Dance
Almost every weekend over the summer there is a fest noz – a night festival or the Breton equivalent of a ceilidh. It will start about 9.30 and carry on until about 2 or 3 in the morning. We go to them regularly and will help you find one, and will even help you learn some Breton dances. These are events to be experienced - everybody goes from toddlers to grannies, and everybody dances together. They are a living and vibrant expression of Breton culture and part of what holds the rural communities of Brittany together. They are also great fun!
Fest deiz are day festivals. These are similar to fest noz, tend to start around 3 pm and carry on for a few hours. Here you may see Bretons in their traditional costumes and some of the more complex dances.
Festivals
There are music and dance festivals throughout the region all summer long.
Here are just a few:
Festival Fisel, late August, Rostrenen
The Fisel is the dance particular to Rostrenen and this year is the 36th festival. Concerts Fest Noz, Fest Diez, music and dance workshops, sessions, musical walks, Dance spectacles and processions.
Vieilles Charrues, Mid july , Carhaix
One of the biggest rock festivals in europe attracting 180000 spectators during three days happens at Carhaix - only 20 minutes from the gite. The festival has three of the biggest stages in Europe and welcomes over 80 bands, including performers of Breton traditional music.
InterCeltique, Early August, Lorient
This is the big festival of Celtic music and dance - 4500 artists from all over the Celtic world, 600,000 visitors, more than 200 concerts and shows. It runs for 10 days and has an incredible atmosphere. Lorient is just taken over completely by music and dance. Be there !
Fête du Chant Traditionel, April, Bovel
Three days of unaccompanied singing – concerts, sing-arounds, fest-noz, fest-deiz. This is where to hear the singing of Haute-Bretagne in French and in Gallo.
Kan ar Bobl, April or May, Pontivy
Three days of singing and music, lots of competitions for singers and musicians, singing in French, Breton and Gallo. A very local feeling festival where the Bretons come to celebrate their own traditions.
Boqueho, Early May
a regional Festival of Traditional Dance and Music, with four days of concerts, fest deiz, fest noz, markets, walks to music, dance and music workshops, and a dance competition.
Les Rencontres Internationales de la Clarinette Populaire, May, Glomel
10 minutes from the gite. This international gathering of clarinetists features concerts, workshops, musical walks, dances and sessions. A must for any clarinet players!
Music and singing
There are many concerts, sessions and parades throughout the summer.
(photos Odile Cholet)
Here is just a taste of what is available:
Chants de marin (sailors songs)
We go to a regular session in Binic to sing. This session has a great atmosphere, and english singers are as welcome as all others. The photos above are from this session.
There are also maritime festivals that include chants de marin sessions, such as Douarnenez, Paimpol & Cancale
Sessions
We hear about (and go to) occasional singing sessions throughout the year at St Carreuc, Yffiniac and Quelven. There are also regular Irish music sessions at Quimper & Lorient.