Festival’s in Brittany – The Yaouank festival 2012
Yippee for Yaouank – One of Brittany’s best-loved festivals! From the 1st until the 15th of November 2012, the Yaouank Festival will be taking place in Rennes, one of Brittany’s most popular and anticipated musical events. The word ‘Yaouank’ means ‘young’ in Breton, a patent clue to what this music festival is all about.
This remarkable combination of traditional Breton, world and contemporary music attracts a huge crowd of music fans from Brittany, the rest of France, Europe and beyond.
Although every day and night of this exciting world music event never fails to whip its crowd into a rapturous frenzy of dancing and having fun, it is the last night of the Yaouank Festival that is especially notorious. This finale night sees many legendary folk musicians belting out bagpipe classics into the cool and often starry Breton night sky and for many of its attendees is considered to be the biggest ‘fest-noz’ – which translates as ‘party night’ – in existence today.
This iconic last night typically consists of 12 hours – from five in the afternoon to five in the morning – of non-stop music and dance.
Since 1999 this highly esteemed musical event has been focused on infusing fresh blood into traditional Breton customs. Corresponding to its rejuvenation has been a stark rise in the number of people attending Yaouank, which typically sees more than 6,000 music revellers ascend on the city of Rennes during the first half of November.
The sound of bagpipes blasting over the north-western French city is one of the most formidable and distinguishable characteristics of the Yaouank festival. Although music is not the only form of entertainment this legendary event excels in. ‘Sine Yaouank’ is almost as an anticipated part of the festival as the music, whereby films, including American blockbusters, are shown on large screens and are translated into the preferred language of Pierre-Jakas Helias, one of Brittany’s most famous of poets and playwrights.
Children are also an integral part of this unique blend of traditional Breton culture with a touch of the avant-garde. The festival’s programme always includes a special show known as Yaouankiz, which is guaranteed to get the kids as exciting as the adults – well almost!
For more information on this legendary and truly unique Breton festival visit the official Yaouank website.