Rencontres Trans Musicales
Les Rencontres Trans Musicales is an annual music festival in Rennes, Brittany, France. It lasts for 3 or 4 days in December.
The festival in 2013 featured over 80 groups and artists from over 26 nationalities, and attracted over 62,000 people.
History
Les Rencontres Trans Musicales, often called Les Trans, was created in 1979 by,, Hervé Bordier, Jean-René Courtès, and other music students. The association was initially in debt, which led to programming a benefit concert. The first concert took place in la salle de la Cité in June. Twelve bands performed on two nights to an audience of approximately 1800 people. The second concert was in December 2013. Jean-Louis Brossard is the artistic director and Sandrine Poutrel is the production manager. Jean-Louis Brossard and Béatrice Macé together lead Les Rencontres Trans Musicales. From the first concerts, before the word 'festival' had been attached to the event, the artistic bias of the line up was toward originality and new artistic forms. The artists who participated in the festival would often rise to the top of the music charts within a few months following their performance. Björk, Ben Harper and Lenny Kravitz all performed for the first time in public in the festival. The festival has featured Étienne Daho, Arno, Stephan Eicher, Les Négresses Vertes, Nirvana, Bérurier Noir, Denez Prigent, Daft Punk, Amadou & Mariam, Birdy Nam Nam, Justice, Fugees, Stromae and London Grammar.
In 2004, the festival moved to the Parc Expo, close to Rennes Bretagne Airport. Some concerts are still organized in the town of Rennes. In 2004, the festival moved to the Parc Expo.
On 8 December 2010, l'Association des Trans Musicales launched a website that recounts the history of the festival.
Line-up
Breakout artists:1979: Marquis de Sade1980: Étienne Daho, L'Orchestre Rouge1981: Carte de Séjour, KaS Product, Les Dogs1982: Minimal Compact, Blurt, Marc Minelli1983: Cabaret Voltaire, Litfiba, TC Matic, La Fundación1984: The Full, Stephan Eicher, Chevalier Brothers1985: The Woodentops, Sigue Sigue Sputnik1986: Noir Désir, Mint Juleps, Bérurier Noir1987: Fishbone, Laibach, Yargo1988: Mano Negra, Les Négresses Vertes, The Sugarcubes1989: Lenny Kravitz, Einstürzende Neubauten, House of Love, 24-7 Spyz1990: IAM, Stereo MCs, The La's, FFF1991: Zebda, Keziah Jones, MC Solaar, Nirvana1992: Denez Prigent, Sonic Youth, Underground Resistance, Suicide1993: Björk, Ben Harper, Sinclair, Jamiroquai, Carl Cox1994: Portishead, Massive Attack, Beck, The Prodigy, the Offspring1995: DJ Shadow, Garbage, Chemical Brothers, Laurent Garnier1996: Daft Punk, Nada Surf, Carlinhos Brown, Rinôçérôse1997: Cypress Hill, Faudel, Yann Tiersen, Dyonisos, Tortoise1998: Fat Boy Slim, Basement Jaxx, Freestylers, DJ Krush1999: Macy Gray, Saïan Supa Crew, Coldcut, Groove Armada, Tony Allen2000: Bumcello, De La Soul, Goldfrapp, Saul Williams, Amon Tobin2001: Gotan Project, Röyksopp, Zéro7, Carl Hancock Rux, Overhead, Bauchklang2002: Ginger Ale, Radio 4, Stupeflip, 2 Many DJs, An Pierlé2003: Cody Chesnutt, !!!, Ralph Myerz & The Jack Herren Band2004: Beastie Boys, Dizzee Rascal, Primal Scream, Ebony Bones2005: The Fugees, The Undertones, Coldcut, Brian Jonestown Massacre, Philippe Katerine, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah2006: Cassius, Klaxons, Kaiser Chiefs, Razorlight, The Horrors2007: Simian Mobile Disco, Boys Noize, Étienne de Crécy, Yuksek,2008: Minitel Rose, Birdy Nam Nam, The Shoes, Ebony Bones, The Penelopes, Diplo, Crookers2009: The Japanese Popstars, FM Belfast, Fever Ray, The Very Best, Rodriguez, New Politics, Major Lazer2010: Stromae, M.I.A., Janelle Monáe, A-Trak2013: London Grammar, Jungle, Benjamin Clementine2014: Jeanne Added, Shamir
The international work has been going on since the end of the 1980s. Since the 2001 edition, the International Trans project has extended their work overseas, in partnership with Cultures France, a governmental operator on all international actions. The project was conceived as a way to extend the collaboration with the artists beyond the time span of a single edition. The line-up included bands that have performed or are about to perform the Trans in Rennes; they are joined by local artists.
Previous actions
Expo 2002
The Trans Musicales team programmed two evenings at the Cargo, in Neuchâtel, for the Expo.
Trans/Ubu/Bato Fou
In March 2003 two evenings and two residencies opposing Dj Morpheus vs. El Diabolo and Dj Buddha vs. Tamm Ha Tamm.
Norway 2005
During the festival, By-Larm, one evening in honour of Rennes and one improvised concert at the top of a glacier.
Beijing
18 and 19 June 2005 at Chaoyang Park. A huge stage, 16 artists in front of 16 000 spectators for the first open air festival in the Chinese capital.
Russia
In 2010, concerts took place in Moscow and Saint Petersburg. Hip-Hop, jazz and electronic music were the main events.
Trans on Tour
Co-produced by the association Trans Musicales, Trans on Tour tours participating bands to perform, including a performance at Trans Musicales for each participating band. It interviews at the beginning and the end of the tour, working time on the stage of the Ubu, a regular follow-up by a specialised team, a promotional video and a dedicated stand at the festival's Village.