DJ Martin Solveig announces his retirement and bids farewell to the stage

"It was a surprise when we were told a few weeks ago that the Vieilles Charrues would be his only date this year, and that it would be his last," Jérôme Tréhorel told AFP. "It's a huge honor."

The 48-year-old musician, who has released five albums, performed in front of nearly 70,000 people on Saturday - and in pouring rain - for his farewell to the stage.

"It's a special moment. All my life, every time I went on stage, I told myself: 'Act as if it's the last concert.' Until it happens. And you're happy to be at Vieilles Charrues!" he told the audience after an hour of the show, according to the daily newspaper Le Télégramme.

Since the early 2000s, Martin Solveig - real name Martin Laurent Picandet - has brought French electro to international prominence alongside other DJs such as David Guetta and Bob Sinclar under the banner of the "French touch."

Launched in 2002 with a cover of Salif Keïta's "Madan," Martin Solveig has enjoyed a string of hits for over 20 years. He has also collaborated with Madonna, producing several tracks on her 2012 album "MDNA."

Along with 23 other DJs, he hosted the closing ceremony of the 2024 Summer Paralympic Games at the Stade de France.

In 2020, he also launched Alma Studio, an audio story app for children aged 2 to 10.