|
I had a great time while I was there despite my newness
to the whole of the culture.
The site is spread out over a large area with each area
being free or paid access. The areas where the dancers were was a free access
area that surrounded the lower portion of the local chateau and the streets of
St. Chartier. The music and performances seemed to go to be in very corner of
the town. There was a food court type area that combined food and little booths
selling everything from scarves to African art, also free, that was up the hill
from the chateau. The concerts were in a huge circus style tent next to the
booth area (you had to pay to get up close to the concert but you could hear it
outside). In the middle of it all on the back side of the chateau was the music
vendor booths. There was even the local farmers market area just as you enter
the town.
The vendors area closed at 7 PM and the food booth area
closed at 3 AM (that was good planning on the side of the organizers) but the
music in the town was 24 hours.
It seemed that when one group stopped the next began and if
you didn't like the style of music you only had to move a few yards up the way
to find a new group doing something completely different. There were fire
twirlers and drummers playing next to bagpipers next to a band playing fiddles
and accordion. There was even a band playing what sounded like Cajun music and
doing it very well. Not to leave out of course the HG players that seemed to be
playing all night long on one stage or another.
In the town there is an Irish pub that attracts the
Irish music players who played without end and behind that was a booth for
drinks that seemed to have 40 tables around it. It seems that the Center France
bagpipe players (short version of the longer name) have bought the local hotel
just across from the pub where, in a story written by George Sand (a woman for
those who were unaware), there was a bagpipers contest. They are renovating it
as a house for the players in the group (being that it is on the main street I
don't know about actually "sleeping" there).
The town as a whole is not big by any means. A 20 minute
walk gets you though the whole thing including some of the back roads, this walk
could take you an hour during the festival as you try to move through the packed
streets. It amazes me that the small town turns into a big four day party and no
one seems to mind. I guess it is like Sturgis during the bike festival the
locals just turn over the town for a few days and enjoy the rest of the
year in solitude.
The parking is close by and an easy walk although it is
in a cow pasture and the ankles may suffer a bit if you are not careful. I wore
shorts and found out that it also contains thistles and nettles, so you'll want
to bring a flashlight at night.
The concert stage is pretty amazing. The sound is good
and the seating is nicely set in a gradual climb so that you can see all the way
in the back. There were huge screens and great lighting for every show, and the
performers were divers and talented.
All in all I would say that the show is very nicely
presented and well thought out in most places. I think that the vendors suffered
in the heat more than most and should be highly commended for staying with it in
the heat and the direct sun. If I were laying out the plans for the vendors and
music gallery I would have used the trees and the natural shading more.
I would like to thank Brian Tully for helping me to
store my gear during the day. I would also like to thank everyone that put up
with my questions and my very poor French while I was there. The amount of
English speakers was amazing and if they didn't speak English someone was
usually nearby to help translate. Pointing and gesturing was good enough for
most purchases though.
If you have never been I suggest it at least once, although
as I wrote previously you may want to learn a good list of French Trad
music before you go. It can be overwhelming at first but you learn
about the area and culture quickly.
Scott
Scott
|
