Les Rencontres Trans Musicales #Trans2018

With the days getting shorter and the weather getting colder, there's no denying winter is on its way. And with the change of the season we're looking ahead to the big event in December - Les Rencontres Trans Musicales in Rennes.

2018 marks the 40th edition of the festival that acts as a major showcase for some of the best developing artists. There is always a well-curated selection of acts from around the world, but there's always a solid presence of French artists. For many, an appearance at the Trans Musicales is the first major step in a career.

Recent years have seen performances by Benjamin Clementine, Jeanne Added, Stromae and Grand Blanc.

Fourteen names were released earlier this month, but another major tranche of artists have been added to the bill.

Among the French acts this year are rapper Disiz, electro act Dombrance, Ouai Stéphane, RexRegis, The Psychotic Monks, The YD and Venice Club.

From Canada there are francophone artists Hubert Lenoir and  Les Louanges and further afield come Franco-Chilean duo Nova Materia.

Local acts from Rennes and elsewhere in Brittany include Initials Bouvier Bernois, Fleuves.

Already announced are Aloïse Sauvage, Praa, Ryder The Eagle and  La Fraicheur.

I'll feature some of these acts in more detail in coming weeks. There are likely to be some memorable live sets this year.

This year's poster was designed by US artist Brendan Monroe. It's got to be one of the best so far.

The festival runs from December 5 to Sunday December 9.

Transmusicales 2018: First names announced #trans2018

The first portion of names playing this year's Transmusicales festival in Rennes has been served up by the festival's organisers.

Fifteen of the acts playing the 40th edition of the event have been confirmed. Performances are held in the city centre at venue including the Ubu and the Liberté as well as at the Expo park on the edge of the city. Many of the shows in the city are free.

Transmusicales is a showcase for developing acts like no other. While featuring some of the best international acts, it has an equally well-curated selection of French acts.

Among the acts confirmed so far is Aloïse Sauvage, who might be better known for her performance in the film 120 beats per minute, but has also released several singles since 2015 establishing herself as a significant electro pop artist. Her most recent release, Hiver brûlant, was released earlier this year.

Other french acts include R&B soul act Praa, a Rennes local who has so far released a couple of critically acclaimed singles, Ryder the Eagle, the former drummer with Les Aves who has released a single and an EP so far in his solo career, and there's a DJ set by house/techno artist La Fraicheur.

Elsewhere the bill includes middle eastern psych rock from Al-Qasar, Afro-latin funk from Arp Frique, indie rock from Bodega from the USA, disco act Bruno Belissimo, afropop from Pongo, psych pop from Pressyes, veteran soul act Robert Findley,  Armenian neo-traditional act The Naghash Ensemble.

American punk afrobeat act Underground System are playing, as are South Korean/UK pop act Wooze.

Contemporary (well, 60s and early 70s influenced...) British rock is represented by The Surrenders.

The main announcement of act playing this year's Transmusicales is made on September 20. This year's festival runs from December 5 to December 9.