American stars, cinema, world music, and a little something, your weekend in Montpellier
Earth, Wind and Fire Experience by Al McKay, Promenade du Peyrou pour le Montpellier Blues Festival. – D.R.
The Montpellier Blues Festival ends Promenade du Peyrou with a funk evening and another of soul, paintings can be seen outdoors in two places in the city, the Saint-Martin district is alive with music, Clapiers welcomes world music, Castries lets you taste wine and music, here are five events to experience in Montpellier and the metropolis from Friday 5 to Sunday 7 July.
Montpellier Blues Festival
There are still two great evenings to experience at the Montpellier Blues Festival, which opens this Friday with funk and Saturday with soul. The organizers have really gone for it. For funk, they offer us Earth, Wind and Fire Experience by Al McKay. This is a band put together by the guitarist of the legendary jazz-funk band formed in the late 60s. The 14 musicians easily cover Boogie Wonderland, September or even After The Love Is Gone. Guaranteed atmosphere. Even more so with the first part, Brooklyn Funk Essentials. Eight New Yorkers who navigate between funk, jazz and hip-hop.
The second edition of the festival closed in style with an evening offering a summary of the talents of current soul. It started with Shakura S’Aida, whom some compared to Aretha Franklin or Tina Turner. It was the turn of J.P. Bimeni & The Black Belts, where the alliance of one of the descendants of the Burundian royal family living in London with a Madrid group, took to the stage before Lee Fields closed the second edition of the festival in style. The one nicknamed “Little JB” quickly won over the audience. His iconic voice in the setting of Peyrou will certainly be a great moment to experience.
Friday 5 and Saturday 6 July. Promenade du Peyrou, Montpellier. Prices: €39 per evening, 2-night pass €69, reduced prices for 15-25 year olds, free for under 15s. montpellier-blues-festival.org
Open-air cinema
It’s an open-air cinema weekend with the conjunction of two events. On the one hand the open-air Diago which began on Wednesday at the Halle Tropisme and on the other hand the Cinema for All which, for its part, focuses on a district less accustomed to major cultural events: La Pompignane. In both cases, there are deckchairs and you can bring your own seat. But we don't choose the film.
For the open-air Diago, Friday, head to the Camargue, with Animale by Emma Bennestan. The next day we head to Mexico for Emilia Perez, the multi-award winning film at Cannes by Michel Audiard. Near the La Pompignane residence (rue Louise Michel), Brand à part offers castle life with two films. Friday, The meaning of the party, by Éric Toledano and Olivier Nakache with the late Jean-Pierre Bacri. A quiz is organized before the session at 8 p.m. The next day, we dive into Marie-Antoinette by Sofia Coppola before a DJ set from Mixeuses solidaires, from 8 p.m.
Start of sessions, 10 p.m.
At the Rhythm of the City
The heart of the Saint-Martin district will vibrate differently for a Friday with the Au Rythme de la ville festival, of which this is the second edition. Supported by the Les Jasmins d’Orient association, it helps promote the neighborhood's stakeholders while offering a festive moment. From 3:30 p.m., children will be able to participate in introductory music workshops. At 6 p.m., there will be a restitution of a musical project carried out over a semester with children. At 7 p.m., time for a concert and conviviality. It will begin with a cello, darbouka and ukulele trio, before returning to Ajamo, the African brass band from JAM which is a neighbor. Fifteen artists come together on stage with two singers. The evening ends with the Rabie Houti Band, Arab-Andalusian music tinged with rock.
Friday July 5. Parc Alain Bashung, 21-19 rue Jean Vachet, Montpellier. FREE ENTRANCE.