The Festival was born by an idea of the most important music and cultural magazine in France, Les Inrockuptibles (its name is often abbreviated in les inrocks), which organises this event since 1990, attracting thousands of visitors in the French capital city. In order to understand the spirit and the level of the festival, we need to know the history of the magazine, which has been considered, since 1986, an authority in the French music and cultural scene.



When the first edition of the magazine is published, in 1986, Les Inrockuptibles (the name takes inspiration from the title of the American TV series The Untouchables) deals almost only with rock, and is published once in a month. The intention of its two creators, Christian Fevret and Arnaud Deverre, is that of make people get to know some British artists that are not famous yet, as well as meeting their music heroes, such as Leonard Cohen and David Bowie. Initially the magazine is characterised by interviews and black and white photographs (since too many colours could prevent readers from caring for the essential things), and by a limited distribution, supported also by some cultural associations. However, starting from 1988 the circulation of the magazine begins to be broader, and journalists start writing about many different subjects, not only about music, but also about cinema, literature and society, with a critic and intellectual style.

The magazine now features both articles about rock artists and essays about recent philosophers, novelists and underground cinema. Interviews to bands keep playing an important role, and they are always characterised by pages containing unconventional and original questions, which test the interviewed people out. Les Inrockuptibles has also been criticised for its peculiar style: some people consider it as a too intellectual, elite and snobbish magazine; in fact, the magazine is simply intended to deal with valuable music (and not only music), independently from trends and labels. An evidence of this is given by the fact that initially the magazine has played an important role in the promotion of indie music, as well as unknown French artists.

In the Nineties the magazine begins to be published weekly and to deal with various parallel projects, varying its activities. Among these projects, the publication of monographs dedicated to particularly important artists (Radiohead, Beatles, Smiths, Clash, Cure), the distribution of free records in which some musicians honour the works of artists who are recognised as important figures of rock, and, above all, the Festival des Inrockuptibles.

The 21st edition of the Festival will take place in Paris and in other French cities, such as Lille, Toulose and Nantes, and is going to attract, like every year, many music lovers and experts. The Festival and the magazine that organizes it have got many peculiarities in common: the magazine deals with outstanding rock celebrities, but in the same time it does not disregard indie production and emerging artists, and in the same way the Festival always hosts both famous and unknown bands, giving them the possibility to make people get to know their songs. Among the most outstanding names of the 2008 edition, there will be bands like MGMT, Franz Ferdinand, Ting Tings and Kooks, who will perform in various venues all around the city.

Paris is very appreciated by tourists, who visit it throughout the year. If you want to enjoy all the 6 days of the Festival, we suggest that you book in advance a cheap hostel, or you will risk not to find a place where to stay.

Tickets: from 20 euro

Date: 12th -17th November 2008

Location: Paris