The Kirikou Events Association presents its flagship event, the Festi’Couleurs 2020-2021, which gathers many visitors every year.
For 13 years now, Festi’Couleurs has been an artistic and festive event around gender diversity. This free event was born out of the desire to value cultural diversity and rich social diversity in Occitanian / Pyrenean / Mediterranean regions.
Coping with this health and economic crisis that has affected all continents, AKE wishes to renew the social, cultural and living-together bond by organising the 14th edition of Festi’Couleurs 2020-2021. “2021 Africa season in Crossed Cultures” will take place on Friday 28th and Saturday 29th May 2021 at the Exhibition Centre Hall 8.
This festival will showcase the art and cultures around the world. It is an opportunity to discover artists from all walks of life: musicians, singers, actors, authors, painters and dancers, and so on. This gathering makes it possible to enjoy a wide range of animations and to live a collective and festive day.
The programme will be rich and varied: concerts, dance, entertainment, games for youngsters and older ones, parades, humour, a charity raffle… The funds raised during this event will be donated to international solidarity actions. This event will also be an opportunity for AKE to renew its trust with its partners.
You will find below their press book explaining:
their events’ and festivals’ organised throughout the current year 2020 and the year 2021
all actions taken with the collected funds during these events and festivals.
I attended on 3rd January 2020 Stephan Eicher‘ s live concert atLa Halle aux grains in Toulouse (France). Although, I have listened to this singer and musician for many years now, it was the first time I went to his concert in this great theatre concert hall.
Stephan Eicher’s choice for concert place is spot on, a 2200-seater theater with a great acoustic sound and allowing an intimate connection with his public.
He obviously plays his old hit «Déjeuner quoi?» Stephan Eicher shouts and laughs during the concert. It’s the public who demands it. Stephan Eicher answers «Déjeuner en paix» doesn’t belong to me anymore. The music industry has got lots of money to pay for their lawyers, while I haven’t. So, I’m no longer allowed to sing it. However, you can sing it !» Approval screams. The band delivers a powerful Rock and the crowd sing it in chorus.
1. EXPLANATIONS for STEPHAN EICHER ‘S absence
We know the misfortunes of the Bernese (Swiss German) musician with his Universal Major label. Reason for which, he tells, his stage repertoire has been for 5 years stuck to the same hits with no new released records. How can it sounds positive to us instead of the bitter experience he had. Since digitalisation, he said he didn’t like the way his contract was changed…but he didn’t ask for more money or music rights. However, he was lucky enough that his existing repertoire allowed him to tour with new shows rearranging his songs and offering new tracks.
2. ABOUT STEPHAN EICHER
Since more than 30 years, Stephan Eicher experiments and challenges himself musically. First, synthetic music with Grauzone and its techno-pop, then at the beginning of the 80s he tries out the rock experience. Then he goes for ballad songs, uses more classic or traditional instruments he associates with modern sounds and rhythms to offer a varied and rich discography.
3. His new album
This time, Stephan Eicher also comes back with new «Homeless songs» album (Polydor) composed of original tracks and of course a new show. He surrounds himself with a quartet to tell his new story, centered on acoustic and classic instrumental music.
In his own terms, this tour brings «not just 5 years of imposed ice skating figures but also introduce us to free skating.» Homeless songs do not have any place in the current music industry. They live elsewhere and sleep outside. This is in no way offensive , even the opposite ! These songs are like small stones children pick up along the river. For an adult, impossible to understand what guided the child’s choice. Was it the pleasant refreshing feeling of the stone ? A small pattern on the surface ? A weird or funny shape ? The fate ? These songs hope to create a relaxing, comfortable space, a dreaming pause.
4. His musicians during this 2020 tour
For this concert, he is accompanied by 4 independent musicians :
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Reyn Ouwehand, pianist, film Composer and multi-instrumentalist from Netherlands, who is the opening act.
Heidi Happy, Swiss singer and multi instrumentalist (vocals, guitars, cello, mandolin, xylophone).
Baptiste Germser, French horn (cor en français) and bass player and music producer.
Ludovic Bruni, French guitarist, bassist and music producer.
3. Live recordings in audio tracks and videos
a) Reyn Ouwehand’s opening act
Reyn played several piano tracks for us and I recorded two of them. Although I do not know the song titles, feel free to add them in the comment section below this blog post!
Obviously, Reyn continued playing for Stephan Eicher throughout his concert!
b) Dominique Regeff
Then there was a special guest, Dominique Regeff, French improvisor, composer, and musician specialising in stringed instruments. He came to play the hurdy gurdy (vielle en français) on the ‘Rivière’ song from Stephan Eicher. In this audio recording, Stephan introduces him and how they collaborate together.
c) Stephan Eicher
Finally, amongst other songs, I recorded these songs in audio and video versions. Once again, if any of you know the track title for his Swiss German song, drop the info in the comment section! He sings in French, Swiss German as well as English.
Here, you will recognise his very first hit in France!
And other well known French tracks!
That is all from me! Enjoy the listening and subscribe!
Time is up, on 22nd June 2019, the Picós phenomenon, Caribbean Colombian Coast sound systems, invades Toulouse at Mix’Art Myrys!
As a follow-up to the French ‘fête de la musique’, several Toulousian communities offer to bring you on board of an immersive trip through the popular urban culture of the Colombian coast.
– a music set compiled by DJ Galletas Calientes and local DJ No Breakfast. They are meeting for the first time on stage!
2. DJs PRESENTATION
Secondly, let’s talk about the tropical DJ Galletas Calientes (Colombia/France) coming directly from the Caribbean Colombian Coast for everyone’s delight!
►►Galletas Calientes Records label creator, he honours us as a DJ within the ‘Mas I Mas’ Parisian community since the middle of the 1990s. Techno/Drum and bass DJ at first, he is also currently interested in the traditional folk and electro music fusion…
Since he lives in Colombia, his music culture is enhanced with Latin and tropical rhythms. He collaborates with labels and artists at the forefront of the Colombian stage such as:
Systema Solar,
Meridian Brothers,
Palenque Records,
Sonidos Enraizados…
For this festival, he offers you a trip through frenzied rhythms around a set coming directly from the best Picós of the Colombian Caribbean Coast!
And with him, the unmissable and legendary local DJ No Breakfast we no longer introduce due to his reputation of vinyl’s digger and music nights entertainer in the pink town of Toulouse.
►► DJ No Breakfast offers us a wonderful Caribbean set on his vinyl collector discs.
3. PROGRAMME
Then let’s move on to a more detailed programme.
►► 7 pm:
‘Champeta’ dance entertainment by Anika. Champeta is a Caribbean Colombian Music of African influence. I’m afraid I do not have videos of this, as I came to the event at 9 pm. But I have filmed their music performance!
A fresco from a collaboration between Colombian artist Soma and a local artist Natsvit.
‘Hasta Abajo!’ is a series of street posters at the image of the Picó nights announcers. They are produced by the photographer Leslie Moquin in partnership with Locombia Festival.
It is worth noting the film is a finalist at the Sundance London Film and Music Festival 2019. This highly recommended film has been produced by Roberto de Zubiria and Sergio Zaraza.
►►10.30 pm: DJs sets start
►►12 pm: Video Mapping by Felipe Vargas, the Caribbean Mapper:
4. PRACTICAL INFORMATION
Thirdly, here is the overall programme of the main events:
7-9 pm: Doors opening and Latino Graff Walls
9 pm: Film screening
10 pm: Champeta music
10.30pm: DJ sets start
12 pm: Video mapping.
Furthermore, please take note of the festival location:
Mix’Art Myrys, Rue Ferdinand Lasalle 43, Toulouse.
Also, what else to find?
refreshment and catering areas
market stalls of Colombian Caribbean souvenirs such as these dolls:
5. Organisers and partners
Finally, a big thank you to all the following partners who made this festival possible!
First of all, are you ready for the most epic Groove festival? I surely hope so!
After having played groove music in a good few cultural bars in Toulouse, the Groove Festival Box 2 #FeelingGrooveFestival invites the whole family and thinks big!
1. The location
Besides, the Groove Festival is organised at La Cartoucherie market building and exhibition hall, a now well-known third place by Toulousians.
2. THE PROGRAMME
Then, you can find the following entertainment activities during the weekend of 22nd and 23rd june 2019 for only 5 Euros:
Roller disco (3 € for rollerskates rental)
100% women hip-hop dance battles
Graffitis, Street art and painting exhibitions
Sculptures
Live painting
Live music.
3. STREET ARTS EXHIBITION WALLS
Additionally, for the occasion, exhibition walls Bullet Factory from ExpoCity by Cisart are visible all day long for free! This is one of the last occasions to admire the graff collective exhibition from 40 artists. They are present since November 2018 on more than 1000 squaremeters walls in the Cartoucherie exhibition hall.
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4. PHOTO EXHIBITION
Furthermore, there is also a photo exhibition unrelated to the festival called ‘Ce que je suis‘. It is also a collaborative project presented by inhabitants from Brax, Cugnaux, L’Union et Launaguet (towns surrounding Toulouse).
It is a reflection on our self-image/persona and how we would like to be seen by others. The project offers us two outlooks of the same person.
However, please note that I have only attended some of the Saturday sessions. So, let me go through that day programme and events I attended :
7.30pm: Rap and Beat Box Interlude with Dax Santos and Paolo.
5. PRACTICAL INFORMATION AND DIRECTIONS
Finally, within the scope of the eco-neighbourhood, car parking on the public highways is voluntarily restricted. But , an Indigo parking is located 200 meters from the exhibition hall.
In this respect, we strongly encourage you to come with Tisséo public transports, or your bike, scooter or skate to join us!
Tram Lines T1 & T2 – Arrêt Casselardit Stop
Bus Lines 45 and Linéo 2 – Casselardit Stop.
Pedestrian and bike access : avenue de Grande Bretagne, then Casselardit tram stop, then go to towards the Charpark alley and Thomas Dupuy street in direction to the market building. Access to Thomas Dupuy street (parking at 200m).
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