This is one of the best - if not the best - traditional Irish music festivals in France. Held in mid-July, it consists of workshops/classes for most instruments, singing and set dancing with top name musicians, singers and dancing teachers from Ireland.
Tocane is a small village in the beautiful Périgeux region of west central France and the weather is usually warm and sunny.
We, fiddle, pipes & flute, visited Tocane St. Apre in July 2010 for the first time and it was just great. Good sessions each evening inside and outside the two main bars. Set dancing outside the church. There's enough space so different groups can play without disturbing each other. It's so warm in the evening that you can sit and/or play outside till 4 or six in the morning. Extremely good musicians playing in the sessions. As good as in Ireland. People are friendly, although there can be a language barrier at first, We had no French to speak of, just "bonjour", "merci " "ca va" "si vous plait" etc. and managed without problems. We've started to learn French for next year 2011, as the 20th anniversary will be celebrated then. Very good campsite "Camping municipale" Very reasonable price (we paid 44 euros for 2 people, tent, car for 5 nights!!). New clean toilets, showers, and lavebos (individual booths with a wash basin and powerpoint). Small cafe on the site where you sit outside, sells food, ice cream, coffee, beer, wine. A mobile pizza van turned up too. Three minute walk to the bars and restaurangs in the town center. Can get very hot ,30-36 centigrade during the day. People bathe in the river, seek out shade, just chill. We had air conditioning in the hire car so we took day trips as there is so much to see. Well recommended
Rencontres Musicales Irlandaises, Tocane St. Apre
This is one of the best - if not the best - traditional Irish music festivals in France. Held in mid-July, it consists of workshops/classes for most instruments, singing and set dancing with top name musicians, singers and dancing teachers from Ireland.
Tocane is a small village in the beautiful Périgeux region of west central France and the weather is usually warm and sunny.
# Posted on May 7th 2009 by murfbox
We, fiddle, pipes & flute, visited Tocane St. Apre in July 2010 for the first time and it was just great. Good sessions each evening inside and outside the two main bars. Set dancing outside the church. There's enough space so different groups can play without disturbing each other. It's so warm in the evening that you can sit and/or play outside till 4 or six in the morning. Extremely good musicians playing in the sessions. As good as in Ireland. People are friendly, although there can be a language barrier at first, We had no French to speak of, just "bonjour", "merci " "ca va" "si vous plait" etc. and managed without problems. We've started to learn French for next year 2011, as the 20th anniversary will be celebrated then. Very good campsite "Camping municipale" Very reasonable price (we paid 44 euros for 2 people, tent, car for 5 nights!!). New clean toilets, showers, and lavebos (individual booths with a wash basin and powerpoint). Small cafe on the site where you sit outside, sells food, ice cream, coffee, beer, wine. A mobile pizza van turned up too. Three minute walk to the bars and restaurangs in the town center. Can get very hot ,30-36 centigrade during the day. People bathe in the river, seek out shade, just chill. We had air conditioning in the hire car so we took day trips as there is so much to see. Well recommended
# Posted on August 4th 2010 by Steamwilkes