Introduction

Le Printemps de Bourges

Created in 1977, Le Printemps de Bourges soon became the greatest contemporary music event in France : song, music hall, rock, reggae, pop, rap, fusion, techno...

France's major music event

Since its humble beginning in 1977, Le Printemps de Bourges swiftly established itself as the music event in France. Since then, it has become a necessary and irreplaceable musical force in both France and Europe.

Le Printemps de Bourges is a festival that mirrors the changes in musical trends. An extraordinary laboratory which has, for the past twenty years, observed the transformation of French music, the splitting apart of its families and the invention of planet rock.
It is also a prime witness to the changes in society and the trends of consumption. Le Printemps de Bourges revealed bursts of new sensibilities, the tribalisation of musical styles, the voice of rap and the upcoming success of new technology.

Located 250 Km south of Paris, right in the center of France, Bourges (100 000 inhabitants) is famous for its cathedral (declared a national heritage by UNESCO) and... for its festival, Le Printemps de Bourges. Le Printemps' festivities burst into action from noon till dawn in ten venues suited for each style of music and audience. Eighty concerts will be presented featuring over two hundred artists.

Each venue (300 to 6500 seats) is indoors, heated and is equipped with its own computerized ticket sales outlet. The venues are spread out within the vicinity of the city center: around Place Séraucourt, the heart of the festival, with its stands, bars, restaurants, various attractions and four outdoor stages (free entrance) alive with music.
During the festival (held during French school holidays), the entire city bubbles over with activity. In the picturesque neighbourhood and quaint little bars, everyone parties from noon till the wee hours of the morning.

The evergrowing public is mostly made up of young people (85% are under 35) : 92000 tickets were sold in '96 (attendance rate was 90%).

The festival is also a meeting point for professionals in all branches of the music business who come to Bourges to prospect both new talent as well as major starts from France and abroad .
These encounters often end up in signed deals for tour dates and summer festivals.

The festival also brings together over 674 journalists from France and abroad (press, radio, television).

The festival's billing is made up of an interesting balance of French and international stars combined with new, unknown (or almost) artists : a line up of innovations and memorable strong points.
Of the 2,500 performers programmed to date, who could forget, for example, The Printemps of Nashville with Jerry Lee Lewis et Emmy Lou Harris, the hommage to Charles Trénet, the USA/USSR meeting, the Mitchell/Halliday or Barbara/Depardieu co-billings ?... Or the evenings with Charles Aznavour, Chet Baker, Alain Bashung, Joan Baez, Alpha Blondy, The Breeders, Francis Cabrel, Ray Charles, Johnny Clegg, Joe Cocker, Albert Collins, The Communards, The Cure, Cypress Hill, Daft Punk, Miles Davis, Def Leppard, Willy DeVille, Everything But The Girl, Léo Ferré, Boy George, Gilberto Gil, Nina Hagen, Ben Harper, PJ Harvey, Jacques Higelin, Lloyd Cole, Iron Maiden, L.K. Johnson, Patricia Kass, Level 42, MC Solaar, Midnight Oil, Yves Montand, Les Négresses Vertes, The Pogues, Iggy Pop, Public Ennemy, The Ramones, Lou Reed, Rita Mitsouko, Alain Souchon, Sting, Yma Sumac, Steel Pulse, The Stranglers, Talk Talk, Tears for Fears, Therapy?, UB 40, U2, Barry White, Stevie Wonder, Frank Zappa... just to cite a few.

The festival also bridges the gap between different forms of culture. Le Printemps is proud to offer original shows where poetry, comic books, films, street art and humor rub hands with rock and song : Musique Buisonnière (traveling concerts in castles) Poliphonix (with William Burroughs!), Rhythm'n'Bulles (original comic book exhibition), Scène et Toile (a bridge between live music and films) or Parlez moi d'humour.

Le Printemps de Bourges has something for all tastes. That's why the mouthwatering Péchés de Chère (sinfully good food) was created in 1992. The idea was simply delicious : music meets gastronomy. A spicy combo under a 350 seats rococo tent, Le Magic Mirrors, where exoticism is king. Les Péchés de Chère has already brought us on voyages to Algeria, Réunion Island, Argentina.

Reseau Printemps

Réseau Printemps Starting in 1985, Le Printemps de Bourges set up a network all over France, and later expanded to the French-speaking areas of Europe, called the Réseau Printemps (Printemps Network), to discover and promote young talents : "Les Découvertes du Printemps de Bourges", with the support of a team of professionals. What makes this association remarkable is its dedication to a year long quest of discovering and promoting new talent. This network brings together fourty French, European and overseas representatives who select promising artists to perform during the festival at La Hune or La Soute halls.

Réseau Printemps also offers programs for artistic development and follows up the selected groups in a number of ways, including inter-regional tours, international exchanges, and the recent creation of a record label whose albums will be distributed by EMI France.

The Réseau Printemps talks to you :

What a relief ! Winter is on the way out... Make way for spring, its music festival and its Découvertes...

Réseau Printemps, a network of national relays, unique of its kind, was created to seek out and select new artists. This year, 41 artists will be presented to you at La Maison de la Culture (La Hune et La Soute) from april 15 to 20, 1997.

Trough the combined efforts of all of Printemps de Bourges' Antennae, 1713 tapes were listened to and 64 selection concerts were organized in order to bring to you the Découvertes'1997 selection of new talent. You will have the opportunity to discover them yourself on stage and over a traditional drink at the Village Pro.

We would like to thank all of our partners without whom we would not have been able to accomplish such painstaking work.

We would also like to welcome our new promotional partners here in France and abroad : M6 (french TV), Groove, Standards Magazine as well as Ferrarock and the Francophonies Diffusion (French and international radio network) who will give us an even greater impact on the airwaves.

Keeping up with the latest, we will be presenting Découvertes DJ's (jungle, techno, rap...) for one night at Le Magic Mirrors on Tuesday, April 15th.

Greetings to our new sound surfers on the Réseau Printemps.

A great festival to all !

The Réseau Printemps team

PS : you can right now listen to musical excerpts at Réseau Printemps home page, with help of Real Audio.

Rock'n'Broc

This flea market specializes in everything dealing with music has met a great deal of success over the past four years. The market carries : musical instruments, records, books, posters, record systems and a selection of equipment in three exposition halls.

Tam Tam France

In 1997, for the third time, Le Printemps de Bourges welcomes Tam Tam France, an international fair for music professionals including producers, publishers, record companies representatives, festival directors, managers, artists, journalists, etc...

"Inform, exchange and export", this is Tam Tam's motto. Created in 1995, Tam Tam France is an international music business fair. It is also a place for research and exchanges, a laboratory in perpetual motion, an open window on the future of national productions and new technology. Tam Tam France organizes symposiums and debates. It also prospects the world for international artists still unknown in France in order to present them during Le Printemps de Bourges.

 

Today, in the complex universe of rock and the musics of the world, Le Printemps de Bourges recounts the history of music in its own way. A music which, in its evolution, its trend and its multiple expressions, is the multifaceted music of many generations of public.

The events of the festival

This year, Le Printemps de Bourges offers 79 shows and concerts. With an astounding assortment, the roster of the '97 festival offers a good balance between famous and not -yet- known bands and artists, and French and international ones, which are in the range of today's "musical tribes". Close by the city centre, the Place Séraucourt -the heart of the festival- with its stands, bars, restaurants and attractions, is a spot alive with music with performances on La Scène Ouverte, Le Car Podium de la Région Centre and La Scène Crédit Agricole. Saint-Paul Park will also be the site of La Terrasse, another area that is free of charge, and Rock'n'Broc (the music flea-market).

You will also find in the neighbourhood, the Reception area and various music halls. From Tuesday the 15 through to Sunday, April 20, Le Printemps de Bourges will offer daily around 15 shows on ten different stages starting 10:30 am and continue until dawn. All halls are indoors and heated when needed ; they have as well their own computerised ticket office. Le Stadium itself offers 6500 seats ; Le Pavillon Coca-Cola, 3600 seats ; Le Palais d'Auron, 2400 seats ; La Maison de la Culture, with La Hune, 900 seats and La Soute, 500 seats ; Germinal hall, 500 seats ; Le Théâtre Jacques-Coeur, 350 seats ; Le Magic Mirrors, 400 seats ; La Salle Chopin, 300 seats and La Cathédrale, 1500 seats. Although seats are not assigned, you are seated for every show with the exception of Germinal Hall and specific shows where there is a pit designated for standing room. In these cases, the tickets will specify Assis (seated) or Debout (standing). Tickets sales start March 3, 1997, and if ordered from the Correspondents, as early as February 17, 1997.

Lastly, Le Printemps de Bourges '97 also offers specific structures and reception conditions for the attending professionals, called Tam Tam France.

Estimated budget

INCOME % MF EXPENSES % MF
Ticket office
Commercial income
Private partners
Public partners
Professionnal partners
Miscellaneous 		35%
6%
17%
28%
6%
9% 		9,60
1,60
4,65
7,65
1,70
2,37 		General Organisation
Artistic planning
Communication
Marketing
Technique
Miscellaneous
22%
33%
7%
7%
23%
0% 		6,00
9,00
2,00
1,80
6,30
0,20
SUB-TOTAL 100% 27,57 SUB-TOTAL 92% 25,30
      Refunding plan
Reconstitution 		3%
5% 		0,93
1,34
TOTAL BUDGET 100% 27,57 TOTAL BUDGET 100% 27,57

Partners

Public partners

They share with us a same interest : "To develop today's music, with all its tendencies and colours" ... "Promote talented newcomers" ... "Bring together live performers and music industries" ... "Offer adequate structures for young people and encourage them to socialise" ... "Contribute, both directly and indirectly, to the local socioeconomic life".

They are providing it again by renewing an increased support.

Thank you.

Professional partnership

Artists, performers, authors, composers, publishers and producers carry out some actions of general interest through their professional organisations.

They realise that Le Printemps de Bourges encourages the promotion and development of contemporary music.

These professional organisations, true partners of Le Printemps de Bourges, contribute to the success of the Festival through their financial support and encourage us to continue this exciting adventure.

Partenariat privé

Thanks to all the companies who think that spring is the ideal time for supporting musicians, whether new or experienced in the field.

Public relations between Le Printemps de Bourges and all firms :

ARGOS
24, rue du Pont-Neuf - 75 001 Paris.
Tél. : 01 45 08 08 58

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Design Adresse Last update
© Renaud MAVRÉ Apr 04, 1997

Summary