Festivals and other events in Brittany in 2012

Tonnerres de Brest 13 – 19 July 2012

The big festival for lovers of tall ships, old ships, multihulls, any kind of sailing vessel… Some of the biggest and best sailing vessels in the world will be there! Displays, ships to get on board, markets, exhibitions, music (including yours truly in Many a Mickle), five ‘villages’.

This only happens every other year!

Festival InterCeltique Lorient  3 – 12 August 2012

Ten days of concerts, shows, parades at the beginning of August. About 4500 musicians, singers, dancers from Brittany, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, isle of Man, Galicia, Asturia, USA, Canada, Australia...

Each year the festival takes one country as its theme and in 2012 it is Acadia, the heart of French-speaking Canada.   There will be 120 shows on stages around Lorient of which 60% are free. There is music in the streets, huge parades, free late-night Fest Noz, fireworks.

An event not to be missed.

TempsFêtes Douarnenez 19 – 22 July 2012

If you miss Les Tonnerres de Brest, see the ships at Douarnenez.  There will be 1200 ships of all kinds: the three-masted Earl of Pembroke, and l’Étoile du Roy, traditional working boats, leisure boats and yachts of all periods, racing boats ready to set out on the Transat, fishing boats, steam ships, yawls…

And do have a look in the boat museum.

Les Vieilles Charrues, Carhaix 19 – 22 July 2012

Bob Dylan, Portishead, Sting, The Cure and a hundred more.

A festival of rock and pop with a Breton twist and a great atmosphere!

One of the biggest European festivals.

Festival au Bout du Monde,

Crozon Peninsula, Finisterre 3–5 August 2012

Rock, funk, jazz, reggae, blues, samba, hip hop, folk, kletzmer

- singers and musicians from all over the world for a wonderful weekend of music at the End of the World!

Festival Cornouaille Quimper  24  - 29 July 2012

A wonderful festival of traditional Breton music and dance.

Many Breton dance groups, music and dance in the streets, processions of dancers and bagads (Breton musicians), concerts and workshops.

Something happening all day for free, plus big name concerts.

A chance to learn Breton dancing free, or to see lots of Breton dance and costumes.

Bobital Festival 6 – 7 July 2012

A rock/electro/pop festival on human scale – about 12,000 visitors last year.

Izia , Caravan Palace (électro-swing), Groundation (reggae), Wankin’Noodles (rock), Broussaï (reggae), Sexion d’Assaut (rap), Skip The Use (rock), Le Peuple de l’Herbe (dub), La Grande Sophie (chanson), Oldelaf (chanson/humour), Blankass (rock), Carbon Airways (électro), Sporto Kantes (électro)

Festival Médiéval de Josselin 13 – 14 July 2012

Over 1000 performers in costume, a medieval market, music in the streets; shows and sideshows.

A day to be remembered.

Plage Musicale en Bangor,

Chamber Music on the isle of Belle Île

16 – 27 July 2012

A variety of chamber music concerts: Bach, Schubert, Monteverdi, Bizet, Ravel and much more on the beautiful Belle Île en Mer, on the Gulf of Morbihan.