The adventure began in 1995. Francis Cabrel, already at the height of his glory, joined the municipal council of Astaffort, his village in Lot-et-Garonne, with the ambition of bringing a little culture to it.
But how ?
The song being what he knew best, he proposed to the city council to convert the old boy's school into a music center.
Read alsoFrancis Cabrel celebrates 25 years of the Rencontres d'Astaffort and announces a new album
The school where he had learned to read and write, a stone's throw from the church, had in fact been abandoned since boys and girls had been grouped together in the same building, - co-education requires!
This is how the playground has become a creative courtyard and for 25 years, apprentice singers have been taking up residences there.
Over time, these trainees have become much more professional.
Some are even sent here by their record company!
Because these meetings of authors, composers and performers who do not know each other beforehand are a real place of emulation.
For the 50th edition of this biannual meeting, we attended the rehearsals of the fifteen residents who, in a few days, managed to create some thirty songs.
Text and music!
Francis Cabrel and Gauvain Sers at Astaffort Gauvin Sers
All under the sponsorship of singer Gauvin Sers.
Between two concerts, he went to Astaffort: with good reason, since it is a question of teaching emerging talents here to handle text and music, an exercise that Gauvain masters perfectly.
Five to six of these titles are true wonders, and the nursery has revealed up-and-coming artists such as Philippine Lavrey, Hyl, Gaume or Mister Mat to name a few.
These meetings must end with a show, the first part of which must be provided by the residents performing 15 songs selected by the jury, before leaving the stage to the Souchon father and son.
An abundant creation that we will be able to discover in Paris on September 28 at the Raspail studio with the delivery of the La Poste prize.
