It was only a postponement.
While the opening evening of the 40th edition of the festival last year had to be relocated to Pantin at the last minute, Banlieues Bleues will open the 41st, this Friday evening, at the University of Paris-8, in Saint -Denis.
A symbolic site, in a university born from the struggles of May 1968 for a festival still committed to circulating its concerts at an affordable price (12 to 15 euros per concert for the inhabitants of Seine-Saint-Denis) in the working-class neighborhoods of the department , until April 5.
This Friday, the evening will even be free (but reservation required) at the university, with an all-female line-up for International Women's Rights Day.
With in particular the young harpist Sophye Soliveau (in trio), the American Cleo Reed and her group The Black American Circus, or a musical reading, with a DJ, by the writer Diaty Diallo, who will read an extract from her very noticed at the start of the 2022 literary season, “Two seconds of burning air”.
The evening will also be marked by a round table on sexism and gender inequalities in music.
“Even if artistic value remains our main criterion, there will then be many female sets, with female musicians who lead or co-lead groups, throughout the festival,” points out Xavier Lemit, the director of Banlieues Bleues.
“Discover artists today who will be important tomorrow”
Throughout the month, going to the festival will also remain the promise of making many discoveries.
“The star of Banlieues Bleues is the music,” insists the director.
This is our bias: to discover the artists of today who will undoubtedly be very important tomorrow.
There are some well-known names but above all plenty of artists to discover.
People come to Banlieues Bleues because they know they will listen to quality concerts.
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He cites, for example, very innovative, “very adventurous” musicians, like the English rapper Gaika and his retro-futurist style, on March 15 in Montreuil.
Or the expected performance of Sophye Soliveau, this Friday evening.
“People who don’t know it yet will soon get to know it,” promises the director, who has been at the helm of the festival for 24 years now.
Complete program and prices on
https://www.banlieuesbleues.org/