The 46th Printemps de Bourges is focusing on creation and emerging artists: “We want to be the house where it all begins”

It has been written for several years that the Printemps de Bourges is changing.

But this year, after two editions of resistance – or even three, if we count the one carried out on the Internet during the first confinement –, we have more than ever the feeling of announcing the birth of a new Spring.

A different, imaginative and surprising festival that Boris Vedel dreamed of when he took over as director in 2015.

The team turned a constraint into a strength.

It no longer has the means to afford international stars, who moreover concentrate their tours on the summer.

So she leaves them to other summer meetings.

It returns to its core business: bringing Bourges to life for five days (more than 120 artists in 15 locations, including the new Maison de la Culture) and bringing out French-speaking talent.

"65% of the artists on the bill this year are on their first album or have no album at all," explains Boris Vedel.

We have learned a lot over the past two years and we want to cultivate our difference.

The headliners yes, but priority to emergence and creation.

»

Houellebecq will read poems on techno, Pomme will sing Céline Dion

Rest assured, Bourges always celebrates stars and popular successes.

From this Tuesday, April 19 with the first festival date of Jacques and Thomas Dutronc, who have only given three Parisian concerts, and Gaëtan Roussel.

There are a few places left under the big tent at the W for this inauguration evening, as for the Vianney, Juliette Armanet and Emma Peters evenings (Wednesday), then Clara Luciani, IAM, Eddy de Pretto and Cats on Trees (Thursday)…” There are clearly problems of purchasing power in the public, observes Boris Vedel, the director of Printemps.

And for 18-25 year olds, we legitimately ask ourselves the question of their return to festivals.

None are sold out yet this summer, apart from HellFest.

»

On the other hand, the creations are almost all sold out.

They are certainly in small gauge but have something to attract.

Starting with Michel Houellebecq reading his poems on Wednesday afternoon to the techno beats of DJ Traumer, between the old stones of the Palais Jacques-Coeur.

And in the evening Brigitte Fontaine, the most singular of French singers (82 years old) combining her farewell to the stage in the plural.

With staging by Delépine and Kervern, musical direction by the formidable Lucie Antunes and partners as special as Béatrice Dalle, Philippe Katerine and Jarvis Cocker, we imagine a show as royal as the queen.

Another highly anticipated creation, Thursday and Friday evening, Pomme and her Quebec friend Safia Nolin will revisit the songs of Céline Dion at the Jacques-Coeur Theater in a 360° configuration.

Finally, rap and electro fans are not forgotten.

In addition to the new artists to be discovered at 22 in the Inouïs system (33 artists), Printemps has concocted four very high-level evenings for them.

At the Halle au Blé, the two Rap2dayZ evenings!

with Zola, Jok'Air, Oboy and Laeti (Wednesday) and Josman, Dinos and Gazo (Thursday)!

The WKD evenings between the W marquee and the Palais d'Auron also promise a lot, with among others Kungs, Luidji, Deluxe, Polo & Pan (Friday) and the closing Saturday with Vitalic, the Laylow sensation (who filled two Accor Arenas) , Vini Vici, Ascendant Virgo… On Friday evening, Roméo Elvis will make his big comeback, a month before the release of his new album.

Boris Vedel wants Printemps to be “the house where it all begins”.