Festival Interceltique de Lorient

Subject: Festival Interceltique de Lorient
From: CET
Date: 23 Sep 18 - 12:00 PM

Well, here I am posting for the first time in two years. I have been dipping into the Anthologie de la chanson traditionnelle française recently, whch led to Marc Robine's version of Les Filles de Lorient, which in turn led to some Googling about Lorient. I was wondering if any Mudcatters have attended the Festival interceltique. Did you enjoy it? How do you buy tickets? How hard is it to get a hotel room?

Subject: RE: Festival Interceltique de Lorient
From: GUEST,kenny
Date: 23 Sep 18 - 02:02 PM

Went there in 1983, and another 3 times afterwards, twice as a guest musician playing with Scottish bands. I had a great time on every occasion, and met some amazing people. Opened my ears then to Breton and Northern Spanish music - Galicia and Asturias, and even some music from Cornwall [ anyone remember "Bucca" ? ] and the Isle of Man.
Can't help with purchasing tickets. Lorient is quite a sizeable town, and although it gets very busy at festival time, I would think you would find somewhere to stay easily enough.

Subject: RE: Festival Interceltique de Lorient
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 23 Sep 18 - 07:14 PM

Went about 8-10 years ago with some French friends who suggested it: an amazing week of music, fun and laughter. They got all the tx, but you can buy from the festival website anyway. They also fixed up accommodation: we stayed (10 of us) in a gite about 10k out of town in a lovely village. Used local buses to get in and out, and the buses ran late during festival week.
You really do need to like bagpipes to go there, as many of the bands are pipe bands. Fortunately I do! Each year they focus on one particular area within the "Celtic region", e.g. could be the year of Asturias, or the year of Brittany, etc. The grand parade on the Sunday took 3 hours to pass us, just band after band after band! Take a picnic!
Recommend a trip round the huge harbour of Lorient: we took instruments and voices and even had the captain singing along!
Lots of nice eateries/ drinkeries along the river, craft fairs, music marquees, and the big concerts are fab. We saw Carlos Nunez and other great bands. In summary, loved it!

Subject: RE: Festival Interceltique de Lorient
From: CET
Date: 24 Sep 18 - 03:29 PM

I do remember Bucca. I think I still have one of their LPs. Alas, it's been many years since I listened to an LP.

There must be some great sessions in town that week.

Thanks for the info.

Subject: RE: Festival Interceltique de Lorient
From: Noreen
Date: 24 Sep 18 - 03:55 PM

I also went over 30 years ago and it was amazing. I've heard from friends since who have been that it's still amazing, and I'd love to go back! Lots of cross-fertilisation between musicians, Irish button accordion players swapping tunes with French box players and arranging to meet at each others' festivals, etc.
Yes, it helps if you like the pipes and can cope with being bombard-ed :)
Definitely recommend.

Thanks for the reminder!


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