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Angouleme’s popular summer rock festival, the Garden Nef Party could yet be saved, as regional president Ségolène Royal steps into the debate over funding for the 2010 edition.

In a statement issued yesterday, Royal announced that she wants to save the event, and that she has already held discussions with the mayor of Angouleme Philippe Lavaud over how to secure the future of the popular music festival.

The event has become a major fixture on the French music calendar, and has attracted top acts such as Franz Ferdinand, Gossip, Muse, Arcade Fire and The Klaxons in recent years.

Angouleme has suffered cuts in state funding for 2010, and the mayor has only just got through some difficult negotiations with the organisers of the Comic Strip Festival, who had also threatened to cancel the 2010 edition because of lack of local funding.

The announcement of the cancellation of the Garden Nef Party caused anger amongst supporters, with online protests due to be followed up today with a demonstration outside the town hall.  Festival owner Jean-Louis Ménanteau has appealed for calm amongst supporters, and asked that attacks and threats against the mayor are stopped.

A further meeting will be held on December 7 at the town hall, where discussions will continue over how local agencies can help make up the budget shortfall, and save the 2010 edition.

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