often that you see one invited on stage for another concert than his. We could see they were having fun on stage, and their pleasure just leaked out onto us, for another wonderful show.
After that, it was time to wonder about in the Village du Monde, the place devoted to World Music, this year’s host being South Africa. The decorators had done quite a good job, with three big brown structures, in a mix between a hut and an anthill, giving you room to sit down and have a chat or a morsel with some friends in a relatively calm atmosphere.
Then off to the Dome, to see a bit of the Mahotella Queens. We’d been told it was worth it, and it was ! Even at nearly seventy, the three majesties dance about on stage as though they were twenty, in their nice yellow ‘bafana bafana’ t-shirts, the south african football team. Joking about on stage, you could see they had loads of energy left, I was particularly impressed by some of their moves, which showed an agility most people of that age have lost, if they ever had it…
It was then time to chill out a bit, watching a bit of M from afar, in the place to be when it starts getting dark, and even more so when it starts getting chilly : by the fire installations in the Quartier des Alpes, to the right of the main stage and just beneath the Village du Monde. The atmosphere there is magic, and it’s perfect to spend some time just chatting with some friends.
The more adventurous of the festival goers will then head towards the campsite, where a lively atmosphere is guaranteed, between the fire light music jams, the rockets going off over head, and the nice people everywhere. You can simply come up to a fire, sit down and start talking to anybody, everyone is really nice and friendy it’s the perfect place to make new friends.
Banner photo at top - The lively and engaging Swiss group Carousel performing for the press early in the evening.
Photo below - two members of British band the Foals (they performed at the chapiteau last night) spotted around the Paléo grounds