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“We had approached him before, but his fee was much higher”: Orelsan steps in for Gims at Breton festival

From Le Figaro · () French

Translated from French and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • Orelsan will replace Gims at the La Flume enchantée festival in Brittany after Gims canceled the appearance while on sick leave.
  • Organizers had only a few days to find a comparable headliner and said Orelsan agreed without demanding a higher fee.
  • Other artists, including Christophe Maé, also offered help, highlighting what organizers described as strong solidarity in the music industry.

Orelsan has stepped in to save a Breton festival after Gims canceled his appearance while on sick leave. The 44-year-old Norman rapper will take the stage next Sunday at La Flume enchantée in Gévezé, near Rennes, replacing the performer behind “Sapés comme jamais.”

Orelsan really saved us on Sunday, and perhaps the whole weekend!

· Louis LarcherThe festival's co-president praised Orelsan for agreeing to replace Gims at short notice.

Gims had canceled several engagements during a two-week period, including the charity concert ZEvent, dates in Quebec and the Breton festival's Sept. 13 show. Organizers learned of the cancellation on Wednesday, Sept. 2, leaving them only a few days to find a replacement who would not disappoint the audience.

“Gims was our headliner and we needed someone of equivalent stature,” said the organizers, who contacted production companies while trying to find an available artist, crew and equipment. Orelsan already had a place on a major 2026 touring schedule, including Paris's Accor Arena in December, but reportedly agreed to perform after showing interest in discovering the festival.

Gims was our headliner and we needed someone of equivalent stature.

· Festival organizersThey explained why finding a replacement quickly was difficult.

The festival's lineup already includes Bigflo and Oli, Bob Sinclar, Zaz and Claudio Capéo. Several tens of thousands of people are expected over the three days, from Sept. 11 to 13. Christophe Maé was also ready to help, even offering to leave a wedding that weekend to perform. “There was enormous solidarity in the industry,” festival director Erwan Lefaix told Ouest-France. “They all told us, ‘We’re not going to let you down, we’ll find something for you.’”

There was enormous solidarity in the industry.

· Erwan LefaixThe festival director described the support offered by artists, producers and other event organizers.

Orelsan was considered a better fit for Gims's audience than Maé and reportedly agreed without asking for more money. “We had approached him two years ago, but his fee was much higher, so we thought we weren’t big enough to host him,” Lefaix said. The festival credited the rapper's decision with helping protect the event after the last-minute cancellation.

We had approached him two years ago, but his fee was much higher, so we thought we weren’t big enough to host him.

· Erwan LefaixHe recalled why the festival had not previously booked Orelsan.
About this summary

Originally published by Le Figaro in French. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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