Sonambule: the Vallée performance hall launches its twentieth season

Odelaf kicks off the season with a joyful Tristitude. Romano – Loris

Women are in the spotlight with the Electric Lady Land and the virtuoso Nina Attal. Rodolphe Engrand BD – Rodolphe Engrand BD

Stéphane Déal est à la tête du Sonambule depuis le début de l'année. OCVH – OCVH

The Vallée concert hall is opening its twentieth year and is now launching an annual programme.

This is already the 20th year of programming in what was the intercommunal hall for culture and sports in the Hérault Valley, known since 2011 under the pretty portmanteau name of "Sonambule". A hall that therefore circulates, advances, moves sound… and music, in the Heart of Hérault. And carries in its spirit the firm ambition to continue to "unite, to create links" in the valley, repeats Stéphane Déal, director of the structure that he has been running since the beginning of the year and has hosted since 2016. He therefore knows the house well and is staying the course.

To celebrate the Sonambule's entry into adulthood, the season-by-season programming is over. It is now annual, as evidenced by the new program that opens the “hostilities” on Friday, September 13 with Lula Heldt and features around twenty public events (not counting school events), until May 23* with Demi Portion. An annual program will offer better "visibility for the public, who will also be able to program their releases well in advance", explains Stéphane Déal. And this allows organizers to sign renowned artists well before their visit to our regions.

The essentials

Among the year's must-sees, a few dates are already worth noting: on September 20, Odelaf and the excellent Montpellier native Dimone promise a memorable evening under the sign of humor and the love of words; Djé Balèti (featuring Fixie) invites you to a trance on November 8; The People of the Grass will warm up the winter around December 7th, a week before the hot and steamy Tambours du Bronx. On January 25th, Emily Loizeau will take over from Alexis HK this year to give voice to the Mots Parleurs festival. (With Bertille). The traditional Baleti du Bal d'Hiver will invite 3 groups and 300 dancers on February 8th. Valentine's Day will definitely be electrifying and feminine with the Electric Lady Land with virtuoso guitarist Nina Attal. In the spring, from April 11th to 13th, the Ogres de Barbak will set up their Pitt Ocha in front of the venue. A family highlight where circus and music will mix for young and old. Last but not least, on May 23, it is the fine pen of French rap, the neighboring Sète Demi-portion who will come to put an end to the 20th anniversary season. Like we put a dot on the i.

And the summer of 2025 ? This year, the “Itinéraires bis”, summer concerts, outside the walls, should evolve. And we will have to wait a little longer to discover the program of this “summer festival”.

The season launch sets the tone

The spirit of Sonambule is based on “four fundamental pillars” explains, in substance, Stéphane Déal: “support for emerging artists, programming shows aimed at children, mobilizing residents around a participatory and unifying project, not to mention national or international posters”. In this sense, the 2024/2025 return to school at Sonambule is perfectly in line with the philosophy cultivated by the Sonambule team. The proof: Lula Heldt from Lodévoise, who was recently in residence at Sonambule, will present her album, “Bain de Lunes”, on September 13. A shared aperitif is organized on the 17th, it will also be an opportunity to collect memories and the collective memory of the place, Odelaf and Dimone take over the stage on September 20. And the musical show aimed at young audiences, “Radishes don't count for nothing”, will be performed on October 2 at the Sonambule. QED.