With a focus on the German post romantics, La Folle Journée 2011 classical music festival spans a century of music from 1850 to 1950, from Johannes Brahms to Richard Strauss and the composers of the Vienna School.

Last major romantic musician and heir to the great German tradition, Johannes Brahms influenced many composers in the second half of the 19th century (Max Bruch, Max Reger in particular), and even Arnold Schönberg in the early 20th century.

At the same time, taking its cue from Liszt’s later work and given impetus by Richard Wagner, who championed “the music of the future”, a strong artistic movement sought to develop a completely new musical language. The Austrians Anton Bruckner (a fierce opponent of Brahms), Gustav Mahler, Hugo Wolf and Alexander Zemlinsky, and the German Richard Strauss (whose long career stretched from the end of the Austro-Hungarian Empire to the period after the Second World War) were part of this movement.

The Vienna School, founded by Arnold Schönberg in the early 20th century and joined by his followers Alban Berg and Anton Webern, was a synthesis of these two antagonistic currents. It seemed to be influenced simultaneously by Brahms and by Wagner, Mahler and Richard Strauss while developing its own aesthetic, which in turn influenced the German composers Paul Hindemith, Carl Orff and Hanns Eisler.

Useful Information

Dates: from Wednesday 2nd to Sunday 6th February

Location: Nantes, at La Cité des Congrès Events Centre

Tickets will be on sale from Saturday, January 8th 2011

Phone: +33 892 705 205 (€0,34/min)

Access : see map

More information: La Folle Journée Classical Music Festival – www.follejournee.fr

Source : Press Release La Folle Journée 2011

From Saturday 18th to Friday 31st December, the Machines de l’île of Nantes invite visitors to enjoy different Christmas shows and activities in the decorated “warehouses” (Nefs).

This year’s programme:

Christmas entertainments in the street of the Warehouses

• Decorations with big Christmas trees
• Lighting effects in the street of the Warehouses, the shop and the prototype Branch of the Heron Tree
• Great street bar: chocolate marshmallows, roast chestnuts, hot chocolate, mulled wine …
• The little shop with big posters

NEW « the Little Merry-Go-Round »

Built by Emmanuel Bourgeau, a sculptor and a street artist, who is charge of the Wood Workshop The Machine, the Little Merry-Go-Round will get to the street of the Warehouses on Friday 24th December.

Ice sculptures

• Three sculptors will be working in the street of the Warehouses: Emmanuel Bourgeau, David Slaviero and Fabien Leduc from La Machine association
• Daily ice art works with a focus on Marine Worlds with the possibility to see them every afternoon

Late night opening in the Gallery of the Machines

You will have the opportunity to discover animals and sea monsters in the light of the deep blue light…

Elephant ride, Gallery of the Machines visit and the library-shop

More information: Les Machines de l’île – www.lesmachines-nantes.fr

Source : Press Release Noël aux Nefs 2010

From Saturday 27th November to January 11, 2011, the city of Nantes will glimmer with a thousand sparks for Christmas and New Year celebrations. There will be many festive activities for both children and adults to enjoy…

Toorismag offers here an overview of these activities :

Christmas Market /november 26 –december 25, 2010

The kids’ Merry-Go-Round / november 26 –december 25,  2010

Han,dicrafts workshops / november 27 – 23 december, 2010

The House of Santa Claus / november 27  – 25 december, 2010

Going shopping in the city centre / november 27  –december 24,  2010

Christmas Lights / november 27, 2010 – january 11, 2011

Lëon’s Market, designers’ market / december 3 – 26, 2010

Saint Nicholas and the Bogeyman in Nantes / Saturday 4th december, 2010

The Other Market / december 4 – 23, 2010

Barrel Organ / Sunday 5th, 12th and 19th december, 2010

Swinging Snowmen, music show / Saturday 11th december, 2010

Christmas Walk with paper lanterns / Saturday 11th december, 2010

“Nant’arctique”, skating rink and sledge slope / december 17,  2010 –january 2, 2011

Santa Claus Great Parade / Saturday 18th december, 2010

Visiting the Crypts of Nantes’s Cathedral / december 18 – 26,  2010

Christmas at the “Nefs” / december 18 – 31,  2010

Christmas at the Castle / december 18, 2010 – 5 january, 2011

“Estuaire By Night”, local artists exhibit their work by night / Thursday 23rd and 30th december, 2010

More information:

Download the 2010 detailed programme for all Christmas celebrations in Nantes (French only)

Nantes City Council – www.nantes.fr

Source – Nantes City Council Nantes en fêtes et en lumières – http://www.nantes.fr/detente/actualites_detente/2010_5/noel_2010

The 23rd edition of the Inrocks Black XS music festival will take place in Paris, Lille, Nantes and Toulouse from November 3 to 9, 2010.

As usual, the festival’s line-up has focused on young talented artists and famous bands. The festival 2010 edition will present: Scissor Sisters, The Drums – who got famous this year with their single ‘Let’ s go surfin’-, LCD Sound System – this is the band’s last gig in France before they stop ! -, The Coral, Local Natives from California – stars of many festivals in England last summer -, La Patère Rose, previous member of Libertines Carl Barât, Anna Calvi, Monarchy and many others. This 23rd edition will also welcome special guest French artist Katerine, the man that nobody will prevent from eating bananas !

Useful Information:

Paris, Lille, Nantes and Toulouse line-up

Prices and concert halls

More information: Inrocks Black XS Music Festival – http://blogs.lesinrocks.com/festival-les-inrocks/

Source : Press release Les Inrocks Black XS

From next Friday 24th September to Friday 22nd october, let’s discover the 4th edition of  l’Eté indien aux Nefs in Nantes. This event offers a variety of entertaining shows: theatre, rock, hip-hop, dance, Balkan music and tango.

For this 2010 edition of “l’été Indien” (meaning Indian Summer), visitors will enjoy a musical road-movie show by Albert Magister and his Nantes Europe Express team. Europe is building up step by step and culture is simply one way to know each other, so let’s welcome NEE musical train for a Hungarian rock night and a Romanian hip-hop night.

Since Cargo 92 and les Allumées de Buenos-Aires, the Lieu Unique is now a place where people dance tango. What would be better than a red and black night under the “Nefs”, so let’s come and discover Chilian dancer Barbara Sallier-Vasquez and finish the night with a huge tango ball with musicians gathered by Gerardo Jerez Le Cam.

2010 Line-up :

• CHRISTIANE F :

In collaboration with System D

barock’n roll music and singing exercise

Dates: Friday 24 September – 8.30 pm / Free

info – http://www.myspace.com/christianef44

• THÉÂTRE DES CERISES :

The Man without his arm

Dates: from Wednesday 29 September to Saturday 9 October – 8.30 pm / On Sunday 3 October at 3pm / Price : €8 – €12

Bookings: +33 2 53 90 68 32

Info – www.myspace.com/theatredescerises

• CIE DANSE & +

Tango mío – Air Dance on fabric, afterwards a huge tango ball
Date: Saturday 2 October – 9pm / Price: €8
Tickets for sale on site
Info – www.dansetplus.com

• NANTES EUROPE EXPRESS (1)

JUNKIES – Punk rock
Date: Friday 8 October – 8.30 pm / Free
Info – http://www.nantes-europe-express.eu

• NANTES EUROPE EXPRESS (2)

CEDRY2K et SILENT STRIKE- Hip Hop, electro music
Date: Friday 15 october – 8.30 pm / Free
Info – http://www.nantes-europe-express.eu

• HOT CLUB DES FRÈRES ANDRÉ

SLOBODAN EXPERIMENT – Balkan music
Friday 22 October – 8.30 pm / Free
Info - http://www.myspace.com/lesfreresandre – http://www.myspace.com/sloboex

More information: http://www.lesmachines-nantes.fr/

Source : Press release Été Indien 2010

Held at the end of the summer in Nantes and some of the neighbouring towns, “Les Rendez-vous de l’Erdre” festival is a stunning must-attend event which celebrates both jazz and sailboats.

An amazing mix of jazz and sailboats

Created 20 years ago, the festival is today one of the most amazing event in France with a focus on all jazz genres and a large range of visitors. It is one of the largest event in the nautical world.

Held along the banks of river Erdre from the town of Nort sur Erdre to Nantes through the towns of Sucé sur Erdre, La Chapelle sur Erdre and Carquefou, for four days more than 150,000 visitors will attend this festival. They will have the opportunity to enjoy 90 free concerts in good listening and comfort conditions and will be delighted to see the 150 boats, some of the most beautiful ones in the nautical heritage, which will sail along the 28kms of river Erdre.

The festival’s programme

• 4 days and 4 nights of Jazz and sailboats
• 5 towns along river Erdre
• 16 stages
• 60 bands
• nearly 400 musicians
• more than 90 free concerts
• 150 boats
• 400 crew member
• 150,000 visitors
• more than 60 associations involved

Infos Pratiques

Locations : Nantes (on the banks of river Erdre, between Cours des 50 Otages area and Motte Rouge Bridge), Nort sur Erdre, Sucé sur Erdre, La Chapelle sur Erdre and Carquefou

Dates : from August 26 to 29, 2010

Free Access

Opening of the festival :

• Opening show on Thursday night in Nort sur Erdre
• On Friday from 7 pm to 1 am
• On Saturday from 10 am to 1 am
• On Sunday 10 am 10 pm

More information: “Les Rendez-Vous de l’Erdre” Festival - www.rendezvouserdre.com

Source : Press release RVE 2010

From August 10 to 15, bagpipes, Breton bagpipes, uilleann pipes and many other celtic instruments will be special guests in Guérande for the 20th “Celtiques de Guérande” Festival. 

For their 20th anniversary, “Les Celtiques de Guérande” Festival is the opportunity to discover a wide range of bagpipes. Among other things, you will get the chance to listen to the sound of a local bagpipe called “veuze” presented the way it used to be played in the past or played the modern way with François Robin.

For six days, instruments which made the history of Britany and Celtic countries will be there and you will feel bewitched by their sound. Come and listen to the legendary sounds of the greatest bagpipes players and beware of Korrigans, these Breton goblins, who are never far away from these renowned musicians.

The festival’s programme:

Concerts, traditional danse from Guérande workshops, Breton danses and songs, theatre, debates, Breton cabaret, Fest-Noz, bals for children, shows, parades and many more !

Useful information:

Location: Guérande

Dates : from August 10 to 15, 2010

Information and booking: Guérande Tourist Office, 1 place du Marché au Bois, 44350 Guérande – Phone. : +33 2-40-24-96-71 – Internet : www.ot-guerande.fr and/or www.bro-gwenrann.org

Prices: from €3 to €13  / Some shows are free

Download the festival’s full programme: http://www.bro-gwenrann.org/IMG/pdf/programmation.pdf

More information: “Les Celtiques de Guérande” Festival – http://www.bro-gwenrann.org/Un-festival-qui-ne-manque-pas-d.html

Source : Press release Les Celtiques de Guérande 2010

The memorable 2009 Terres Blanches Festival has strengthened the popular success of this event, held in the town of Guérande, and which has thus become a major cultural event. For this fifth edition, the organising team has decided to make it even more amazing !

An even more outstanding line-up will be offered on July 17 and 18, 2010. This very eclectic line-up will be significant as it will present 5 international artists and 5 French artists who will set the stage of Guérande on fire in order to attract audiences from farther away.

Terres Blanches Festival is pleased to welcome on stage three winning artists of the 25th French Music Awards “Victoires de la Musique“; two artists with no less than two awards each : on the one hand  award winning French Female Artist of the Year OLIVIA RUIZ and on the other hand the famous IZIA, award winning Best Breakthrough Live Performance. Besides, French renowned keystone artists HUGUES AUFRAY will be there to praise his “Award of Honour” he won for his carrier in French music over the years. Rock band EIFFEL will perform on the stage of Terres Blanches festival alongside REVOLVER, voted Best New Artist of the Year.

Terres Blanches festival offers an international line-up thanks to the famous British rock band BABYSHAMBLES with its leading singer PETER DOHERTY, as well as the most Scottish artitst, AMY MACDONALD, but it also prides itself in hosting Jimmy Hendrix’s biggest fan coming directly from New-York, POPA CHUBBY, who is considered one of the best guitarist in the world. This year South Africa will be on the spotlights with one of its greatest advocates, JOHNNY CLEGG. These are indeed renowned artists you will have the opportunity to enjoy this summer.

With such a diverse line-up, we can already say this fifth festival will strengthen this leading musical event in Guérande and that everyone will surely enjoy it.

Useful information

Dates: July 17 and 18, 2010

Location: Terres Blanches Festival  – Avenue Anne de Bretagne – La Coulée Verte – 44350 Guérande – France

Prices:

• Saturday July 17: €35
• Sunday July 18: €35
• 2-days Pass: €55

Click for the festival’s complete line-up

More information: Terres Blanches festival www.festival-terres-blanches.fr

Source : Presse release Terres Blanches 2010

This year, the International Guitar Festival celebrates its 6th anniversary, which will be held for one week from next June 29 to July 6. Argentinian master guitarist Roberto Aussel, artisitic director of the festival, has invited unique musicians in Nantes.

This 6th guitar festival will present many recitals and concerts which will take place in the heart of Nantes in nice and welcoming settings, such as the city’s Fine Arts Museum and the Dukes of Britanny  Castle (Château des Duc de Bretagne), in the guise of café-concerts (i.e. café where singers entertain customers). This year, flamenco, classical guitar, early music and bossa-nova will give rythm to Nantes International Guitar Festival.

This music event, first one of the summer in Nantes and the only one of its kind in western France, is an opportunity to discover great artists like Roberto Ausse’s recital or the italian Oscar Ghiglia and his classical guitar, Andrès Ségovia’s latest student; and also unique andalusian guitarist Manolo Franco for a special flamenco night.

On Sunday at Nantes’s Dukes of Brittany Castle, a fantastic duet will be presented. One of them, Serge Goubioud, will be singing while the other one, Jean-Luc Tamby, will be playing all sorts of guitars, the lute, the theorbo, the baroque guitar, the classical guitar, … In other words, both Renaissance music and Bossa-Nova will be linked together on one single exciting stave !

As usual, the festival’s “Highlight” is also presented. This year, amazing Japanese artist Maseo Tanibe is the festival’s special guest. Besides, there will be a focus on Cuban music. Just like every year, the entry to this recital will be free subject to availability.

The festival’s closing show will present major acoustic guitar player Pierre Bensusan. A great show in perspective !

Useful information

Prices for the Fine Arts Museum and Dukes of Brittany Castle:

• €15 : 1st series (numbered seats)
• € 12: 2nd serie (seat where you like)
• other concerts (July 1st 6.30 pm at the Fine Arts Museum, café-concerts, Master Class students concert on July 6) : free entry

Bookings: Harmonia Mundi – 21 rue Crébillon, Nantes – Phone: +33 2 40 69 84 50

Contact : jeanluc.queau@numericable.fr

Information: +33 2 51 25 07 46 / +33 2 51 25 07 38

Click for the complete festival’s programme

More information: International Guitar Festival – http://semaineguitarenantes2010.blogspot.com/

Music Day, also known in other countries as World Music Day, is held every year in France. This year, for its 29th anniversary, the event will put the spotlight on women… So let’s meet on Monday 21st June !

Be they music composers , opera singers, conductors, street singers, songwriters or DJs, the focus will be put on their creativity, their struggles and the deep and true nature of their music.

Since ancient times, women have always been an endless source of inspiration that has inspired the greatest melodies. Muses, singers or musicians, they take a leading part in the practice of this art. In order to pay a tribute to them, the 29th edition of Music Day in France will be focused on “music and women”.

This unifying theme will provide an opportunity for all artists, whether they are amateurs or professionals, to celebrate Music Day and women by interpreting compositions made by or for women … A large selection in prospect !

For one day and one night, French cities and towns will be swept away by all kinds of music, with concerts, free events and also the possibility of discovering amateur music players or singers in pubs and cafés.

More information: 2010 Music Day – www.fetedelamusique.culture.fr

Source: presse release “Fête de la Musique 2010″