Vieilles Charrues - festval future in doubt

Some serious issues ahead for the Vieilles Charrues festival, France's biggest summer music event. Organisers are warning that this year's event, scheduled for July 11-14, could be the final edition of the festival unless the problems are addressed.

They're concerned about several measures that the local government has called on, including a loss of the land they can use for the event which means a loss of half of the camping area and less parking space, the local authority acquiring the festival organisers' office at the main entry to the event and a charge of 400,000  Euros for use of the site at Kerampuilh, despite organisers saying they'd agreed for it to be used for five years with the festival donating more than 2 million Euros in work, shows and the equivalent of 2,000 tickets to the local authority.

Organisers say the constant changes have resulted in a lack of stability that now endangers the future of the festival.

It's a difficult situation, and it comes at a time when the future of many large-scale music events is looking uncertain due to the economy and the difficulties that came in the wake of Covid, Vieilles Charrues cancelling its 2020 event.

The festival was created in 1992 and has been held in Carhaix since 1995 and over the three-decades-plus that it's been held, it's attracted some of the biggest names in music - both French and international - to Carhaix in Brittany. Some of the international acts that have played there include the likes of Bruce Springsteen. Iggy Pop, Muse, Lou Reed, The Cure, Bob Dylan, Rammstein, Neil Young, Lana Del Rey and Depeche Mode, while from France, acts like Stromae, Indochine, Justice, Etienne Daho, Vanessa Paradis, -M- have all played along with legends like Johnny Hallyday, Jane Birkin Charles Aznavour and Jacques Dutronc.

Last year’s edition included Robbie Williams, Blur, Soprano, Rosalia and Red Hot Chili Peppers in headline slots, alongside sets from BigFLo & Oli, Jeanne Added, Shaka Ponk, Lomepal, Pomme, Phoenix and Silmarils.

Despite having the big names at the top of the bill, the event has not lost touch with its roots, with local acts and newly emerging artists regularly getting the opportunity to perform.

The festival is - to say the least - a big deal and it draws a crowd of hundreds of thousands to the area, last year's event attracting its biggest-ever crown of some 346,000 people. 

A petition has been launched, calling for a halt to the threat to the future of the festival, with over 25,000 having signed it so far. The end of Vieilles Charrues would be a massive loss. Hopefully, things can be resolved before too much longer.

Silmarils: Welcome to America (and welcome back!)

Digging through a box of old CDs recently, I came across a copy of the debut album by Silmarils, a

self-titled album released in ’95. they were from the Paris area, and if I remember it right, they gave a decent rock/rap crossover thing. I’d not listened to it in years, it had kind of fallen through the cracks and I'd kind of forgotten the details of what it sounded like, but I knew I must have liked it as I’d held on to it since.

So it was time I gave it a blast again.

 

On first impression, it’s very much of its era, funk metal in the style of Red Hot Chili Peppers, Faith No More, and at its best Rage Against The Machine but perhaps moving closer to rap. Pretty good, and the kind of stuff I was probably listening to back then quite a lot. Je ne jure de rien hits the spot, Cours vite and Mackina hit singles that probably deserved to be. It’s a collection that has its charms, Just be True illustrating the glorious thing Mano Negro might have been if they’d had some metal wallop behind them.

In short, I was glad I'd held on to it.

 

I remember seeing their album all over the place at the time, even here in the UK so there must have been some hope they’d make more of an impression. They were signed to EastWest Records who would have had the budget. But it seemed that could have been the end of the story. One album with a push behind it that didn’t ignite commercially and a curtain comes down.

 

But no. I might not have followed what they were up to from then, amid the deluge of work and other releases I took my eye off them. But they persisted and released another four albums up to 2003, including a live album featuring a Beastie Boys cover. A search online, while I was listening to their debut album, showed me I’ve got some homework to catch up with.

 

And there was better news. Not only is there a significant back catalogue, their three studio albums that were originally on EastWest  - their debut,  1997’s Original Karma and 2000’s Vegas ’76 were re-issued on coloured vinyl this summer.

 

Better yet, Silmarils are still a going concern. A single Welcome to America was released in April this year. Older maybe, wiser perhaps, but absolutely rocking for sure. They’ve been playing festivals over the summer including the Vieilles Charrues and Hellfest, and have a new album out shortly.

 

Looks like I’ve picked the right time to catch up.

Editorial: July 2017

A fresh month at Vive le roq, with summer very much under way.

Last month saw the festival season in France in full force, with events like Hellfest, We Love Green, Main Square and others being held pretty much every available weekend.

This month sees that trend continue, with events like The Eurockéennes de Belfort, Vieilles Charrues and Les Francofolies de La Rochelle on the immediate horizon and Main Square just coming to a close with a set by Radiohead last night.

There are also a number of interesting releases that we'll be taking a look at.

Things are getting back to normal service here at Vive le roq, and we'll be producing more articles in the forthcoming weeks than we've been managing in the past few months.Thanks for sticking with us.

In the meantime,you can get a hold of me at johnkilbrideAThotmailDOTcom, with the appropriate punctuation where you'd expect it to be.

I'm always pleased to hear from record companies, PR companies and promoters, so do drop me an email. I'm always keen to hear new things, and relay information about acts I already know and love.

The blog is also on Twitter as @viveleroq, although that's prety much just an autofeed when we update with a new article. You can usually find me on my personal Twitter acount quicker, @karnag

If you're around Facebook, remember to like the French Music Podcast UK page, where you can get regular updates with both fresh and vintage French music.

Merci et à bientôt

Phoenix: Goodbye Soleil

A new video by Phoenix, for the track Goodbye Soleil which sees France's favourite feelgood
indie rockers sing in their native tongue as well as English.

It's a classic summer track and continues the retro Euro dance vibe that their previous single J-Boy and the track Ti Amo explored.

These two tracks along with Goodbye Soleil feature on their forthcoming sixth album Ti Amo released next week.

The band's last album was 2013's bankrupt.

Phoenix are playing pretty much every fesival taking place over the summer. They play Glastonbury at the end of this month, and in France they play Les Eurockéennes,  Vieilles Charrues, Musilac and Beauregard in July

Vieilles Charrues 2017

Details of another of this summer's major festivals have emerged, with the first 28 names on the bill
of the 2017 edition of the Vieilles Charrues.

Some of the biggests names in French music are there, with Manu Chao, Justice and Phoenix along with Renaud and Jean-Michel Jarre.

Acid Arab, Kungs and Matmatah are also on the list

Arcade Fire, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Dropkick Murphys and Die Antwoord are the big name international acts so far

Vieilles Charrues takes place over 13, 14,15 and 16 July.

Tickets for Vieilles Charrues 2017 go on sale on December 14

Editorial: July 2016

Another month begins, with July smack in the centre of festival season. Some of this year's big ticket events in France have already taken place in the last month, from Hellfest to Solidays, Les Eurockeenes to Mainsquare.

Other high profile events are happening in the next few weeks, such as Les Francofolies and Vieilles Charrues.

We've been quieter here than usual, but aim, to make up ground again this month. There's certainly no shortage of things requiring an urgent listen to.

Again, we've seen another record number of visitors to the blog, which is always encouraging. Hopefully we'll see this continue month, with a significant milestone on the horizon.

June of course saw the UK take a massive step backwards on the international stage, with a vote to leave the European Union. It was a vote influenced by blatent xenophobia, misinformation, small mindedness and political shortsightedness. If anything, it shows the scale of the challenge anyone who is an advocate for French or any other European culture faces in the UK. The scale of the decision is horrific, and more will no doubt emerge in the months to come, and it will be a long time until the dust settles.

Ironically it happened at a time that saw French acts enjoy more success in the UK than they have for a while, with Christine and the Queens crowned at Glastonbury, Gojira delivering the molten metal materpiece that is their Magma album, while Kungs takes some French deep house to the high end of the UK charts.


As always, I can be contacted on johnkilbrideAThotmailDOTcom, with the appropriate punctuation where you'd expect it to be. I'm always pleased to hear from record companies, PR companies and promoters, so do get in touch.

The blog is also on Twitter as @viveleroq or you can find me at @karnag

If you're around Facebook, remember to like the French Music Podcast UK page, where you can get regular updates with both fresh and vintage French music.

Thanks as always to the French Music Office in London and to the Institut francais in London for their help and encouragement.

Merci et à bientôt

John K

Festival: Vieilles Charrues 2016

Some more very significant additions to the bill of this year's Vieilles Charrues festival in Carhaix, Brittany, in
July.

The Pixies and Lana Del Rey have been added to the haedline slots, with Pixies at the top of the bill on the second night, Lana Del Tey on the final night.

The two previosuly annouced headliners are Les Insus (the former members of Téléphone) and Alain Souchon and Laurent Voulzy.

Also confirmed today are Jeanne Added, Synapson and Denez Prigent.

It's a festival that's always had a strong representation from French performers, as well as some of the best international acts.

Also on the bill this year are Lou Doillon and Hyphen Hyphen, neither strangers to this blog, while Flavien Berger was added today.

More acts are yet to be confirmed, but given what has been confirmed so far it looks like an event well worth the 148E pass for four days. A bargain by the standard of UK festival prices.

This year's Vieilles Charrues festival is held on July 14, 15, 16 and 17 in Carhaix.

Vieilles Charrues artists unveiled

Some of the headline acts for next summer's Vieilles Charrues festival have been unveiled, with some  big names in French music playing, including Alain Souchon and Laurent Voulzy  and Michel Polnareff.

Polnareff is about to release his first album in 25 years, and has a huge number of live dates scheduled for next year.

Souchon and Voulzy are still riding high on the popularity of their recent collaborative album, and released the track Bad Boys as a new single.

Meanwhile, the Téléphone reformation under the name Les Insus are headliners on the first night.

But it is not just veteran acts, with The Avener - producer and DJ who not only hit it big with his Wanderings of The Avener album but also produced recent work by Mylene Farmer - set to play.

Vieilles Charrues attracted 250,000 people to Carhaix in Brittany last year and the vent has gronw to be one of France's key music events.

Other artists who have signed up for the event include Louise Attaque, The Libertines, Lou Doillon, Major Lazer and Mickey 3d ,Nekfeu and Editors.

More names will be added as the event gets closer.

2016 will be the 25th birthday of the Vieilles Charrues festival, and so far an interesting event looks on the cards.

Vieilles Charrues takes place on July 14-17 2016.

Vieilles Charrues festival 2015

Details have been released of the line-up for this year's Vieilles Charrues festival, one of the big
events in the French music calendar.

The event, to be held as usual in Carhaix in Brittany, sees David Guetta, Lionel Richie and Muse at the top of the bill of the four-day festival.

Elsewhere, London Grammer, George Ezra and the Do are on the bill. Joan Baez is also playing.

The festival regularly attracts over 200,000 people, last year it was headlined by The Black Keys, Stromae, Arctic Monkeys and Thirty Seconds to Mars.

Previos years have seen the likes of Neil Young, Rammstein, The Cure,  Sting and Bob Dylan play.

his year's  Vieilles Charrues festival takes place on July 16-19.

Bob Dylan at Vieilles Charrues

This weekend saw the Vieilles Charrues festival taking place in Brittany, one of France's premier music festivals.

The event was headlined by The Cure on Friday night, Sting on Saturday and Bob Dylan on Sunday. Also on the bill were Portishead, LMFAO, Gossip, garbage, Kasabian and Santigold, and there was also a huge number of some of the best current French acts, including Justice, M83, Martin Solveig, Zebda, Amadou &; Mariam, Thomas Dutronc, and many, many others.

In short, it's a big deal. but reviews of Bob Dylan's set were what could politely be called 'mixed.'

I've seen Dylan quite a few times, even in France, and yes he has disappointed at times, but also has staged one of the finest shows I've ever seen.

Despite being a huge fan, I've passed on buying tickets for shows in the past on account of uncertainty over whether or not he'll be any good.

 Professional photographers were also banned from taking pics of Dylan, which certainly upset many of the media, although I seem to remember that this is something that Dylan always does. I've even seen security staff at his concerts on the lookout for members of the audience taking pictures.

Also, there were complaints about the set, that didn't play all the hits and performed some of his less well known more recent numbers. And there was no encore, no audience interaction.

 But I have some sympathy for Dylan. He's been performing for decades, and I reckon these days - and for the last decade or two - he's been playing for his own enjoyment as much as for the audience's.

He doesn't play the media game because he's in a pretty unique position because he doesn't have to if he doesn't want to. He's under no pressure to sell records or tickets, after all.

He could have put his feet up decades ago.

The media don't like an artist that doesn't do what they want, and to a certain extent the same applies to an audience. He doesn't play the same set night after night because he's still a living artist rather than a museum piece, and besides, he'll never please everyone with a back catalogue as large as his.

 As a performer he still takes risks, and while this doesn't always pay off, when it does the rewards are great indeed.

 Next year's festival will be held on July 18 - 21, and the organisers say that securing an appearance by Radiohead is one of their priorities. Hopefully they'll leave the audience a bit happier.

Festival: Vieilles Charrues

Details of the acts playing at this year's Vieilles Charrues festival in Brittany have been released, with acts ranging frm Bob Dylan to Martin Solveig playing at what has become one of France's most significant music events.

The Cure, Sting, Portishead and Justice are also set to play.

The event features three main stages each day, each named after major Breton figures, Glenmor, Jack Kerouac and Xavier Grall.

It's the 21st time the festival's been held, and it features some big names in French and international music, as well as many more interesting acts.

The first day, Thursday July 19, sees Portishead, Keziah Jones, Don Rimini and Django Django on the Glenmor stage, and on the Kerouac stage LMFAO, Zebda, Stuck in the Sound and Rover. The Grall stage features Beat Assaillant, Breakbot, La Rumeur, Baadman and Im Takt.

Friday night sees The Cure, Martin Solveig, Thomas Dutronc and Brigitte taking to the Glenmor stage. Metronomy, Bloc Party, Youssoupha and Other Lives appear on the Kerouac stage, and M83 tops the bill on the Grall stage.

Meanwhile, Saturday features Sting, Justice, Hubert-Félix Thiéfaine and Kiril Djaikowski on the Glenmor stage, Selah Sue, Rodrigo & Gabriela and  C.U.B.A., The Rapture and Irma on the Kerouac stage

The final day sees Bob Dylan, Gossip and Garbage on the Glenmor stage, with  Kasabian, Amadou and Mariam and Santigold on the Kerouac stage. The Grall stage sees Orlesan and 1995 and others on the bill.

The event takes place between July 19-22 at Carhaix in Brittany.

Festivals: Bruce Springsteen at Vieilles Charrues

Bruce Springsteen played the Vieilles Charrues Festival in Carhaix in Finistère, Brittany in 2009.

The festival - France's biggest music festival - is a four-day event, with 240,000 people attending last year.

It has been running since 1992, and was originally held in the village of Landeleau in Brittany, and has continued to grow ever since, attracting bigger audiences and bigger acts year after year.

In the same way that T in the Park retains a Scottish flavour, the Vieilles Charrues Festival retains a Breton character despite featuring both international acts and artists from across France.

The video shows how The Boss learned how to speak to the crowd in Breton, his teacher being asked if he spoke the language as Bruce wanted to address the crowd in Breton. He wrote phonetically the phrase he wanted to say: Hello Carhaix, how are you doing?

The 2011 Vieilles Charrues Festival takes place from July 14-17, and features Scorpions, Pulp, Kaiser Chiefs, David Guetta, Lou Reed and the Chemical Brothers and PJ Harvey.

Whether any of them take the time to learn some Breton remains to be seen.