Another casualty..

Was reminded of this on another platform - it was 11 years ago! This will be the first year since then that we do not have the Barroudeurs in Barrou. 😪

Mother nature...and the best laid plans.

As ever the hard work of the  local volunteers brought us  another festival that the village can be proud of...such a shame that the only element they can't control decided to show its hand in the form of a downpour in the early evening which probably put many potential visitors off, which was a pity. Enjoyed a singalong with some fellow fans to the Beatles tribute act...who's lead singer donned a pair of shades and became Elvis later in the evening! Well done Barrou!

 

Something else for the weekend...Elvis & the Beatles at Barrou

Well maybe not in person but certainly in spirit...with  tribute acts to both at our annual music festival here in Barrou . Come along and help make it a night to remember.

 

 The hard-working 'Comité des Fêtes' of the village provide a great setting for the occasion with the banks of the river Creuse providing a natural auditorium. You can have a drink and something to eat on site and enjoy the music well into the night.

Photos 1&3  courtesy of Vivien Bluteau

Musical weekend coming up...

Two good musical evenings for your pleasure this weekend...

On Friday we have 'Siansa' returning for their second visit to Touraine to give us a taste of Ireland here in France. The location, in the square behind the church in Le Grand Pressigny is ideal with space for dancing as well as the food and beverages on offer.

Then on Saturday Barrou offers its annual music festival with an eclectic mix of music on the stage by the river Creuse...

Or you can visit Abilly and listen to 12 choirs at 6 different locations throughout the village.

The organisers put in a huge amount of effort to bring these events to you so it is very important to support them...hope to see you there! We do however wonder why two villages so close to each (13km) other have these musical evenings on the same date, thus reducing their potential audience and denying some people the opportunity to sample both.

Festival des Barroudeurs...our village shows how it is done

With a limited budget our village here in Barrou have put together a music festival for the last 11 years that they can be justifiably proud of . Every year they have the fresh challenge of  bringing music to the people and uniting them in an evening of musical entertainment..

This year was organized in their usual efficient manner and although they now have 11 events under their belt the efforts of the committee and local volunteers cannot be overstated.  

Liked the young band Mini-Melo who provided 'continuity' from off the main stage on the top of the hill. Their drummer had a touch of the 'Keith Moon' about him!

The other two bands didn't really do it for me but added to the evening. 

For me Angie Palmer stole the show...

W

Coming up...a weekend of live music here in Southern Touraine

On Friday night we have a taste of Ireland with 'Siansa' providing the music in the square behind the church.

On Saturday we have the annual 'Festival des Barroudeurs' here in Barrou.

This year features,among others, the very talented Angie Palmer.

                               

We will be attending both, hope to see there

How lucky were we?...

Last night's 10th 'Barroudeurs Music Festival' was another success for the hard working festival committee of the village.

Along with fellow Barrouviens ( or Barrouviennes) and guests we enjoyed the usual eclectic mix of music.

The storm clouds appeared to be gathering as predicted but came to nothing on the night and it was a very pleasant evening in good company.

Barroudeurs Music Festival...

Lets keep our fingers crossed that weather is ok for tonight's festivities here in Barrou.

Below is my all-time favourite performance, from 2009 I think...

followed closely by the dancing girls of 2011.

You have to be a little mad...

Saturday night was our annual music 'Festival des Barroudours' which was a good night yet again.

The setting by the river is ideal...and the company was good.

I had been there at 7.30 am helping set up the tables before Pauline and I did our second changeover in two days in 30 degree temperatures!!! so if we seemed a little relaxed I'm sure you'll understand why!

No that's not me with my head in my hands - I'm taking the pic!

Good review and pics of the night on Colin and Elizabeth's blog here.

Going down a storm!...

Thought I might be beaten to the post with this one - with so many bloggers on site - and with Sunday taken over by my 'church' feature Colin got there first! 

Our 'Barroudeurs music festival' in the village on Saturday night was reasonably well attended,considering the local competition from choirs and fireworks and also blessed with fair weather, for the most part.

The location as ever proved ideal for the occasion with the main stage set up as usual on the riverbank with the seating and tables on the levees - making a natural theatre.The entertainment was provided by three bands, 'Music Instinct', 'Joyliner' and  'Tayazabel'. Music Instinct have featured here a couple of times before and gave a solid performance on Saturday night.

Next up were 'Joyliner' from Paris who are veterans of six rock albums - who were my favourites of the night. Interestingly all their songs on the night were in English.

While they were playing we were also treated to the competing fireworks from nearby Lesigny as a backdrop. 

The evening finished up with the headliners 'Tayazabel' who were billed as a reggie/ska band but it seemed to be a fusion of these genres with rapping over it - not to my taste. From Orleans,they have been together since 2002,  They had an interesting band member in an orange suit who, if his right hand wasn't moving I would have sworn he was a dummy - or maybe he was just bored of doing this for ten years! After a few ditties we had had enough and called it a night - which was just as well, as although we had been sitting under a starry sky minutes before, as we entered the house there was a deluge dropping on Barrou - pity the poor organisers and audience who were definitely not prepared for it - the sound mixing desk wasn't even under cover.

Here are some videos of the bands before rain stopped play... 

'Joyliner'  -look out for the Pete Townsend jump!

                                          

'Tayazabel' 

                                          

  Two for one

Barrou's Glastonbury...

Ok perhaps not Glastonbury but...next Saturday,7th July, the banks of the river Creuse here in Barrou plays host to the 8th 'Festival of Contemporary Music' "THE BARROUDEURS" .An open air event we have attended for the last 4 years which nearly always throws up some interesting acts.