53rd LORIENT INTERCELTIC FESTIVAL ! The biggest celtic cultures' gathering. 950 000 festivalgoers. 300 concerts. 5 000 artistes. 12 stages. 1 700 volunteers. 8 celtic nations.
2024 : THE YOUTH OF THE CELTIC COUNTRIES! This year's Interceltic Festival is dedicated to Celtic youth. From 12 to 18 August, you'll be able to enjoy some 300 diverse shows on 12 stages across Lorient. This 53rd edition will showcase Celtic music in all its diversity! Young people will be in the spotlight at the Grand Parade of Celtic Nations, the Interceltic Music Camp, Celtic Horizons and, of course, throughout the festival!
FOCUS ON THE 2024 EDITION
RODRIGO CUEVAS (Asturies)
Asturian singer Rodrigo Cuevas describes himself as a "folk agitator". Driven by a deep love of folk music and a desire to restore its vitality, Rodrigo Cuevas has launched an iconoclastic campaign to modernise Asturian traditions. His music is inspired by the traditional rhythms and songs of northern Spain, which he makes his own by modernising them with a great deal of electronic instrumentation and formal audacity.
The originality of his approach is also reflected in the persona he has created for himself : part drag queen, part hidalgo sorcerer, a queer costume unexpected in the conservative world of traditional music and in the rural Spain where he has settled.
Project SMOK (Scotland)
Project SMOK is a progressive, non-conformist Scottish traditional neo-trad trio made up of Ali Levack (bagpipes), Ewan Baird (bodhran) and Pablo Lafuente (guitar, electric guitar).
Known for their ability to blend traditional music with contemporary new-age pop influences, Project SMOK push the boundaries and force listeners to re-evaluate their expectations of music. From the very first note, they break free of all genre boundaries. This innovative and explosive band draws its inspiration from indie pop as well as more traditional West Coast styles. Add to that instrumental virtuosity, blistering dynamism, infectious rhythm and delicate sensitivity, and you've got the thirst-quenching sound of Project SMOK.
JULIE FOWLIS (Scotland)
"If snow could sing, it would sing like Julie Fowlis..."
That's how the pure Nordic voice of Julie Fowlis was described by the famous naturalist writer Robert Macfarlane. Originally from the Outer Hebrides and now based in the Highlands, this renowned artist, perhaps best known for her work on Disney Pixar's Barve, is widely acclaimed for her championing of traditional Gaelic. Her music is deeply influenced by the Hebrides Islands where she grew up and by the landscapes of the Highlands where she now lives.
Enjoy the best of traditional Scottish voices, backed by Fowlis' dynamic band, made up of some of Scotland's finest instrumentalists.
SOLDAT LOUIS (Brittany)
Soldat Louis is a Breton Celtic rock band formed in Lorient in 1988 by Serge Danet aka Soldat Louis and Renaud Detressan aka Gary Wicknam.
The band's musical style is characterised by a blend of electric guitar and bagpipes, accompanied by lyrics that are both committed and festive, often tinged with humour and poetic imagery. The themes of their songs are firmly rooted in the world of the sea, sailors, privateers and pirates, Brittany, love, parties and freedom.
The crew currently consists of Serge Danet alias Soldat Louis (lead vocals/guitar), Renaud Detressan alias Gary Wicknam (vocals/guitar), Michel Banuls (vocals/guitar), Denis Brieuc (keyboard), Christophe Sonnic (drums), Hervé Le Guillou (bass) and Anthony Masselin (bagpipes, iulleann pipe).
MATMATAH (Brittany)
Matmatah is a French rock and folk band from Brest. The duo was formed in 1995 by Tristan Nihouarn and Cédric Floc'h and joined by bassist Éric Digaire and drummer Fañch to play under the name Matmatah, a reference to the Tunisian troglodyte village of the same name, spelt Matmata. The group currently consists of Tristan Nihouarn, Éric Digaire Benoît Fournier, Julien Carton and Léopold Riou.
The year 2023 will have been exceptional right up to the end for Matmatah, who have proved themselves to be a force to be reckoned with on the French music scene since the release of their sixth album last February.
CHERISH THE LADIES (Ireland)
For 38 years, Cherish the Ladies, one of the world's most renowned Irish music ensembles, has captured the hearts of audiences with its explosive blend of traditional music, captivating vocals and Irish dance.
This Irish-American group was formed in New York in 1985 to celebrate the rise of women on the previously male-dominated Irish music scene. Since then, the group has performed over 3,000 concerts around the world, including at the world's top arts centres and festivals, the White House and the Olympic Games. Cherish the Ladies has recorded 18 critically acclaimed albums and produced the Emmy Award-winning television programme 'An Irish Homecoming'.
Under the direction of Irish flute and whistle champion Joanie Madden, these women create an incredible experience brimming with talent and fun. The group is made up of champion Irish musicians Mirella Murray (accordion), Nollaig Casey (fiddle), Kathleen Boyle (piano), Mary Coogan (guitar), Kate Purcell (lead vocals, guitar) and Irish dancers.
CELTIC HORIZONS
Come and discover "Celtic Horizons", the Festival's big night show at the Stade du Moustoir.
This exceptional show for the whole family combines music, dance and song with more than 500 artists from the 8 Celtic nations, who will thrill you with the sound of bagpipes, percussion and other traditional instruments.
Stunning light shows and projections on giant screens, combined with digital sequences, will take you to the heart of the magic of the Celtic world !
This year sees the return of the "Celestes", 2 giant illuminated 9-metre high characters who will be tthe main theme of this journey through the Celtic nations. An unmissable show !
CELTIC ODYSSÉE #3
A NEW ADVENTURE AT THE HEART OF THE CELTIC WORLD
Inaugurated in 2022, the "Celtic Odyssey" series based around Ronan Le Bars returns for a new and third instalment with the same spirit, initiating new interceltic encounters between artists from the 8 Celtic nations. For this new interceltic page, Ronan Le Bars brings together a new sumptuous cast of internationally renowned artists. A musical journey from South to North across the Atlantic Celtic arc with 16 artists.
Photo Credits:
(1)-(2) Lorient Interceltic Festival,
(3) Project Smok,
(4) Soldat Louis,
(5) Ronan Le Bars (Celtic Odyssee)
(unknown/website).
