The Queimada is the great classic of our programme. Sharing the queimada, this magical drink, symbolises the friendship between musicians and audience. The ceremony is accompanied by the Galician bagpipe group A Contrabanda. We open the evening with a dance initiation led by our partner Frisse Folk, followed by two folk balls with Lydie Thonnard and La Man Encantada. After the first ball, we will gather for the ceremonial preparation of the queimada.

With L’évidence des Nuages, Lydie Thonnard brings her solo project to the dance floor. Through flutes, voice, body percussion and foot bass, she creates a highly personal bal folk. Her music blends original compositions with traditional Belgian melodies and influences from a wide range of musical cultures, while the music and stories of her native region, the High Fens, remain a constant thread throughout. Poetic, surprising and, above all, incredibly danceable.

La Man Encantada guarantees a powerful folk ball from Gascony, as they have already demonstrated at Le Grand Bal de l’Europe in Gennetines and at the Boombalfestival. Beautifully sung melodies, traditional lyrics and original compositions are supported by accordion, mandola and flugelhorn. The group brings together each musician’s specialities: Joachim Montbord sings the melodies of Gascony and enjoys setting Occitan poets and traditional texts from south-western France to music. Jérôme Dubois and Max Arbieu add a touch of contemporary music and jazz.

Musicians:

Lydie Thonnard: flutes, body percussion, foot bass, vocals

Jérôme Dubois: flugelhorn, shells, backing vocals

Joachim Montbord: vocals, mandola, percussion, boha

Max Arbieu: trombone, backing vocals