The very first Impressionist Normandy Festival, is the occasion to explore the roots of one of the most important art movements of art history. This major cultural event of Summer celebrates Impressionism until September throughout the regions of Upper and Lower Normandy.

Revealing Impressionism in all its Forms

Visitors will have the opportunity to discover the exceptional cultural heritage and all the creative talent of Normandy, homeland of the Impressionist movement. Many festivities, whether directly linked to Impressionism and its time or perpetuating its avant-garde spirit, are being designed to enchant residents, summer visitors, fans and art amateurs from all corners of the world.

Painting, contemporary art, music, cinema, theatre, danse, photography, video, literature, lectures, light and sound displays, picnics in the spirit of déjeuners sur l’herbe, outdoor balls, and more: the Impressionist Normandy Festival is as rich as it is diverse. It offers a programme which is open to everyone and to all forms of artistic expression. More than 200 events in homage to Impressionism will take place in Normandy at the initiative of museums, local government councils, institutions, individuals and associations.

Heading up the festival is the much awaited exhibition, “Une ville pour l’Impressionnisme: Monet, Pissarro, Gauguin à Rouen” (“A City for Impressionism: Monet, Pissarro, Gauguin in Rouen”). The Fine Arts Museum of Rouen presents a number of outstanding works from worldwide public and private collections. Many of them are masterpieces which have never been exhibited in France.

Useful information:

Dates : From June 5 to September 29, 2010

Location: The festival takes place in the regions of Upper and Lower Normandy in tens of towns and cities.

The 2010 programme: on 2010: http://www.normandie-impressionniste.fr/en/programmation

More information: Impressionist Normandy Festival – www.normandie-impressionniste.fr

Source : Press release dp_anglais_bd

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

If blues was born in the cotton fields, it is now played and enjoyed worldwide, including in Avoine ! From 1st to 4th July, this small town in the Indre-et-Loire area will host the 11th Avoine Zone Blues festival. This is a major event the region which offers a special international line-up with a focus on blues  and similar genres.

By combining blues and similar music genres, Avoine Zone Blues festival is based on a challenging and top quality artistic line-up. This festival aims at promoting new and young talented artists. Internationally renowned bands or artists will perform alongside local ones. Here, people have the opportunity to enjoy the most well-known modern artists and discover those who will be famous tomorrow !

Avoine Zone Blues festival: 2010 line-up

Thursday July 1st:

• 7 pm: Bo Weavil / Rest’O Blues
• 9 pm: Jacques Higelin / Chapiteau
• 11 pm: Joe Louis Walker / Chapiteau

Friday July 2nd:

• 10 am-1 pm: La Planche à Laver / Place de l’Eglise
• 6 pm: Nina Attal / Rest’O Blues
• 7.30 pm: Mountain Men / Rest’O Blues
• 9 pm: The Mannish Boys / Chapiteau
• 10.30 pm: Mick Taylor / Chapiteau
• Midnight: After Boeuf / Rest’O Blues

Saturday July 3rd:

• 10 am-12 am: La Planche à Laver / Place de l’Eglise
• 2 am – 7 pm: Scène Ouverte / Podium NR
• 7 pm: The Paper Plane / Rest’O Blues
• 9 pm: Michael Jones / Chapiteau
• 10.30 pm: Earth, Wind & Fire Experience featuring Al McKay / Chapiteau
• Midnight: After Boeuf / Rest’O Blues

Sunday July 4:

• 11 am: La Planche à Laver / Rest’O Blues
• 12.30 am: Boolumbal Blues / Rest’O Blues
• 2 pm: Air Guitar / Podium NR
• 3 pm: 1000 guitares / Podium NR
• 4 pm: Marc André Léger / Rest’O Blues
• 6 pm: Jacques Dutronc / Chapiteau
• 8 pm: After Boeuf / Rest’O Blues

Useful information

Prices per day

• Full price: €35 (”Chapiteau” concerts, per day)
• Bookings: €30 (usual outlets or Avoine Town Hall +33 2 47 98 11 15)
• Works Councils: €28 (contact +33 2 47 98 11 15)
• Reduced price (students, job seekers and showbusiness workers): €20
• Free entry for children under 12

Pass « Festival »: €75 (sold only in Avoine Town Hall – free access to all concerts – provide an ID photo – personal pass)

More information: www.avoine-zone-blues.com

Source : press release “Avoine Zone Blues 2010″

Both snoopy and hungry, full of surprises and curious, “Le Rock Dans Tous Ses Etats” music festival 27th anniversary promises to be a unique event !

“Le Rock Dans Tous Ses Etats” festival will be held on June 25 and 26, in Evreux, Normandy, and will offer two days of music, solidarity, merry-making and happiness with bare feet on the grass.  The show will be special and unique with a lot of artists to discover and filled with emotions, this is for sure.

From heavenly and cosmic rock to staggering electro music, a finger in the plug, another pointed to the sky to Michael Jackson or Patrick Topaloff, who knows…

Once again this year, the festival maintains its core values : sharing, conviviality and responsibility. Its collaboration with WWF is on the rise. The Eco-Event Label has been created and shows its commitment to reduce the environmental footprint and to keep up the festival’s eco-responsibility.

This year’s line-up : Babyshambles / Rock, Pony Pony Run Run / Electro Pop, Les Tambours du Bronx / Drums, Jeff Lang / Blues, Renan Luce / French music, Jamaica / Electro Pop, Suicidal Tendencies / Trash Metal, Infectious Grooves / Fusion Metal, Bang Bang Eche / Electro Rock, The Black Box Revelation / Rock, Bloody Beetroots Death Crew 77 / Electro, The Black Keys /Blues, Fm Belfast / Electro Pop, The Patriotic Sunday / Pop, and so many more ! Click here for the complete line-up

Useful information:

Location: Evreux, Normandy – Hippodrome de Navarre

Dates et opening time:

• Friday, June 25 | opening at 4.30 pm, closing at 3 am
• Saturday, June 26 | opening at 3 pm, closing at 3 am

Prices:

• Pre-Booking : 1 day €35  / 2 days €48
• Reduced price : students and special FNAC members: 2 days €40
• On the festival : 1 day €39 / 2 days €52

Information please call +33 2 32 31 86 80

More information: “Le Rock Dans Tous Ses Etats” music festival – www.lerock.org

Source : press release”Le Rock Dans Tous Ses Etats 2010″

During 3 days and 4 nights, with nearly 75 international bands performing on stage, the 22nd Eurockéennes Music Festival of Belfort will offer from July 2 to 4 a promising and full of discoveries line-up including pop, rock, ska, metal, electro on the enchanting peninsula of Malsaucy, able to host 100,000 people.

The 2010 Eurockéennes Music Festival of Belfort collection

This year, for festival-goers, the Eurockéennes festival’s line-up will bring together…

… a full lot of expected venues: JAY-Z and MISSY ELLIOTT’s hip-hop, hardly ever seen  live on-stage in France; AIRBOURNE’s hard rock revival; MIKA’s enthusiastic pop music; frenchy candour of both CHARLOTTE GAINSBOURG, for pop music, and BB BRUNES, for rock; THE SPECIALS’s historical ska music; KASABIAN, THE XX, MARTINA TOPLEY BIRD or HOT CHIP’s British flow; JULIAN CASABLANCAS or THE BLACK KEYS’s US rock as well as JANELLE MONAE’s fresh soul music.

… some happy friendships: MASSIVE ATTACK, coming-up with a new album; THE HIVES, for a single show in France; VITALIC and its amazing electro live performance; lovely French artist EMILIE SIMON;  LCD SOUNDSYSTEM’s electro-disco music; alternative Belgian rock band GHINZU.

… and plenty of other exciting discoveries: GALLOWS / Hardcore-Metal; HEALTH / Noise Electro; BLOODY BEETROOTS / Electro; FOALS /Pop Rock; EMPIRE OF THE SUN / Pop Electro; CHROMEO / Electro; THE SUBS / Electro; TWO DOOR CINEMA CLUB / Pop Electro; BROKEN SOCIAL SCENE / Indie Pop; GENERAL ELEKTRIKS / Funk groove; WE ARE ENFANT TERRIBLE / Electro 8 Bit; AFRODIZZ / Afrobeat; FUCK BUTTONS / Electro; THE MIDDLE EAST / Folk; KING MIDAS SOUND / Dubstep; SERENA MANEESH / Indie Shoegaze; ACTION BEAT / Punk; ROX / Soul Reggae; BOMBA ESTEREO / Electro Cumbia; MEMORY TAPES / Electro or also THE BEWITCHED HANDS ON THE TOP OF OUR HEAD / Folk Pop; WILDBIRDS & PEACEDRUMS, and many more !

“Créations et Repérages” : 2010 new selected artists

Co-Chairman of the De Concert! association (18 festivals in France, Switzerland, Belgium, Denmark, Germany and Canada), the Eurockéennes Music Festival will receive GABLE, SELAH SUE, SCHLACHTHOFBRONX, PRINCE MIIAOU, i.e. 4 out of the 18 selected bands  that will be presented to the public this summer within the frame of the artistic common operation called Hot Spots for Hot Tracks.

Above all, the festival turns out to be a real discovery place thanks to the Repérages Eurockéennes actions which are way to spot new talented artists (THE PICTUREBOOKS, FILIAMOTSA, OY, COLT SILVERS, ELEKTRISK GONNER, MY LADY’S HOUSE, RIEN) as well as the selection of 3 bands coming from SFR young talents (WANKIN’ NOODLES, PRINCE MIIAOU et KID BOMBARDOS ).

The Eurockéennes summer music festival experience also dedicates one afternoon to metal music artists (SUICIDAL TENDENCIES, BARONESS, INFECTIOUS GROOVES, CONVERGE) as well as a look at today’s African and Middle Eastern music (OMAR SOULEYMAN, ETHIOPIQUES, SAWAH and BOMBA ESTEREO).

Useful information

Dates : July 2, 3 and 4, 2010

Prices (renting expenses excluded) advance booking only :

• 1-day ticket – €42  : Friday, Saturday or Sunday.
• 3-day ticket – €95
• Bus and Festival Pass – from €152 (departure from 51 cities in France, Switzerland, Belgium and Luxemburg on www.ontours.fr)

Access the festival’s:

• Free buses from the city of Belfort to the festival.
• By car : if you use the highway or other roads, make sure you follow the signs that have been set up by the festival’s team in order to access the festival easily. A huge car park area is also available.
• Free optymo buses link the car park area, the camping site and Belfort train station to the festival.

More information and the full festival’s line-up on: http://festival.eurockeennes.fr/

Source : press release “Eurocks 2010″

This 25-27 June, the 2010 edition of Solidays will rock Parisʼ Longchamp racecourse, featuring more than 80 concerts in support of the fight against AIDS. As usual, this yearʼs festival will bring together diverse artists from every corner of the globe.

Archive, Kasabian, Pony Pony Run Run, Wolfmother and Ghinzu will get the crowds jumping, while NERD, Wax Tailor, General Elektriks, Hocus Pocus and Féfé fill the air with their sexy groove.

The exceptional line-up includes renowned French artists like the captivating Vanessa Paradis for a not-to-be-missed acoustic session, as well as Olivia Ruiz and Izia – both winners of 2010 French Music Awards – the rarely-seen Rodrigo y Gabriela, Nneka & Crookers, and of course the incredible -M- for the festival’s closing show.

Once again, Solidays aims to satisfy even the most eclectic tastes, featuring the punk-rock rifts of Skip the Use, Staff Benda Bilili’s Congolese rumba beats, Jeff Lang’s Australian blues-folk and even preacher-rapper Brother Aliʼs one-of-a-kind flow.

Famous local artists like Jacques Higelin – making his first appearance at Solidays – and Toots & the Maytals will also be out in force at this yearʼs festival.

But thatʼs not all – fans at this yearʼs Solidays will rock out to the likes of Femi Kuti, Florence and the Machine, Diamʼs, Hindi Zahra, Revolver, Winston McAnuff, Carmen Maria Vega, BB Brunes, Shakaponk, The Inspector Cluzo, Babylon Circus, Gush, Oldelaf, Souljazz Orchestra, Blood Red Shoes, Local Natives, Java, Jil is Lucky, Tumi & The Volume, Oxmo Puccino, Ariane Moffatt, Beat Torrent, Chinese Man, Che Sudaka, Smod, Missill, CongopunQ, Meï Teï Shô, Scratch Bandits Crew, Curry & Coco, Jamaïca, Bang Bang Eche, Nasser, Delphic, Phoebe Killdeer & The Short Straws, Fanga and, last but not least, Les Musiciens du Métro, Les Talents de la Région Ile-de-France and the winners of the Paris Jeunes Talents contest.

Useful information

Dates: June 25, 26 and 27, 2010

Location: Hippodrome de Longchamp, Paris

Prices:

• 3-day Pass : €49 (sold out)
• 2-day Pass: €44 (sold out)
• Day-Pass : €32
• Free under 12 years old / Childrenʼs area open daily

On-site camping available and free bus transfers to the site to the Porte Maillot métro station

More information: www.solidays.com

Source : presse release “Solidays 2010″

Spring will soon be here and so does the festival season ! Without necessarily giving you an comprehensive list, here is an overview to our selection of France’s coming festivals…

• In April:

Printemps de Bourges, from April 13 to 18, will start proudly the festival season by celebrating its 34th anniversary. More info: http://www.printemps-bourges.com/en/home/welcome.php

• In June:

Hellfest open air, from June 18 to 20 for its 5th edition in Clisson, Western France. This 2010 edition already promises to be THE  major metal event ever organised in France! More info: www.hellfest.fr

Solidays, from June 25  to 27, at the Longchamps-Paris racecourse, this festival will bring together many artists all commited to the fight against AIDS. More info: www.solidays.org

• In July:

Eurockéennes of Belfort, from July 2 to 4 : this rock festival will bring together 80 artists on 5 different stages. The must-see artists: Jay-Z, Mika, The Hives, Charlotte Gainsbourg. More info: www.festival.eurockeennes.fr

The Avignon Theatre Festival from July 7 to 27, is a major and must-attend event of the european art life. For 3 weeks, this the festival will please theatre lovers with its 64th edition.  More info: www.festival-avignon.com

Francofolies, from July 13 to 17 , in La Rochelle, western France. New places, new names, new artists on stage to give you more fun and emotions!  The must-see artists: Phœnix, Diam’s, Émilie Simon, Cœur de Pirate. More info: www.francofolies.fr

Vieilles Charues, from July 15 to 18, in Carhaix, Brittany. The must-see artists: Muse, Mika, Indochine, Alain Souchon. More info: www.vieillescharrues.asso.fr

Musilac, from July 16 to 18, in Aix-Les-Bains, Esplanade du Lac, southern France, will celebrate its 9th anniversary. The must-see artists: Pony Pony Run Run, M, ZZ Top, Peter Doherty, Luke, Indochine, Cœur de Pirate. More info: www.musilac.com

• In August:

Route du Rock, will take place from August 13 to 15, in Saint Malo – Le Fort Saint Père, Brittany, for its 20th edition. The must-see artists: Massive Attack, The Flamming Lips, Yann Tiersen. More info: www.laroutedurock.com

Rock en Seine, will be held in the Saint Cloud gardens from August 27 to 29 for its 8th edition. The must-see artists: Blink 182, Arcade Fire, Cypress Hill, Queens of the Stone Age, The Kooks, Foals and  Massive Attack. More info: www.rockenseine.com

From March 3 to April 25, in Paris, the festival de l’imaginaire presents a diverse programme : music, dances and theatre to discover.

In line with news of destruction, brutal breaks, imbalance, strife, misunderstandings, betrayals, but paradoxically also networking, several performances, rituals, concerts and exhibitions of this 14th festival de l’imaginaire have a focus on memory, roots and cultural identities constantly building-up themselves.

As it always does, the festival holds a few surprises in store with a lot to discover. Unsuspected treasures of the immaterial cultural heritage, creations and classical music performed by today’s artists will be presented.

The programme: krishnanattam, rare and unknown show from southern India; the ceremony of Tibetan Monks from the Nechung monastery; Moscow’s Cantors, one of Russia’s most renowned choir;  the Jamaicans from Blue Glaze Mento Band; and also Mexican singer Silvia Maria with her songs about Oaxaca, her native region.

More information: Festival de l’imaginaire – www.festivaldelimaginaire.com

Coming up next April 2, 3 and 4 is Southwestern France major music festival, which will start the festival season and will take place as usual in the Parc Exposition of Marmande.

With over 14 years experience, meetings and with an increased number of festival-goers, this year the Garorock Festival keeps on attracting nationally and internationally renowned artists, who will set the tone for amazing and vibrant nights.

The programme is expected to be oriented towards electro, rock, reggae and hip-hop, actually there will be a mix of today’s best musics. The Garorock festival stages will include many artists such as British band Archive, French bands Mickey 3D, Le Peuple de l’Herbe, or even this year’s new group Pony Pony Run Run, but also Alpha Blondy, De La Soul and many others !

Altogether more than 60 bands will share the 3 stages of the festival, which has a capacity of 20.000 people per day. And, the cherry on the cake, once more the Garorock festival takes place on Easter Monday, which will leave some extra time for music and party… Are there any takers ?

More information: www.garorock.com

For its 19th edition, the Sons d’Hiver Festival, which takes place in 13 towns of the Val-de-Marne region, offers until February 20 a wide-ranging music programme consisting of jazz, improvised musics, rock and hip-hop. This year’s theme  is promising : new desires.

For the opening day, Hamid Drake will present his new creole, new orleans and caribbean style  Bindu : dynamic, full of joy and dance. After that Neneh Cherry together with Ethnic Heritage Ensemble  will pay a tribute to Don Cherry.

Lots of surprises, small or large ones, will follow one another during this festival. Among others, the concert-debate of Yves Rober ” money is dear to us ” will lead to a burst of music in the current economic debates. Besides, for its 30th anniversary, the Nato label will pay a tribute to Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen. Then, Living Colour together with Last Poets will celebrate Emory Douglas’s  outstanding images, the Black Panthers’ illustrator. Eventually, Melvin Van Peebles himself will perform the opera version of his well known Sweet Sweetback’s baadasssss Song.

Also note: apart from the concerts, drum-conferences will give rythm to the festival.

More information: Sons d’Hiver Festival – www.sonsdhiver.org