Saint Chartier festival

Subject: Anyone been to Saint Chartier festival
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 15 Sep 04 - 10:45 AM

This takes place in Deepest France in July every year, which has been going for over a quarter of a century. - I've never been, but at Wallingford Bunkfest the other weekend, I ran into a piper who swore it was the best festival he had ever come across, and it got me curious, so I checked out what Google could come up with about it.

Here is a website about it - "Saint Chartier - Rencontres Internatinale de luthiers et maitres sonneurs". And inside, if you dig around, there are some wonderful clips of film and music from previous years - here for example. It looks and sounds absolutely glorious.

So maybe next year with Sidmouth officially down, I've been thinking that rather than go along anyway, I might try Saint Chartier   instead.

Is there anyone out there who has been there?

Subject: RE: Saint Chartier festival
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 15 Sep 04 - 02:13 PM

Is there anybody about there at all?

Subject: RE: Saint Chartier festival
From: fiddler
Date: 15 Sep 04 - 03:36 PM

My pal gerhard - Bodhran maker swears it is his favorite festival of teh year - others have said similar things - considering it myself!

Andy

Subject: RE: Saint Chartier festival
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 17 Sep 04 - 04:53 AM

From those TV clips in the link I gave, the food looks like it might be a lot better than at festivals in England. That wouldn't be to hard, mind you.

Subject: RE: Saint Chartier festival
From: John P
Date: 17 Sep 04 - 08:09 AM

I have friends in the hurdy-gurdy and French dance scenes that go every year, but I've never been. Everything I hear makes it sound like I ought to be there.

JP

Subject: RE: Saint Chartier festival
From: GUEST,East Yorkshire
Date: 17 Sep 04 - 12:44 PM

I used to go there many years ago and it was magical. It always falls somewhere around Bastile day.

Subject: RE: Saint Chartier festival
From: GUEST,matai
Date: 18 Sep 04 - 03:12 AM

There's an English Folkie called Pete Grassby who goes there if you can get hold of him he could tell you all about it.

Subject: RE: Saint Chartier festival
From: Emma B
Date: 18 Sep 04 - 01:01 PM

One of my friends swears it is the best festival he has been to and I'm hoping to get there next year too - just joined a night class to "brush-up" my French as well.
I would welcome any advice on how to get there as I don't want to drive all the way

Subject: RE: Saint Chartier festival
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 18 Sep 04 - 01:20 PM

Here's a picture of Pete Grassby on his birthday, with friends.

Sells good instruments and fixes them, and makes good music too.

Subject: RE: Saint Chartier festival
From:
Date: 30 Sep 04 - 03:46 PM

Accidentally stumbled across this festival whilst holidaying nearby in 2002. Spent very enjoyable afternoon listening to gigs around the village as well as in the Parc du Chateau where there were instrument stalls from all over. Saw a great acappella group from Marseille in a packed marquee followed by a group from the Auvergne. Great atmosphere with spontaneous playing by instrument stallholders. Irish group Lunasa had played there the previous evening to our visit.

St Chartier is near the town of La Chatre and is served by a bus service from the nearest railway station at Chateauroux.

Subject: RE: Saint Chartier festival
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 30 Sep 04 - 07:41 PM

My late lamented beloved and I were hoping to go to this some day; I am planning a UK-France trip next summer - maybe we can squeeze in an earlier week than planned and at least stop by- it looks wonderful!

Allison

Subject: RE: Saint Chartier festival
From: GUEST,Jess A
Date: 01 Oct 04 - 06:16 AM

I know lots of people who go often and say it's fantastic too.... but, unless I have misunderstood the rumours I have been hearing it has suffered similar problems to Sidmouth and will not necessarily be run by the same people or in the same place in future years. Anybody planning next year's summer and intending to go to St Chartier might be well advised to check it all out before making any firm plans.

the people I know who will know about these things tend to do lots of french dancing in the leeds area so if you check out their website http://www.frenchdanceleeds.co.uk you might be able to find out more...

Subject: RE: Saint Chartier festival
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 01 Oct 04 - 06:39 AM

That sounds a shame, if it's true. Insane, but that's the way the world goes.

This might be the best place to get information about this as it develops - Page Trad - I found out in that leeds site.

Subject: RE: Saint Chartier festival
From: GUEST,dancergraham
Date: 12 Oct 04 - 09:37 AM

Yes, the wonderful Saint Chartier festival may be changing next year, possibly moving to the nearest medium-sized town rather than staying in the village of Saint C. It's a shame because it really has been a unique festival with free camping and free music and dance in the streets alongside the paid festival in the castle grounds. Unfortunately the (previously massive) state funding is drying up so they may have decided to move to a more manageable location. Hopefully things will continue in the same spirit and the place to find out more is http://www.saintchartier.org/
We in Leeds will also try to keep people informed via the website http://www.frenchdanceleeds.co.uk

- Graham