There are three major popular music festivals during the year in the Charente Maritime; FrancoFolies,
Rochefort en Accords and, cheating a bit, the Cognac Blues Festival which is just over to border in the Charente department.
But first, not really a festival but a very important musical event, the Fete de la Musique
Launched in 1982 by the French Ministry for culture, the Fête de la Musique is now held in more than hundred countries in Europe and over the world. It takes place every 21st June, the day of the summer solstice.
Completely different from a music festival, the Fête de la Musique is above all a free popular fête, open to any participant (amateur or professional musicians) who wants to perform in it. This Music day allows the expression of all styles of music in a cheerful atmosphere. It aims at a large audience, working to popularise musical practice for young and not so young people from all social backgrounds. It gives an opportunity to communicate and share a very special moment through music.
The musicians are asked to perform for free, and all the concerts are free for the public. It’s the reason why they take place in open air areas such as streets and parks or in public buildings like museums, train stations, castles… Furthermore, the Fête de la Musique is a way to encourage the major music institutions (orchestra, operas, choirs, etc.) to perform outside their usual locations. It also offers an opportunity to develop exchanges between city centres and their outlying areas, to offer concerts in hospitals or in prisons, to promote encounters and exchanges between young musicians and well-known talents.
Nearly every town and village in the Charente Maritime will participate in the Fete de Musique but not always on the 21st June, sometimes a day or two before or after the official date. La Rochelle is of course the main venue with the town centre being closed from about 7pm 'til the early hours. By 9pm the streets are packed with live music coming at you from every corner and ranging from a Gospel Choir to grunge rock!
Held annually in Cognac Blues Passions, or the Cognac Blues Festival is a must for all blues fans. Now in its 15th year the event grows bigger and bigger without somehow losing its intimacy and friendly atmosphere. This is what the organisers say about it;.
'This fifteenth edition establishes Cognac Blues Passion as the leading blues festival. Not only in France, but very certainly in Europe." writes Soul Bag (the French specialist magazine) .
The exceptional setting of the outdoor theatre, the numerous musical events, attractive ticket prices, the fringe projects, the programming and the hospitality make Blues Passion an essential rendezvous in the summer festival season. Thanks to the backing of the artists, Blues Passion has gradually been recognised in professional circles as an essential and major step in the career of any artist
The number of visitors (40,000 in 2002 compared to 9,236 in 1997 and 1,708 in 1994) make it an important event in its category along with the quality of the programming with internationally acclaimed artists such as B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Ray Charles, Liz Mc Comb, Otis Rush, Luther Allison, Taj Mahal, Jimmie Vaughan, Ike turner, Dr. John, The Fabulous Thunderbirds and Isaac Hayes.
Its unusual format creates a unique spirit : five days and nights when artists, festival-goers, partners, volunteers and organisers weave bonds of friendship where the generations mingle side by side to a rhythm of most surprising encounters where music brings together different cultures and identities in the same tempo.
The dates set for 2008 are 22nd to 27th of July. Check out www.bluespassions.com for an update.
Latest on the 2008 Festival
The programme this year seems a trifle bizarre with two of the headline acts being Joan Baez and Status Quo! Hardly blues. To compensate there is the wonderful Etta James. There are far more home grown acts with fewer US and UK performers.
Amongst the small Brit contingent is the hugely talented Boogie pianist Bob Hall. Bob's played with nearly every British blues band since the 1960's and is truly a founder figure of UK RnB. Playing with him in 'The Bob Hall Show' is another 60's survivor, guitarist Gareth Thomas who's now resident in France.
"If there's a better blues piano player outside the US than Bob Hall from the UK, it must be the world's best kept secret." - Roots & Rhythm
You can catch them at the festival 8 pm on Wed., Thurs. and Friday evenings at the Cafe St Jacques which is over the bridge opposite the distilleries.
The biggest of the convential festivals is held mid-July (2008, 11th to 16th) around the port at La Rochelle. It's an annual celebration of French music and chanson, known as the FrancoFolies. Concerts take place in three venues - the Esplanade on the seafront, the historic Grand Théâtre and the smokily atmospheric Salle Bleue - and feature French music from across the spectrum, including folk, rock and jazz. Artistes and groups come from froncophonic countries all over the world to perform. Although most of the performers will not be well known by most British people the atmosphere in the town during the week is irresistable with numerous cafes and bars putting on bands and singers outside the official festival venues. http://www.francofolies.fr/accueil/index.html
Rochefort en Accords (Rochefort in tune)
A little gem of a festival, now just in its 4th year, is held at Rochefort, for four days during the last week of August. Organised by an American music promoter , Karyl Beer, and with the backing of the Rochefort Council, it's unlike any other musical event you're likely to have come across.
Although on the Friday and Saturday nights there are big staged events the bulk of the music is performed in small venues, mostly open air, around the town; on the street, on the riverside, in gardens and parks.The performers 20 plus get together in small groups to share each others' songs and instumentals perhaps never having performed together before. The resulting musical 'chemistry' can produce a potent and exciting brew! Difficult to put a label on the styles of music presented but it's broadly a mixture of folk-rock, blues and country performed by American, British and French musicians; mostly singer/songwriters.
The daytime events are mostly free and the two staged concerts modestly priced. The atmosphere generated by the festival is not to be missed!
Check out http://www.anythingmatters.com/rochefort/ to see what went on at the 2007 festival, complete with U Tube links.
2008 Festival
Booked to perform this year, 21 -23 August, are;
BJ Cole, Geraint Watkins; John Lester, George Wolfheart, Boo Hewerdine, Clive Gregson, Gabriela Arnon, Rodolphe Burger, Yann Vagh, and Renaud Pion
Classical Music - Saintes
The annual classical music festival at Saintes is being held this year, 2008, from 10th to the 20th of July. Performances take place each day in the Abbaye aux Dames and the programme is predominantly Baroque though other periods are also catered for.
For details of the festival visit: http://www.abbayeauxdames.org/fr/festival_de_saintes
Hippy Festival
Held in a field near Matha about the middle of August each year is the Festival Hippie that attempts to recreate Woodstock and the Summer of LoveNo big names but a good selection of groups paying hommage to Hendrix, Santana, Frank Zappa etc; If that's your 'bag' then have a look at http://www.festival-hippie.com/accueil.htm
