Paray-le-Monial. Paray Tribute Festival: What do we know about the program?

Expect a cocktail of decibels for over 4 hours. On Saturday, June 28, the Paray Tribute Festival returns for a 3rd edition at the La Varenne racecourse, with a 100% rock 'n' roll lineup featuring tributes to AC/DC, the Rolling Stones, and Led Zeppelin, after two rather pop-rock editions . "It's public demand that wants this," confides Ouaffa Vasse, president of N'Joy Music, the association organizing the event, with producer Fabien Ramade. "For each edition, we launch a survey on social networks to find out what people expect. This time, it was 100% rock, 80% AC/DC based on hundreds of responses." The lineup then seems to be taking shape, but there are so many AC/DC tributes...

“Clearly, I wanted to raise the bar for this Paray tribute festival and offer the best of the best for this edition,” the president continues. On the advice of her friend Fabien Ramade, she crossed the Channel to discover AC/DC UK, which “is among the best of the best in Europe.” She went to see them live in February. “I, who am not necessarily a fan of AC/DC, or of rock in general, literally fell in love with what they represent on stage. I felt like I was seeing the real thing. There is no soundtrack, it’s 100% live. They are professionals. The band has established itself in recent years as one of the most authentic tribute bands in Europe. […] Even before meeting them, when they started the first notes, I knew I would ask them to come to Paray-le-Monial. They took me into their world… We signed them that same evening.” They are extremely excited to come to France,” adds Ouaffa Vasse, still proud to promote her region.

Two other tribute acts will complete the festival's lineup, including Not The Rolling Stones. "They're a British band I'd noticed a while ago, Fabien (Ramade) suggested them to me... and I really wanted to see them in Paray. I love their offbeat, hyper-colorful side on stage, they're incredibly talented," says Ouaffa Vasse. "These two British tribute bands know each other, and it was exciting for us to have these two quality bands at our festival. Because, frankly, there isn't one better than the other. We really have two big headliners here who will be accompanied by Zepset, a more local tribute band, as the opening act." Since 2003, the Roanne band has been revisiting Led Zeppelin's greatest hits. "It was the audiences of previous editions who asked me for them. Every time, people tell me, 'Take them, you'll see, they're a hit; what they do is great.'" I've interacted with the band and seen a lot of their videos. I'm confident I can trust their fans."

The event wants to grow, and the team of around fifteen volunteers is giving it the means, and hopes to bring together more than 2,000 people at the racecourse on Saturday, June 28 ( compared to 1,500 last year ). "We have bet on professional quality groups, and therefore on a much larger stage (160 m² compared to 90 m² in 2024) to see them offer a great show," confides Ouaffa Vasse. The budget has accordingly increased from €30,000 to €50,000.

Each year, the Paray Tribute Festival honors a charity. In 2025, it supports the Mon P'tit Bonhomme association, created to support Tiago, a child from Chassenard who suffers from a very rare genetic disease.

Saturday, June 28. Doors open at 5 p.m., hosted by Jean-Michel Tomasz. Cost: €27 (free for children under 11). Tickets: https://www.helloasso.com/associations/n-joy-music/evenements/ptf-2025 and points of sale at the E. Leclerc centers in Paray-le-Monial and Digoin, and on site on the day of the event. Sweet and savory food trucks on site.