Garorock
Annual multi-genre music festival held in France
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Garorock is an annual multi-genre music festival held in Marmande, Lot-et-Garonne, France. Founded in 1997, it has grown from a regional gathering with a strong alternative and rock identity into one of France’s major open-air festivals, featuring international headliners across rock, pop, electronic, hip-hop, and indie. The event typically takes place over several days in late June or early July and attracts tens of thousands of attendees.[1][2]
| Garorock | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Pop, electro, EDM, rap |
| Begins | 1997 |
| Frequency | Annually |
| Locations | Plaine de la Filhole, 47200 Marmande, France |
| Coordinates | 44° 29′ 23″ North, 0° 09′ 48″ East |
| Country | France |
| Founders | Ludovic Larbodie,
Pascal Mignot (alias Calou), Frédéric Vilcocq |
| Capacity | 50,000-120,000 |
| Organised by | MR Power (until 2018) Olympia Production (since Oct 2018) |
| Website | http://www.garorock.com |
Some of the artists who have performed at the festival include Public Enemy, Babyshambles, David Guetta, Macklemore, Method Man and Redman, The Offspring, Shaka Ponk, Lomepal, and Cypress Hill.[3][4][5][6]
History
The festival was founded in March 1997 in the former slaughterhouses of Marmande.[7] Its name, Garorock, is a pun blending "Garonne" and "Rock," while also suggesting the warning: "Beware of Rock" (Gare au Rock).[8]
The first edition featured only a few bands. As the lineup expanded, the festival was moved to the Plaine de la Filhole, a less urban area.
In October 2018, Olympia Production, a subsidiary of the Vivendi group, acquired the entire company that organizes the festival and thus became its owner.[9]
In April 2024, Garorock was acquired by the German group CTS Eventim, the "largest festival producer in Europe."[10]
Artists (selection)

1997: Le Sheriff, Les Wampas, Headcleaner, Banlieue Rouge
1998: Celtas Cortos, Fermin Muguruza, Ludwig von 88, Flor del Fango
1999: Matmatah, Fabulous Trobadors, Linton Kwesi Johnson, The Skatalites
2000: U-Roy, Les Caméléons, Marcel et son orchestre
2001: Chokebore, La Ruda, Pigzwilltoast, Watcha
2002: Mass Hysteria, Les Wampas, Babylon Circus, Burning Heads
2003: Ska-P, Les Ogres de Barback, Lofofora, High Tone
2004: Freestylers, Nomeansno, Mardi Gras.bb, Enhancer
2005: Max Romeo, Popa Chubby, DJ Vadim, Mano Solo
2006: Les Ogres de Barback, Têtes Raides, Seeed
2007: Public Enemy, !!!, Deftones, Digitalism, Vitalic
2008: Method Man & Redman, Birdy Nam Nam, CocoRosie
2009: Ice Cube, Babyshambles, Radio Moscow, Keziah Jones
2010: De La Soul, Mos Def, The Bloody Beetroots, Sepultura
2011: The Streets, Crookers, Raekwon, Apocalyptica, Magnetic Man
2012: The Offspring, Cypress Hill, NOFX, Metronomy
2013: Paul Kalkbrenner, Iggy Pop, Bloc Party, Mika
2014: Phoenix, Franz Ferdinand, Massive Attack, Skrillex
2015: ASAP Rocky, Die Antwoord, Tale Of Us, Alt-J
2016: Muse, Disclosure, Ratatat, The Hives, Jamie xx
2017: Justice, Phoenix, M.I.A., Foals, London Grammar
2018: Indochine, Marilyn Manson, Macklemore, DJ Snake
2019: Marshmello, Ben Harper, DJ Snake, Sum 41, Interpol