The population of Rennes in north-western France will swell considerably this weekend when the 33rd annual Trans Musicales music festival opens its various doors for three days of live music across the various venues and airport hangers (yep, seriously!) that the city has to offer.
Since the festival's inception in 1979, Trans Musicales has earned a reputation as one of the most important and unique music festivals in Europe - principally due to its reputation of being the first port of call to tomorrow's music today. The event's curator, Frenchman Jean-Luis Brossard, has handcrafted every one of the 32 festivals to date but what does he have in store for the 33rd iteration of the festival?
Over the years, Trans Musicales has played host to a pretty stunning array of talent. Nirvana, Bjork, Massive Attack, DJ Shadow, Daft Punk, Fat Boy Slim and Primal Scream are just a few of the acts who have appeared on the festival's many stages throughout its history, signalling the curious patchwork of different styles and genres you can expect to see in Rennes each December.
Perhaps more so than any other festival of this scale on the planet; Trans Musicales prides itself for its reputation of unearthing, and providing audiences for, some of music's most promising rising talent across Europe and beyond.
This year's festival has as diverse a collection of bands as you might imagine. Future Mercury Prize nominees (in our opinion, anyway) London Grammar, Public Service Broadcasting and Har Mar Superstar are three names on this year's line-up which are very recognisable to an Irish audience. Perhaps even more so is Dublin's Kid Karate who will bring their furiously dissonant sound to Rennes for what could very well be their much-deserved coming out party.
Kid Karate are Ireland's representatives at this year's Trans Musicales festival
Elsewhere on the bill, Belgian singer/songwriter Stromae, who is slowly becoming one of the biggest stars in mainland Europe, will play what is already one of the most anticipated performances of the weekend. Benjamin Clementine, he of the incredible Cornerstone EP, is another who looks set to impress this weekend, as does the intensely enjoyable cacophony of sounds presented by the excellent Melt Yourself Down.
But as is so often the case with festivals like Trans Musicales, such as our very own Hard Working Class Heroes - though that is admittedly a much smaller affair - the real reward lies in the exploration of various sounds which are, at least presently, unexplored by most of our ears. But whichever the sounds may be that you're most accustomed to, you'll find something to satisfy your tastes at Trans Musicales.
More information :: Trans Musicales' official website // Twitter // Facebook
