Photo: © Eric Engel

As music lovers pack their bags for the summer, Rotondes’ Marc Hauser wants them to stay curious – and stay local. The long-time music programming director talks about Congés Annulés, the festival that turns the holiday lull into a discovery-packed marathon of live music.

Tell us about yourself Marc. 

I joined Rotondes in 2007 during the European Capital of Culture year. I started organising gigs, and when the event wrapped up, a small team – including me – stayed on.

What was the goal behind Congés Annulés at the beginning, and how has that changed since 2007?

Back in 2007, most shows in Luxembourg were happening at bigger venues like Rockhal or Den Atelier. We wanted to create something different: a summer festival for around 250 people, focused on international acts in an intimate setting. That idea hasn’t really changed –we still want to attract a curious audience who are open to discovering new sounds. That’s why we rarely invite the same band twice.

What did people say when you first announced a programme for the summertime, time when cultural venues are traditionally closed?

I remember there were lots of people from the scene telling me: ‘Don’t do events during the summer. It doesn’t make sense. There’s nobody here!’ Sure people leave Luxembourg, but not everyone! Some people take two weeks’ holiday and come back and so it works. And we kept it!

If Congés Annulés was a person, how would you describe their personality?

Curious in an open-minded way.

What is the process for selecting the artists and the events? Is there a specific musical or cultural philosophy guiding you?

With 28 days of programming, it’s like a gig marathon. We aim for variety so there’s something for everyone – from genre lovers to the musically curious. We also stick to the genres we support year-round.

How do you balance local talent with international artists?

At least half of the bands are coming from Luxembourg with some supporting international artists. We also do an event dedicated to Luxembourgish acts. 

How do you find these experimental or emerging bands and artists? 

A big part of our job is listening to lots of music and attending gigs and festivals, particularly showcase festivals. For example, in January, we went to Eurosonic in the Netherlands, in May, we went to the Great Escape in Brighton. We also listen to lots of music and get suggestions from agents.

What is something surprising that you do that people don’t realise?

We do a lot ourselves – right down to the plants and decorations. It’s a team effort across programming, tech, comms, and marketing.

The programme is very rich. Where would you recommend newcomers start?

If you just want to go one night during the concert, come to the opening night on 25 July. We’ve got three bands playing and entrance is only €5. You’ll get a taste of what to expect during the rest of the festival. 

What proportion of concerts are outdoors?

There are almost six shows taking place outside this year. The rest are inside, mainly because we don’t want to bother the neighbours.

What new things are you trying at this year’s edition?

This year for the first time, we will host a family day. I believe it’s a good place to try new things. And if it works, we can repeat it.

Can you tell me more about the family day? 

Once a year we organise the PICelectroNIC, a festival for headbanging kids and their parents. This time, we will offer a snapshot of what a festival could be like if it’s dedicated to a younger audience. We start at 5 and end at 9. There will be some DJ sets and audiences can give a scratch performance. There will also be some workshops and installations. 

What else is different about this edition of Congés Annulés?

We are hosting a ‘vide-disques’, a kind of record fair. We normally run a record fair twice a year. This one is a bit different because collectors with more than one copy of a record can then sell their records. We will also invite a couple of professional vendors to have a mixed offer. 

What are your hopes and plans for the future of Congés Annulés?

No big plans – just a hope that our audience keeps growing in curiosity, not just attendance. That they come for the music, not just the atmosphere.

In the years since you started Congés Annulés, have you seen other cultural venues launch concerts during the summer break?

Den Atelier has always done a few shows over the summer and they’re actually producing a show at Congés Annulés as well. I think that Kulturfabrik now has a summer bar. And you’ve always had small festivals popping up over the summer. Bands are travelling through Europe and think, why not stop in Luxembourg? It’s the perfect stop-over between two big festivals.

There is renovation work planned at Rotondes 2 and construction of a new bar. How will that impact the festival in future years?

Construction has already begun though you can’t yet see it. And it will evolve over time. Maybe next year we won’t have access to the old parvis (forecourt) outside.  We will have to adapt to these changes but we will manage.

Whether it’s a record fair, a kids’ scratch session, or a gig from an unknown Icelandic band, Congés Annulés keeps evolving. But one thing hasn’t changed: it’s still a festival for the curious. Check out the full programme at Rotondes from 25 July to 21 August! 

A limited number of festival passes are available for €65. Otherwise, tickets for each event can be purchased on the Congés Annulés website.