Quick history

The Printemps de Bourges is a music festival, started in 1977 by Jean Christophe Dechico (director of the Maison de la Culture at the time), Alain Meilland (actor and singer) and Daniel Colling (music booking agent). Despite a recurrent lack of profitability, the city of Bourges continues to host the music festival to this day (as of December 2004), even though a recurrent financial deficit spelled its doom many times. Daniel Colling is the current director.

The music festival

Only a few well known musicians and comedians come the festival. The most interesting characteristic of the PdB are the new talents : many famous bands made their first major concerts in Bourges. The appeal of the event is focused on inexpensive tickets and up-and-coming performances. The artists are classified by genre on the program. The event is held in the city centre (most events are at walking distance from each other) for 4 to 7 days.

Free events : Apart from the numerous food & clothes stalls, there are 3 or 4 open air stages where bands perform for free. Potential performers are permitted to perform on one of the stages with a request only a few days (or hours, depending on availability) in advance. The music played on these stages is often quite varied, and sometimes eclectic. Local bars host bands during the event as well, even though most bars in Bourges are quite modest in size. For more info on the current event, please check the official website.

Programme for 2005

Wednesday April 20 20h - Phoenix - 33 € PALMAS + ANGGUN + DAHLIA

Thursday April 21 19h - Phoenix - 28 € BERNARD LAVILLIERS + TIKEN JAH FAKOLY + ROKIA TRAORE + TINDER & MARIAM

Friday April 22 18h - Phoenix - 26 € GENTLEMAN + Ska-p + STEEL PULSATES + THE BLIND SERVANT BOYS OF ALABAMA + CHAMELEONS

Saturday April 23 18h - Phoenix - 26 € MILLENCOLIN + ASIAN DUB FOUNDATION + LCD SOUNDSYSTEM + MASS HYSTERIA + INCLUDING ALL TAXES + NO BLUFF SOUND

Related web sites

[1] Official site (in French)

[2] How it all started (in French)