What is the Country Rendez-Vous Festival ?

Introduction

- By organizing the Country Rendez-Vous, Country Rendez-Vous Association's goal is to promote Country Music, its cultural environment and French language.

 

- The Country Rendez-Vous was born in 1988 and is now regarded as the most important Country Music Festival in France. The quality of their programmes help young French talents gain a foothold in the music business.

 

- The cultural event takes place once a year on the last week-end of July in the natural setting of Craponne sur Arzon. It is an open-air festival on a 4 sq.m. fully-equipped site.

 

- Because the Country Rendez-Vous contributes to their economic and touristic development the whole region and the city of Craponne sur Arzon are involved in it.

 

- Country Rendez-Vous Association is energized by the increasing number of spectators, the press, radio and TV coverage, the consideration of its private and public partners and the regular help of its 250 volunteers.

 

The History of the Country Rendez-Vous Festival.

- The first International Country Music Festival was born in the summer of 1988 in the little village of Dore l'Église (Puy de Dôme(63), Auvergne).

 

- In March 1993, because of its unique conception and particular audience in Europe, the name Country Rendez-Vous Festival was given to the event. Since then the number of spectators has multiplied by 40 (250 spectators in 88, 1200 in 89, 3500 in 90, 4000 in 91, 5000 in 92, 6000 in 93, 7000 in 94, 9000 in 95, almost 10,000 in 1999, 15,000in 2001 and more than 18,500 in 2002 and 2003).

 

- Until 1991 it was a two-day festival (Saturday and Sunday). That year an extra night (Friday) was added to give exposure to young French talents.

 

- Since it started in 1988 the Country Rendez-Vous Festival has been a place of major performances for the best French, European and American Country Music artists, namely: Bill Monroe (the "father" of bluegrass), Kathy Mattea, Sweethearts of the Rodeo (USA), Alison Krauss & Union Station, Tim & Molly O'Brien, Steve Wariner, Steve Earle, Dale Watson, Danni Leigh, BR5-49, Rhonda Vincent, Charlie Mc Coy, Peter Rowan & Jerry Douglas, Kathy Chiavola & Randy Howard, Lee Roy Parnell, Jack Ingram, The Hackberry Ramblers, Guy Clark and Verlon Thompson.

 

- Last year the festival was particularly exceptional thanks to its wonderful line up of American songwriters and singers: Pinmonkey, Dallas Wayne, Bill Kirchen, Michael Peterson, Yonder Mountain String Band, Elizabeth Cook, Jesse Dayton, Stan Martin, Anna Fermin and THE DERAILERS.

 

- The Country Rendez-Vous is a multicultural event which is a showcase for all the different components of the musical style. The quality of their programmes has been widely praised. It has also encouraged the creation of many other festivals of this kind in France.

 

- In July and August 1999, an exhibition of "The World of Country Music" will take place in the city centre. One of its highlights will be a retrospective showing the evolution of the festival. It will present a good opportunity for all to start collecting books, posters, programmes, photos, souvenirs, CDsÉ

 

Country Music, an ideal rendez-vous in Craponne.

 

 

- The Country Rendez-Vous Festival takes place in a natural setting in the very heart of Haute Loire that resembles the mountainous birthplace of Country Music. Here, in Craponne not far from where "The General" ( we mean Lafayette, of course) used to live, the hills and mountains that surround the site of the open air festival bring to mind the Appalachian countryside of the South East.

 

- Moreover, the department of Haute Loire has always been a heartland of festivals. Ten of them form the Association known as "Haute Loire, terre de festivals".

 

 

The Country Rendez-Vous Festival : Fidelity, Originality, Novelty

 

 

- All the American artists of high renown marvel at the beauty of the area and share the stage with the other French and European bands; each of them having the opportunity to express its own interpretation of the wide range of Country Music styles. Every year large numbers of spectators converge on Craponne for the Country Rendez-Vous Festival, which has become the place-to-be for Country Music fans. The site - a 4 sq.m. field sloping gently down to the stage - swarms with friendly and hospitable people. Some of them are true Country Music addicts, others are Sunday musicians or merry makers or American car or Harley bike collectors, their ages ranging from 7 to 77. All the social, racial and cultural origins are represented there.

 

 

- Country Music is quite popular in the States, it is just starting in Europe. Country Rendez-Vous Association aims at creating a movement to promote its culture and its musical environment.

 

 

- The Country Rendez-Vous Festival directs energetic action in order to create opportunities for young French talents to perform on stage and mix with the Masters of the genre. The "Talent Contest" has become a show that cannot be ignored. It is the opening of the festival. Each year four French bands perform on stage; they are judged by a jury of nine members. The winners get a write-up on the local papers and are invited to open up the show on Saturday. Most of the well-known French bands got their send-off from this traditional contest.

 

 

The cultural aspects of the Country Rendez-Vous Festival

 

A fragrance of musical perfumes

 

- The entire festival is dedicated to all the different forms of Country music (bluegrass, cajun, honky tonk, zydeco, western É). Throughout the 24-hour concert the spectators are given the chance to appreciate all the numerous aspects of Country Music. Such instruments as the Pedal Steel Guitar, the American mandolin, the Washboard and the "ti-fer" are introduced to them. They may enjoy the tones of the banjo, the mouth organ, the fiddle, the Cajun accordion, the dobro, the double bass and of many other acoustic or electric instruments.

 

- Numerous stalls and booths are to be found on the premises, where arts & crafts, clothes, records, books and typical Western items are for sale. The Country Rendez-Vous Festival offers its own booth to the associations that wish to give information and details about their activities (Bluegrass Magazine, France-Louisiana,É).

 

On the fringes of the Festival

- During the festival several facilities are available such as:

- Music and dancing training courses

Country Rendez-Vous Association organizes courses for beginners of country and western dances and music lessons. Banjo, fiddle, mandolin, cajun accordion, dobro, pedal steel guitar lessons are given by professionals and qualified teachers.

- Exhibitions, record exchange

- Musical street shows

- American car parade

- Country Rendez-Vous Radio is something unique in France. It has a range of 20 miles and broadcasts its 'Full Time Country Programme' 24 hours a day before,during and after the period of the festival. Therefore thousands of listeners can enjoy a great number of varied songs, which are quite different from the traditional standards they are used to.

Plans

- Country Rendez-Vous Association plans new shows for 2002:

- On the premises a show will be given by local brass band.

- An American film will be shown outdoors on a giant screen.

- Video clips in bars and shops.

- A round table with associations in relationship with America will be set up.

- Two Giant screens and two dance floors.

 

The economic aspects of the Country Rendez-Vous Festival

 

- The Country Rendez-Vous has a great part in the economic and touristic development of its department and region. Every trade within 20 miles makes profit from the event. Hotels, inns, guest houses, camp sites, bars, restaurants, bakeries, groceries, butchers, service stations reckon that they run a healthy profit during the festival.

Furthermore in order to improve all kinds of facilities on the site, a great number of local craftsmen work for the festival (electricians, plumbers, joinersÉ).

 

The Organizers of the Country Rendez-Vous Festival

 

- The Country Rendez-Vous Festival is an extraordinary approach to Country Music and its success is based on the support and partnership of different actors and sponsors.

 

 

The Partners of the Country Rendez-Vous

 

Country Rendez-Vous Association: Board of Administration: 15 members 2 salaried workers 300 volunteers

With the material and financial support of

 

Associations Board of Associations of Craponne Tourists' Information Bureau of Craponne Haute Loire Terre de Festivals C.M.A. (Country Music Association)   Public Partners Craponne City Counsel General Counsel of the Department Regional Counsel of Auvergne Regional Natural Parks   Private Partners Parot Mineral Waters Crédit Agricole Bank La Poste - French Mail

 

The Country Rendez-Vous Festival and the media

 

- Their coverage is the keystone of the festival.

 

- The local and regional press always rise to the occasion. La Tribune, Le Progrès, L'Eveil de la Haute Loire et de la Loire, Le Renouveau, La Montagne, all these local and regional newspapers widely promote the festival. Every Year France 3 Auvergne does a report on the Country Rendez-Vous Festival.

 

- All the newspapers, magazines praise the festival and help along its success.

 

Television & Radio   France Trois Auvergne France Trois Rhône-Alpes La Cinquième Canal Jimmy RCF WRTL (Georges Lang) Radio Craponne + de 60 radios françaises et européennes

International, National, Regional newspapers & magazines   USA Today Le Monde, Libération L'Humanité L'Express Vocable La Tribune, Le Progrès L'Eveil La Montagne Camping Car Nitro Magazine

 

Local Press   L'Éveil Le Renouveau Le Mois Coursières du Haut Forez Info Magazine

French Country Music Magazines   Country News Rock Sound Le Cri du Coyote Bluegrass Revue Freeway Sur La Route De Memphis Big Bear La France en Fête