Festival turns up the heat with an Afro beat
The spring festival Le Printemps de Bourges, has been celebrating music since 1977, and this year is putting South African artists at centre stage. Every spring, the central town of Bourges, renowned for its cathedral and historic centre, is taken over by music lovers from around the world.
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The festival’s programmers spend months meticulously searching France and the world for new artists or trends that will tickle the curiosity of festival goers during the five-day event.
This year’s line-up will feature a mix of rock, French chanson, hip hop and electro, with headliners including rock legend Iggy Pop and The Stooges, revered French artists Matthieu Chedid, aka M, and the beautiful Hindi Zahra.
Le Printemps de Bourges music festival
Thirty-one “artists découvertes”, or newbie artists, will also have the opportunity to impress not only the crowds, but the crème de la crème of the music industry and media.
Amongst them will feature unsigned French gem The Popopopopos and Québec band Beast, whose trip-hoping sounds should shake the crowds.
However what makes this year’s line-up even more intriguing is the selection of music from the African continent.
The World Cup’s opening ceremony may be neglecting South African artists for the benefit of international artists like the Black Eyed Peas and Alicia Keys, but this French music festival is not.
Ten South African artists will be gracing the various venues. The likes of soul hip-hopsters Tumi and the Volume, electric new wave rapper Playdoe and Sweat X, as well as RFI favorites BLK JKS and Gazelle are set to tear up the stage, giving the French punters a chance to enjoy South African vibes.
Unfortunately hotly tipped Africkanner rap band Die Antwoord have pulled out of the line up, claiming they’d never confirmed their taking part.
The bizarre music video for their song “Enter Ninja” had been hailed by many music bloggers as one of the most interesting in decades.
Although many French fans will be disappointed, they will find comfort in the music of the South African talent present.
Ben Sharpa is one artist who’ll definitely be rapping at Le Printemps de Bourges.
When RFI hooked up with him in March, he admitted he’d only heard about the festival six months ago, but was really excited about networking with all the other artists on the line up.
He also promised us “Magic” when he takes to the stage.
The festival begins on Tuesday 13 April and goes on until Sunday 18 April. And here at RFI, we’ll definitley be putting the festival’s magic to the test.
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