Bars en Trans 2018: Some highlights

Rennes is a hive of activity for French music this weekend, with the Transmusicales festival showcasing some of the finest emerging acts from France and elsewhwhere.

Acts like Jeanne Added. Moodoid, Grand Blanc and Benjamin Clementine are among those who have emerged to mainstream recognition from appearances at the event.

But the city also hosts a more grass-roots event, the Bars en Trans festival that sees dozens of acts playing at bars, clubs and other small venues across the city.

Some of the acts are local, from Rennes and elsewhere in Brittany, others from further afield in France and beyond.

In terms of genre, there's the widest possible cross section, with intreging listings like techno-indus/Rennes and chanson brute primative/Metz rubbing shoulders with rap/Paris, rock/Lille and electro/Saint-Etienne.

There are more acts playing than it's physically possible to get to over a few days, but here are a few of them. I'll feature a few more in the next couple of days.

Camp Claude are fine ambassadors of new French pop. They're bright, sharp and smarter than they might first appear. Hugely enjoyable and they deserve to be the official soundtrack for the French summer.




Taxi Kebab present an intoxicating proposition with their psych-flavoured melange of electronics and guitar, a flavour of heavy north African drones and diorientating sonics. If the Master Musicians of Joujouka grew up listening to Aphex Twin it might sound something like this.



Sweet pop vocals and a backdrop of dark trip hop electronics from UTO, a classy duo from Ivry-sur-Seine.




Agapé produces a sharp and smart electronic informed R & B, flavoured with tropical urban beats and chilled vocals.



Mauvais Œil are recent signings to Disque Enterprise, home of Bagarre, Grand Blanc and Moodoid, all acts that gained a lot of attention from festival performances in Rennes. There's something of a gothic indie rock spirit here, with an arabic psyche flavour. Very impressive.

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.

Rachid Taha at the Trans musicales de Rennes, 21012

Great to watch the live set by Rachid Taha that he performed at the Trans musicales de Rennes, in memory of the huge talent that we recently lost.

Rachid Taha died on September 12, leaving a legacy that few will match. He took the sound North Africa into new places, inspired by (and according to legend inspiring) the Clash, electronica and rock.

From his early work with Carte de Séjour to his 2013 album Zoom, Taha was the kind of iconoclast most artists can only aspire to being.

The set in Rennes was filmed by Arte, and having a performance like this on tape really shows the value of filming these events.

Festival: I'm From Rennes

If I had to choose a favourite French city, Rennes would be a strong contender. It's a scenic and historic place of course, but it also punches well above its weight in terms of its music scene.

Maybe it's the large student population, with a univesity and art school in the city. Or maybe it's something in Brittany's celtic culture, where pubs take a more significant place in society than the traditional French cafe, that helps support a thriving musical culture.

Or perhaps it is because it is far enough away from Paris that acts have the opportunity to practice their craft and develop organically at their own pace and in a supportive environment.

Like Liverpool, Manchester or Glasgow it has a vibrant musical landscape and history of its own, as well as providing a fertile ground for the artists of tomorrow.

While events like the Transmusicales attract international attention, today sees a smaller scale event in the city to celebrate the local talent. I'm From Rennes runs from today until September 23 and sees events at clubs, theatres as well as other venues including public squares and libraries.

The event describes itself as La rentrée de la scene Rennais - the return of the Rennes scene after the holidays.

Tonight sees contemporary rock act Février play at the Champs Libres in the city centre, and Maximilien and Praa bring electro and soul ouotdoors at Place de la Parcheminerie.

This weekend Square Guy Houist hosts microbreweries, street food and rock 'n' roll, with two days of  a German biergarten vibe featuring local brewers, local bands and sets from local DJ.

There's much on offer over the next ten days. I'll feature some of the acts over the next few days, as rather than just list them here, they deserve a bit of attention in their own right as well.

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.

Columbine : Cache Cache

A controversial new video by Rennes-based hip hop act Columbine, the first track to emerge ahead of their new album expected later this year.

Columbine released their Enfants Terribles album last year, a collection that has already earned them a gold disc, and they are wasting no time in releasing a follow up.

The video for Cache-Cache ("Hide and seek" in English)  is a strange and quietly disturbing piece, making reference to school shootings. The school prom setting is a scene familiar to anyone who has ever seen an American TV show or film, the members of the band on stage and showing no emotion or involvement whatsoever, the conclusion apparently being a romantic happy ending where the shooter finds love.

It's an ambiguous work with many possible interpretations, all the more so as the act's name obviously makes reference to the infamous American school shooting.

Are they trivialising very real and very tragic events?

How should we react to artists who apparently remain passive in the face of these kind of events?

Do the performers in the video represent a government that fails to intervene?

Does the entertainment industry with its stylised portrayal of violence play a part?

What part do gender stereotypes play in these incidents?

Would an American artist make a video like this and what kind of criticism would they face?

Many questions. It's a video that provokes some difficult reflection.

Columbine's album is released inn the autumn, and they have tour dates across France from October, including two shows at the Olympia in Paris on October 23 and 24.

Art Rock festival and the return of Marquis de Sade

With festival details continuing to emerge in recent days, the Art Rock festival held in Saint-Brieuc in Brittany is the latest to confirm their headline act and it's an interesting one for sure.

In a well-curated decision, Rennes-based act Marquis de Sade, one of the original post punk acts are set to headline.

Marquis de Sade were heavily influenced by UK post punk, and were active from 1977 to 1981, releasing two albums in their career, Dantzig Twist (1979) and Rue de Siam (1981).  Essentially a three piece with supporting musicians, their career may have been short, but they left a memorable impression and were one of the acts that helped establish Rennes as a credible place for music.

Their sound had an angular modern flavour with a taste of funk, more sophisticated that the reheated rock n roll revival sounds of many punk bands. While pioneers of cold wave rock, there's something of UK 70s prog outsiders Van de Graaf Generator in what they do, albeit perhaps more streamlined.

Their work stands well alongside UK contemporaries like Magazine or Gang of Four but also with later acts like The Cure and Bauhaus.

Marquis de Sade signalled their return with a gig at Le Liberté in Rennes in September, although apparently it was to be a one off performance.

The 35th festival Art Rock is held at Saint-Brieuc on May 18, 19 and 20. More acts are to be announced in forthcoming weeks.

Bars en Trans 2016

It's Jour J today for the Bars en Trans 2016 festival, bringing acts to the pubs and clubs of Rennes for
a busy weekene of music.

It's the 20th anniversary of the event, which this year runs across 16 different venues.

The event runs parallel to the Rencontres Trans Musicale de Rennes festival, like the Edinburgh Fringe to the Edinburgh International festival. Rather than being in competition, they compliment each other well.

Bars en trans is smaller, the venues are local pubs and clubs as opposed to the Parc Expo, but it's an agile event, with well chosen acts packing venues across Rennes city centre and beyond.

It's spirit is closer to that of Austin SXSW festival, with the opportunity to catch some emerging acts up close. Local acts get the chance to play in front of  friends and fans, as well as journalists and labels who might be in the city for the Trans Musicales.

Those that get it right can catch an act or two in the Bars en trans before heading out to see some of the acts playing the Trans Musicale at the Parc Expo in a late night shuttle bus.

Time permitting (as always!) I'll focus on some of the acts that are playing over the weekend on the blog over the next week or two.

Transmusicales festival: 2016 Visual unveiled

The visual for this year's Transmusicales festival in Rennes has been unveiled by the event
organisers, with an eyecatching work by grafitti artist WAR!


His work is familiar on the streets of Rennes, he describes his work as ' a little poetry amid the concrete.'


Tickets are already available for the event in December, and again reasonable by UK festival standards, with a VIP three-day pass for the Parc Expo where the main acts play coming in at 66 euros, the regular weekend pass coming in at 49 euros.

Preceding the event many of the acts involved play local shows across the west of France, with shows in Caen, rennes, Morlaix, Nantes, St Avé, Quimper and St Malo between November 9 and November 25.

There will also be a series of free concerts and workshops in the  Ille-et-Vilaine department in the run up to the festival from November 12 to 25th.

More details will be released by the event on September the first.

Bars En Trans videos: Day 2 and Day 3

A couple more videos rounding up the live events in the bars and clubs of Rennes over the weekend during the Bars en trans festival, where dozen of acts played at en event that runs in parallel to the larger Transmusicales festival in the city.

The video for Day 2 featured Kazy Lambist live at the 1988 Live Club, Philemon Cimon at La Trinquette, Hello Bye Bye at La Trinquette, LOAS at La Notte, Midnight Ravers at Le Kenland,  Clément Bazin at Le Chantier, Joycut at Le Bar'Hic, Frankie goes to Pointe a Pitre at L'Artiste Assoiffé, and Don Cavalli at Le Dejazey.



Meanwhile, Day three rounds up Garesud at the pool party held at the Piscine St Georges, Rick Le Cube at Théatre de la Parcheminerie, Lomepal at La Notte, Papooz at Le Dejazey, Pain-Noir at La Trinquette, Bon Voyage Organisation at the 1988 Live Club, Plaisirs at Le Chantier, and Carpenter Brut at the 1988 Live Club.



In short, a pretty good snapshot of a wide range of very different acts concentrated over one weekend.

Bars en Trans festival 2015

A video summing up some of the shows held in Rennes last night under the umbrella of the Bars en
Trans festival.

The first night of the three-day event, which takes place in parallel to the Transmusicales festival, saw dozens of gigs take place at the many bars and clubs across the city.

This year the festival puts a particular focus on artists from Quebec.

Last night saw the likes of Elliot Maginot, Jesse Mac Cormack, Chouette, Mensch, We Are Match and Adrien Soleiman at the likes of the 1988 Live Club, Le Backstage and L'artiste Assoifée.

The weekend sees the number of shows increase, as does the number and range of artists.

Highlight probably has to be The 1988 Live Club , which has shows on from the afternoon from Alice on the Roof, Mathieu Saikaly, Camp Claude and Krazy Lambist.

Camp Claude had been scheduled last year but had to pull out.

Elsewhere you can catch No Money Kids, Con Cavalli and many others.

For Saturday's highlights, there's a show at Le Backstage showcasing Disques Enterprise artists, with Fishbach and Paupiere and La Trinquette sees sets by Mazarin and Pain Noir.

The 1988 Live CLub meanwhiles hosts four acts inclusing Hollydays and Carpenter Brut.

Three days, with more than a dozen venues and some great shows. Again, great work by the Bars en Trans team and all those involved.

Transmusicales Preview: Holy Strays

Many interesting acts on the bill at this year's Transmusicales event in Rennes next month, a key showcase
for emerging acts in France.

One that got my attention was Holy Strays, a project by Sebastien Forrester, an artist working in a particularly interesting area of electronic music.

There are touches of classical and some dub, but it's a fascinating blend. He's been active for a couple of years, and the Paris-based artist has started to establish a very credible reputatuion,

France has excelled in this field in recent years, and with acts like Holy Strays there are signs that the future of the genre in French hands is a good one.

Transmusicales Preview: Paradis

The Transmusicales festival in Rennes at the beginning of next month is a crucial showcase for some of France's finest emerging acts, so in the run-up to the event I though it only right to feature some of them on this blog.

The last two years saw Benjamin Clementine and Jeanne Added achieve considerable recognition as a result of their performances, both being give the opportunity to play multiple shows during the course of the festival.

This year sees a similar opportunity being given to Paradis, who play five shows at the Aire Libre venue.

The act, a Paris-based duo of Simon Mény and Pierre Rousseau have been releasing material since 2011,  their French language vocals and sophisticated groove making them one of the country's most promising new acts.

They've featured on this blog earlier this year, with the track Sur une Chanson en francais. You can probably expect to hear a great deal more of them in 2016 following their performances at this years Transmusicales.

Mermonte: Angélique Beaulieu (live)

A lovely performance by Mermonte from earlier this year, with the Rennes based band playing
outdoors during the city's I'm From Rennes festival earlier this year.

The event saw bands play at venues throughout Rennes, at clubs and bars but also at unusual venues

The video was shot in the Parc du Thabor in the city, and sees them perform the track Angélique Beaulieu, a track from their 2014 album  Audiorama.

Mermonte are currently working on a new album, and are set to release their third album in 2016 and it will certainly be one to anticipate.

New Acts: Giirls - Far Life

A familiar name behind a new release, with the EP Far Life by Giirls.

Brice Delourmel is the artist behind the act, he's also involved in the Paris/Rennes band Dead, who have featured on this blog more than once in the past.

Giirls is a solo project, the new EP recorded at home

Giirls featured alongside Dead on the n0thing collective compilation n0thing #03 which emerged in February this year.

As you'd expect from an artist involved with Dead, it's a suitably sepulchral piece of electro, six tracks that would sound superb at implausible volume amid clouds of dry ice and strobe lighting.

The Far Life EP is released officially today.

New Acts: Pavane

Last week I looked at some of the acts playing the MaMA event in Paris, and said I would look in more detail at some of the interesting acts on the bill.

Pavane are one such act,  taking classical French music from the early 20th century and gives it a 21st century update.

 The band consists of keyboard player Damien Tronchot with his brother guitarist Ronan Troncot, from Rennes, and they describe influences as Board Of Canada, Jeff Mills, Rone, Joakim as well as Maurice Ravel, Claude Debussy, Erik Satie, and Gabriel Fauré.

Pavane released an EP L'échappée two years ago, and it shows that the world of classical and 21st century electronics need not be so far apart after all.

Bars en Trans festival 2015

Some details emerging of this year's Bars en Trans festival in Rennes this December, an event that
sees night clubs and pubs in the city host a huge number of acts.

It coincides with the annual Trans Musicales event in the city, running almost like a Fringe event showcasing some of the more emerging talent alongside the major international event.

Sharp festival goers can catch a few acts performing in the afternoons or evenings in the bars, before heading out to the Parc Expo on the edge of the city to catch the headline acts at the Trans Musicales, many taking to the stage well after midnight.

The two events compliment each other well.

My report from the 2014 Bars en Trans is here on this blog.

Recent years have seen Cats on Trees, Bagarre, H Burns and  Gaspard Royant play.

This year the focus for Bars en Trans is Quebec, home to many interesting acts.

Bars en Trans takes place on December 3, 4 and 5.

Details of the acts playing at the Bars en Trans festival will be announced on October 29.

New Acts: Palm - Blood Red Road

As the I'm From Rennes festival draws to a close this weekend, a look at another  act featuring on the
bill.

Palm are another of the acts appearing at the event showcasing some of the city's emerging musical talent.

Palm are based between Rennes and Vannes, and produce the kind of rock 'n' roll that fans of the likes of Crazy Horse era Neil Young or Calexico will immediately warm to. Ragged, fiery and passionate, they respect the traditions of Americana but are simultaneously unafraid to be musically experimental.

The I'm From Rennes show saw them playing along to a screening of the cult 1970s movie Vanishing Point.

They released their And The Loudest Thing Of All Is Our Own Silence album in 2011, their Home collection coming out earlier that year. The five track El Sereno EO came out in 2013

More details on their bandcamp site 

Trans Musicales 2015: Final names unveiled

A third and final line-up announcement for the Trans Musicales 2015 event in Rennes later this year.

It takes the number of acts confirmed for this year to 77, thirty having been named in recent weeks.

It's as eclectic and forward looking line-up, as you might hope for from the festival that has showcased some of the finest emerging talent from France and beyond yearly since 1979.

Sure, some many of the names are unfamiliar. That's part of the fun and I look forward to investigating them in the weeks to come.

The Trans Musicales 2015 runs from December 2 - December 6.

New Acts: I'm From Rennes festival

A fine display of emerging French talent are being showcased at a music festival that gets under way
in the fine city of Rennes tomorrow, with the I'm From Rennes event kicking off in the Breton city.

It's the fourth time it's been held, this year seeing 50 acts at 18 locations, and 25 separate events.

Manceau and Darjeeling Speech, who have both been mentioned on this blog before are on the bill.

Also taking part are acts including Volgograd, Digital Lullaby and Fevrier. Kowalski, Louisette and Palm are some of the others on what is a wide ranging and eclectic bill, showcasing some of the quality talent emerging from the city.

I'll feature some of these on this blog over the next few days.

Shows are being held in venues including the 1988 Live club and in pubs in the city, but others are being held in more unusual surroundings like apartments, while others take place in locations like the city's protestant church or in the Parc du Thabor.

The festival runs until September 26.