A colorful weekend in a vibrant french village
On Friday afternoon, 27th of September 2024, a charming little french village near Nantes, gets even more vibrant as 21 musicians from Berlin, dressed in shiny neon leggings, make their way to Trentemoult. Fanfare Gertrude has been invited to perform at the 11th edition of Les Fanfaronnades — a festival dedicated to fanfares, the french variant of brass bands, which will bring together over 300 musicians.
Les Fanfaronnades: an international gathering of fanfares and brass bands
Les Fanfaronnades takes place every two years in and around Nantes, hosted by the local fanfare Le Grand Machin Chose. With at least 25 fanfares in Nantes — the actual number is likely much higher — and brass bands from all around the world eager to participate, bands have to apply to take part in the festival. Together with the WestCostars from Nantes, which we got to know closer while drinking excellent wine two years ago at a similar festival in Brest, we got the nod — as the only German band. Yes!
From Berlin to Trentemoult: a musical adventure begins
And so, we set off by train and plane. Everyone is slowly trickling in on Friday afternoon. The reunion with the WestCostars is incredibly warm and you can hear the bisous flying left and right everywhere! Then it’s time to get moving: onto the bus-ferry and across the Loire to the festival grounds. The venue isn’t located downtown Nantes, but in Trentemoult, a charming former fishing village with colorful little houses, winding alleys and cozy squares. With instrument cases on our backs, we weave through the narrow streets of Trentemoult. But first: a crêpe, a cider or a coffee to recharge! One brave soul orders a “Jolie Bouquet de Crevettes Roses” — and the shrimps really do look like a little bouquet of flowers!
Festival feeling: electrifying brass bands and joy of dancing!
Refueled, we finally make our way to the festival area, where the first sounds of fanfares and brass bands are already echoing from two large circus tents. Our first stop is Hit Micheline, an all-female fanfare, rocking platform shoes and performing hits from pop icons like JLo and Britney Spears. Next, we hop tents to catch Le Gran Machin Chose. Not only can this band organize festivals, they also know how to get the crowd moving! The evening’s finale features then the Les Lentilles Saucisses and Jack 2000, truly setting the crowd on fire — and of course, Fanfare Gertrude joins in, dancing the night away!
Finally! The first gig in Nantes
On Saturday morning the time has finally come: the first performance is about to take place! Together with the WestCostars, Fanfare Gertrude plays in the centre of Nantes, to lure visitors across the Loire to Trentemoult with our lovely sounds. We first enjoy the sun with coffee and croissants before starting the first set – of course only after plenty of neon paint has been spread on our faces.
A celebration of fanfares and brass bands: music, food, and plenty of fun
Afterward it goes back on the ferry, which, as is tradition whenever brass bands are involved, becomes joyfully loud. The brass instruments belt out on the boat and the passengers enthusiastically join in to sing “Come on, Barbie, let’s go, Barbie!”
In Trentemoult, the backstage area for the bands has now opened, where we are provided with food and drinks. The culinary highlights of the weekend include fresh oysters and brownies with the Fanfaérobic branding.
And so the program continues:
Saturday treats us with lots of sunshine, while the rainy Sunday adds a touch of mud to the festival vibe. One of the weekend highlights is a flash mob, where all fanfares come together to perform “Sur la Planche” — a new wave hit by the french band Les Femmes — while the entire audience follows a special dance choreographed by Le Grand Machin Chose.
On Saturday afternoon, many youth and children’s fanfares perform, including the Enfanfare. And wow — the kids play five songs entirely from memory and absolutely nail it!
Another highlight is the fanfare battle between Tuspareik and the WestCostars. The fanfares compete in various disciplines, including a sousaphone solo, singing an original song without playing instruments and performing a song at a constantly changing tempo. All in all it’s a blast and in the end, who wins? Tout le Monde! (Everyone!)
Fanfare Gertrude with new songs
Fanfare Gertrude plays several sets this weekend, showcasing our new songs: “Crazy in Love”, “Sur la Planche”, “Disko Partizani” and a medley of hits by Stromae. We have a blast rocking our glitter and neon looks. Also we’re getting to know other fanfares and brass bands, gaining inspiration for awesome choreography and costumes!
The diversity of brass bands: colorful costumes and creative choreography
When it comes to choreography, the Amfifanfare once again shows what’s possible by blending theatrical elements with music! The musicians of Le Grand Machin Chose light up the eyes of both, young and old, with their bright pink costumes and tutus.
We’re also impressed by the diversity of the fanfares: there are bands, like the Tuspareik, who rock the stage with just six members, while Les Trompettes de Fallope barely fits with everyone on stage. There you can count six sousaphone bells alone, not to mention the numerous saxophones, trumpets, flutes, and trombones.
The music ranges from pop hits to rock classics with guitar amplifiers, to fantastic Balkan sounds and techno fanfares, all with one clear focus: bass, bass, bass!
A role model for festivals: environmental friendliness and social initiatives
In addition to the excellent organization of the festival, we were particularly impressed by its environmental sustainability: there was no single-use of plastic at all — every cup, plate, and bowl had a deposit and was returned to be washed. The little waste that remained was separated. There were enough ashtrays and pocket ashtrays were handed out to ensure no cigarette butts ended up on the floor. The toilets were eco-friendly and, on top of that, super clean.
Social aspects were also taken into account: the deposit you received could be donated to a project for and with homeless people that was presented during the festival. Additionally, there were awareness tents, which you can enter if you didn’t feel well. A huge shoutout to this thoughtful and well-organized event!
A heartfelt thank you – an unforgettable festival weekend
Last but not least, we want to thank the WestCostars for their warm hospitality! The entire fanfare was hosted, driven around Nantes, cared for, and supported by them. The shared music-making was especially fun! A huge thanks also goes to the Deutsch-Französischer Bürgerfonds, who made this unforgettable trip possible. Many thanks to Chris Leipold for the fantastic photos!
See you soon in Berlin! À bientôt!
By the way, you can find more videos from the festival on our Youtube channel!
And more pictures here:
