Hey all, I am going to be touring around Brittany in May—can anyone recommend any good places to meet folks and maybe pick up a tune or two? As of now I have no particular itinerary, and am open to any suggestions.
I found that excepting Rennes, Quimper and maybe Vannes, finding a session is not easy. We spent 20 days last summer and definitively we'll repeat, but music was hard to find. Rennes well worths a visit of course, but if you have a soft spot for countryside I recommend you not missing some smaller charming villages such as Dinan ( near St. malo and le Mont-St-Michel), Montcontour, Rochefort-en-Terre, Fougeres, Malestroit and many more. All of them around the east side of the country and at a short driving distance from each other
As I said music was missed, but Lorient Festival was held those days. We took advantage of it several days. At six, everything was closed up there and we drove to Lorient to wander through the Festival crowd, stands, instruments and concerts.
Music missing? There are fest-noz playing live Breton music for dancing and other celtic tunes all over the place in Brittany. We spent many a summer there busking and were consistently amazed by the enthusiasm of the youth for their folk culture...village halls full of young and old dancing into the night. The musicians were usually very keen to share a tune or four later in the night and many of them know at least the Irish 'standards'.
There are sessions too - not so easy to find, but head to a fest noz and ask around..
Brittany is beautiful. Our favourite zone is the Mont d'Arree -- between Huelgoat and Morlaix. Morlaix is a fantastic town for busking on market Saturdays..
Yes, Fest Noz, busking and Festivals, but sessions were hard to find. Maybe du to the fact that it was august and some pubs in Rennes were closed. In Vannes, the session seemed to be very orientated to singing as there only were a singer and a guitar player. They were ok and had a nice chat with them, but they weren't keen on listening an Irish flute. It was a gig rather than a session.
Brittany is lovely. Next time we'll explore the West Coast. We'll look for Fest noz then.
There's normally a session in John's pub in Nantes on a Sunday evening. The pub is in the city centre - can't think of the full name but all the locals just call it John's.
Tunes in Brittany
Tunes in Brittany
Hey all, I am going to be touring around Brittany in May—can anyone recommend any good places to meet folks and maybe pick up a tune or two? As of now I have no particular itinerary, and am open to any suggestions.
# Posted on January 28th 2008 by matan_fiddler
Re: Tunes in Brittany
O'Connells Sundays in Rennes is nice . Interesting City too
# Posted on January 28th 2008 by bazouki dave and the real tooty flutey
Re: Tunes in Brittany
An Poitin Stil, Quimper, Fridays, a good one and smoke-free, finally!
# Posted on January 28th 2008 by pennhorse
Re: Tunes in Brittany
I found that excepting Rennes, Quimper and maybe Vannes, finding a session is not easy. We spent 20 days last summer and definitively we'll repeat, but music was hard to find. Rennes well worths a visit of course, but if you have a soft spot for countryside I recommend you not missing some smaller charming villages such as Dinan ( near St. malo and le Mont-St-Michel), Montcontour, Rochefort-en-Terre, Fougeres, Malestroit and many more. All of them around the east side of the country and at a short driving distance from each other
I found very useful information and maps helping us to determine more or less our tour at:
http://www.brittanytourism.com/eng/preparez/cite-art/vah_gb/indexvahgb.cfm
As I said music was missed, but Lorient Festival was held those days. We took advantage of it several days. At six, everything was closed up there and we drove to Lorient to wander through the Festival crowd, stands, instruments and concerts.
Rgds
# Posted on January 28th 2008 by sylvester
Re: Tunes in Brittany
Music missing? There are fest-noz playing live Breton music for dancing and other celtic tunes all over the place in Brittany. We spent many a summer there busking and were consistently amazed by the enthusiasm of the youth for their folk culture...village halls full of young and old dancing into the night. The musicians were usually very keen to share a tune or four later in the night and many of them know at least the Irish 'standards'.
There are sessions too - not so easy to find, but head to a fest noz and ask around..
Brittany is beautiful. Our favourite zone is the Mont d'Arree -- between Huelgoat and Morlaix. Morlaix is a fantastic town for busking on market Saturdays..
# Posted on January 28th 2008 by bodatcha
Re: Tunes in Brittany
I too have fond memories of Morlaix, and the fest noz.
Vive La Differance.
# Posted on January 28th 2008 by jig
Re: Tunes in Brittany
Yes, Fest Noz, busking and Festivals, but sessions were hard to find. Maybe du to the fact that it was august and some pubs in Rennes were closed. In Vannes, the session seemed to be very orientated to singing as there only were a singer and a guitar player. They were ok and had a nice chat with them, but they weren't keen on listening an Irish flute. It was a gig rather than a session.
Brittany is lovely. Next time we'll explore the West Coast. We'll look for Fest noz then.
Rgds
# Posted on January 28th 2008 by sylvester
Re: Tunes in Brittany
There's normally a session in John's pub in Nantes on a Sunday evening. The pub is in the city centre - can't think of the full name but all the locals just call it John's.
# Posted on January 29th 2008 by niallt