Bar-le-Duc. Music: The Bar'EnVoix festival is preparing for a brighter future

Gilles-de-Trèves Middle School has been experiencing a surge in activity over the past few days. This is no longer surprising at this time of year since 2023 and the launch of Bar'EnVoix.

The international a cappella singing festival returns for a 3rd edition , from this Friday, June 6th to Sunday, June 8th. Volunteers from the organizing association EnVoix have been hard at work since last week preparing everything before the artists take to the stage. The stage has been set up in the main courtyard, and the audience seats have yet to be set up.

"This will be the artists' catering area": ​​Emmanuel Cappelaere, artistic director of this festival, which he initiated, gives visitors a tour of the various rooms occupied for the occasion. He passes by the dressing rooms currently being set up, where armchairs, benches, tables, carpets, etc. have already been arranged. "Well, nothing's decorated yet," but that's coming. "Everything has already been cleaned because it wasn't like that," he says.

In the technical part, the various equipment testifies that Fred Millot, the lighting expert , and Nicolas Gardel, the sound engineer, are already at the controls to magnify the show on the big day: they have each started to program their console, it is a precise job at this level of professionalism.

"A new feature," highlights Emmanuel Cappelaere, "that you can't see, and it's great. LEDs have been positioned all around; it was a crazy amount of work. Last year, we only lit the handrail; now it's all the way to the top. The goal is to further highlight the heritage." Projectors have also been installed to illuminate the concerts.

In the school garden, other volunteers are busy. This will once again be an important part of the festival, with the organization of a guinguette, hosted by a DJ with two sets each, to allow spectators to continue the evening after the show, to meet, to exchange, and also to meet the artists in a friendly atmosphere. The marquees have been erected to welcome everyone, the grass has been cut. "We will buy local products thanks to the Barisian merchants, that was our goal," recalls Emmanuel Cappelaere. "That's the very purpose of such an event; we don't just come for a concert and to listen to a band, but first and foremost to party."

If we suspect that there is still a lot to do, to think about the smallest detail... we sense a great serenity on the part of the organizers. Because the event is shaping up very well . The ticketing has never worked so well. "A month ago, we were already at the 2024 level." The Just Vox concert on Friday evening is sold out, "we have to turn people away": the television performance of the Belgian combo on the show "La France a un incroyable talent" brought them a notoriety that can be measured there. It's almost full to applaud Club for Five on Saturday evening, the last available seats should find takers to applaud these Finns who have several times gold records.

For Saturday and Sunday afternoons, there's still room, with a decent occupancy rate. Emmanuel Cappelaere: "We've chosen to remain accessible to the public with €20 admission. This is possible thanks to our partners, our patrons." Bar'EnVoix hasn't just found its audience.