Rock fans braved the elements last summer at the 48th Paléo Festival, turning out in force for a night packed with guitar-driven performances. The festival’s penultimate evening featured a diverse lineup, including a rain-defying set from Zaho de Sagazan, alongside American stoner rock from Queens of the Stone Age, British punk courtesy of Sex Pistols &. Frank Carter, and French grunge and metal acts Last Train and Ultra Vomit. Coilguns, hailing from La Chaux-de-Fonds, rounded out the night with their unique blend of these subgenres.
The strong rock showing was a response to concerns that amplified music had become underrepresented at the festival, which hosts around 100 artists over six days and draws a total of 250,000 attendees. The festival’s director, Daniel Rossellat, highlighted its recent recognition as Europe’s best large festival in 2025 by the Association Yourope during the traditional press conference announcing the lineup. This award underscores Paléo’s continued influence in the European festival circuit.
