Trans Musicales 2014 preview: Fawl

Another look ahead to a band who are featuring at the Trans Musicales de Rennes festival, and who
are taking to the stage at the étage venue this afternoon.

It looks like I'll miss out on catching them, as I don't get into town until late in the afternoon, which is a pity as they look well worth my attention.

They're a Breton based band, describing themselves as a Power Trio, who were formed in Dinan in 2010.

They released a four track Ep in 2013, featuring the tracks Hurt, Fallout, Eerily and Watchmen.
There's something Muse-like about them, but that's not a bad thing in my books by any means.

There's an ambition vision and the musical means to back it up, and I suspect they'll be a powerful live proposition.




Fawl - Iniquity (Live à Des Lendemains Qui Chantent) from VideoTrack on Vimeo.

Merzhin: L'Éclaireur

I've always had plenty of time for Breton indie rock band Merzhin, and it's great to see s new video for the
track L'Éclaireur

Merzhin are an act who manage to produce a very decent contemporary indie rock, and effortlessly infuse it with a Breton flavour.

A careful listen to this track reveals the bombarde - a traditional Breton instrument - being played, but it's a million miles away from folk rock.

They've always been an impressive live act, and it's nice to see a video doing them justice.

The track comes from their Des heures a la Seconds album, which came out in March and is being released on vinyl on June 23.

Gilles Servat: Je dors en Bretagne ce soir

While enjoying the acts at the Trans Musicales event in France, this song by Gilles Servat is one that I find sticking in my mind.

Admittedly Rennes might not be the most rural part of Brittany, but none the less this is where I find myself.

The music of Gilles Servat may be very diffferent to the music being showcased at the Trans Musicales event that's on at the city, but music has been one of the key elements to Breton identity, and Servat has been at the forefront of this.

This song originally appeared on his 1973 album L'Hirondelle.

He has been releasing work since his 1970 debut La Blanche Hermine, performing in English, French and Breton.

He's long been a campaigner for Breton language and culture, and stood up to the Front National's use of his song Blanche Hermine in his 1998 live album Touche pas à la Blanche Hermine.

His work has included French interpretations of songs by English-language songwriters like Christy Moore, whose La Quinta Brigada he performed, as well as Ewan MacColl's Dirty Old Town, under the title Vieille Ville de Merde.

Servat remains a big presence in the Breton music scene, with a live schedule that artists more than half his age would welcome, and  his most recent alum being released last month.

Festival Interceltique at L'Orient

This weekend sees the Festival interceltique get underway in L'Orient.

with Breton fest-noz events, concerts and parades taking place in the town, its a festival like no other. While focussed on celtic music, it takes the broadest definition that sees it include acts from beyond what would normally be regarded as traditional.

The programme features local and international acts, including Breton legend Dan Ar Braz and the Buena Vista Social Club from Cuba, and there is a particular focus on French Canadian acts this year, with names like Roch Voisine and Buffy Sainte Marie.

There are, of course, acts from the Celtic nations of Europe, Brittany, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, The Isle of Man, Galicia and Asturias. The music ranges from pipe bands to punk rock, with the formal programme boosted by events taking place in bars and cafes around the town until late at night.

The festival runs from today (Friday August 3) until August 12.

Jean Floc'h et Grandpamini: Bienvenue Chez Les Bretons

I'm always partial to a bit of rap now and again and I'm a huge fan of Brittany, so I was pretty happy to come across the track Bienvenue Chez Les Bretons by Jean Floc'h et Grandpamini.

Nice to hear a bit of West Coast (of France) rap. Very funny it is too. The half a million plus viewers on YouTube seem to agree as well.

With shout outs to towns and traditions, the song celebrates Brittany with an affectionate humour.

They play in Quimper on July 6 and Brest on July 7.

Yann Tiersen - Skyline

Another mention of the great Yann Tiersen, on account of his current tour to promote his recently-released Skyline album.

It's his seventh album, and was very much anticipated following last year's Dust Lane.

He's currently towards the end of his dates in the UK and playing in mainland Europe immediately after, with shows in France, Germany, Greece,Italy, Czech Republic, Poland and Denmark as well as Austria and the Netherlands.

He plays in the UK again at All Tomorrow's Parties at Minehead in December.

Skyline was released on October 17 in Europe, and will be released soon in the USA. the single Monuments preceded its release, and was the subject of a very nice video that I featured earlier.

Although best known for his soundtrack work, there's little doubt that with releases as fine as this Tiersen will be recognised as more than just the guy who did the soundtrack for Amélie.

The video is from a performance on the BBC's Review Show in September.

News: Scotland to win the Tour de France?

So Scotland might be the host for the Grand Départ for the Tour de France in 2017?

Here's a report I wrote for the STV News website on Monday.

Here's hoping! I wonder if people realise what a big deal it is? Huge viewing figures, massive logistics and millions looking at Scotland in the height of the summer.

The benefits would be massive, so fingers crossed it comes to something. Never mind London getting the Olympics, this is the one I want!

Hopefully the Tour organisers will look at not only the history of the links with Scotland, but also at how we coped with the Papal visit last year and how we deal with the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

We should certainly be in with more than an outside chance.

So to mark the momentous occasion (ok, perhaps a little bit prematurely...) here's Breton band Merzhin's Maillot Jaune.


Merzhin Maillot Jaune
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