Heading for the Caribbean with the Route du Large Festival in Sète

Béatrice Esclassan, Cédric Maret et Emma Lamadji à l'Amar Café à Sète. MIDI LIBRE – Jérémie Margue

To celebrate its 18th anniversary, the Route du Large charity festival organized by the Sète association Cap au Large invites you to discover artists with Afro-Caribbean notes.

The story goes back to 2000 with the meeting between the founders of Cap au Large and Riton, a sailing enthusiast who has been in a wheelchair since he was 17. He got involved in the association and contributed to the project of a sailboat adapted for people with disabilities, the Laisse Dire.

Also a music lover, he then came up with the idea of ​​a charity festival, says Vincent Damourette, president of the association. “We organize cruises with the Cap au Large audience, to write songs that are performed during this annual evening.”

A colorful program

This 18th edition, this August 13 at 8 p.m. at the Théâtre de la Mer, takes an Afro, Caribbean and reggae direction. "It happened a bit by chance after meeting Emma Lamadji", reveals Béatrice Esclassan, the treasurer, who also takes care of the programming. Together, they then decided to hoist the sails towards new colors for this year.“Like a sailing school, it's at the mercy of the wind. It's always been a bit eclectic!”, adds Vincent Damourette.

So we're embarking on an evening full of energy at the Théâtre de la Mer. Emma Lamadji and Isiah Shaka will share their danceable roots music. DJs Garry_Mizik and Adroner, also borrowing reggae and hip-hop notes in their music, will host the inter-stage sessions, downstage, to get the audience in the mood. “The idea will be to also invite people to dance with this style of music”, hopes Béatrice.

No big names, but the region in the spotlight

The association seeks to travel, “not with big names, but by putting the region in the spotlight”, continues the treasurer. The bubbly Emma Lamadji, originally from Montpellier, started singing in gospel choirs, before joining the hip-hop scene, at the time when Afrobeat was invited there.

She looks back on her career, her music and her friends that she joins at this festival. “When I saw the casting, I said to myself: “there really are only friends!” We're going to have a blast, so come on!" And she intends to take the helm of the dancefloor, even though she doesn't know the world of sailing (yet).

To complete the crew, Cédric Maret, from Sète and artistic director in the luxury sector, produced the poster on a voluntary basis. He is happy to participate in this project that has won him over. "It's a concert to help a medical-social association rooted in the territory."

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