Le Festival de musique

Chris's music school

Come rain or shine - nothing was going to spoil this baby on Friday in Chinon.  The Festival has become an annual event and it's very popular with loads of people out and about in town. Anyone who has been to Chinon will known it's not a big place. So the way the festival is put together and presented is very interesting. Also the musicians playing are a mixture of professional, semi-professional and aspiring beginners. 


A beginner here can be anyone of any age. We saw this a few years back, when we went to an afternoon accordeon concert over in Beaumont en Verron. The local music school was putting on their annual show, so the players were students, professors and some very good professionals. What we liked was that the beginners were encouraged to play in front of everyone, regardless of their ability and standard. They were helped over performance nerves and the audience was expected and did provide support and patience sometimes, in listening. It was lovely to see.

The same thing applied on Friday, in the central square on the stage were all the students from Chris's music school. So mixed ages, instruments, music styles and abilities. They kicked off the event from this very prominent position. Families of course came to support, others like us were milling around and being near cafés, could grab a bite and a glass of something. Worked very well and everyone was having a good time.

Starting up

The festival was in fact all over town, with different stages rigged up small alleyways and in other squares. This rock band who had just started up when we got there, were really good. They had been sensibly positioned! as were all the bands near a watering-hole. We were quite early, but even so people were starting to gather round, away from the main square. It's a free event, so with music all over the place and half decent weather, it was a fun time to wander about and to stop and stay for a while at each venue. We're often in this part of town for shopping. Also in the background is the building where we go for one of our anglo-french groups.

Vol de Nuit

One of the best bands were playing outside Le Lion D'or. It's a big hotel and brasserie just off Place Jeanne D'Arc, where the weekly market is held. Our neighbour Karine also works in the brasserie. Most of the bands playing off the main square were into rock music. Vol de Nuit were a trio of older guys playing Pop Rock. They were great. Again we arrived just after they'd begun. Their stage was the outside coffee area for Le Lion d'Or, wherr we often stop on market day.  

Jean-François (JF)

Of course the weather changed suddenly and dramatically. Across the main road opposite Le Lion d'Or is an area called Quai Jeanne d'Arc. Quite often it's used for boule competitions or les brocaderies. This evening it was the venue for the line dancers. Great fun. First came across them last September in Chinon for the Forum des Associations - the big open day for groups and organisations in Chinon, which is held in a venue the other side of town called L'Espace Rabelais. It's a big multi-purpose hall, used for sports, conferences, concerts, dance and theatre. Good space. The poor line dancers Friday night got well and truly soaked. They just kept going, regardless of what overhead was chucking at them. We stayed for a while huddled under umbrellas until it got to heavy and even the dancers had to stop. Such a shame.

Jean-François otherwise known as JF is a key figure on the music scene in and around Chinon. With his wife Severine and their children he lives 'over the shop', otherwise known as the Café Français. We often go there, for a glass before the cinema or for the music gigs they regularly host. We've heard some fantastic musicians there. JF is very supportive of all events in Chinon. If there's a possibility of a cross-over with another event, he'll find it and help get it going. So for example, Chinon film festival -a four day event in September - will involve him, either in a special showing of music related films, such as one year, a film about Chet Baker and another year about Charlie Parker. Or he'll organise a brunch for the Sunday, which is an all day film affair, meaning four or five showings. For the first time this year, we'll be able to go to the whole thing including the brunch. The enthusiasm is one of the things we like about him and Severine, as well as them being just such lovely people. Friday at the music festival, of course there he was in the main square, helping, watching, supporting and finding a moment to stop for a chat with us. We're now, as of a few months back, FBook friends.