An Organization Deployed to Make You Thrill
The Rythm’inBlaise Festival was established 8 years ago in Saint-Blaise, a small village of 900 inhabitants in the hinterlands of Nice. The goal: to promote the village which lacked media visibility at the departmental level. Initially met with apprehension due to the scale of the project in this small village, the Rythm’inBlaise Festival is now part of the village’s cultural heritage. It is managed by an association of about fifty volunteers from St Blaise, with Jacques Beaumelle as its president. For the occasion, each team member takes on a role that contrasts with their usual profession, from a postman becoming a stage manager to a grocer becoming a ticket seller. Directo Production led by Gil Marsalla is a partner of the Festival, handling its programming and communication. To set up the music festival, the organizers are on alert a year in advance. Four people make up an artistic cell and stay informed throughout the year about regional tours and represented groups.
Under the Sign of Celtic Music
This year, the Festival takes place on July 3rd and 4th, 2009 and hosts about fifteen groups. The first evening is dedicated to Celtic music featuring “Celtic Legends”, a show seen by 2 million spectators. Other groups and artists will appear on stage, including: Matelots en bordée, Erin’s trio, and many more. On July 4th, the spotlight will be on new revelations of the regional music scene. Performing on stage will be Céline Mastrorelli, Caligagan, Quadricolor, Gospel Right Spirit Singers. The audience will be able to discover the artists throughout the village, starting on the scene of the town hall, then on the priory stage, and finally on the multipurpose stage.
“Bio Festival”
Year after year, the number of visitors increases, not only because of its unbeatable rate (12 euros for pre-sale, the lowest in the department), but also because of the exceptional setting offered by the village. Saint-Blaise is an ideal environment to attract festival-goers from the region and all over France. Indeed, the village has many heritage attractions such as its 17th-century mill and its 11th-century castle. Away from the tumult of the cities, the village thrives in a green environment, overlooking the valley, which has earned it the nickname of “Bio Festival” by the programming director, Gil Marsalla. Even the artists will eat organic this year thanks to the organic farm partnered with the festival located in Saint-Blaise. To experience the festival up close, visitors can stay in the lodge maintained by the president of the association, Jacques Beaumelle, the Mas de Beau Plan. As a showcase for discovery, the Festival has since its inception revealed artists who have become headliners in other festivals, including Plume, Sashïrd Lao, Robba capeú, etc.
“Anti-Crisis Festival”
When Gil Marsalla is asked about the impact of the crisis in the entertainment industry, he admits that it has not spared him in his production activities, but he reveals that within the Festival, it is almost non-existent due to the very attractive pricing. “This festival is not a commercial venture; it is primarily cultural, meaning the goal is not to make money but to introduce artists to the widest audience possible,” emphasizes Gil Marsalla. The Festival was made possible thanks to subsidies and sponsors from public and private entities like Biotonic, Arpège, Transcam, Directo Production, the Town Hall of Saint-Blaise, the General Council of Paca, and the Regional Council. The media play an increasingly important role in the promotion of this event because each time it’s their favorite!
With its friendly atmosphere, affordable price, and original programming, the Rythm’in Blaise Festival promises to be a great success this year and even plans in the coming years to extend its duration.
For more information, visit the Festival’s website: https://www.rythminblaise.com/
