Bonjour!
We have made it to our 25th Festival des Panards!
Started in 2000 and with only one year off because of Covid, our 25th is in 2025. How appropriate.
We are delighted to announce the line up and programme of our quarter of a century celebrations! And it is BIG!
The amazing Breton group WAR-SAV (pronounce var-zao) are finally crossing the Channel to transport us through their dynamic music to their native Brittany. If you are familiar with the Breton festou-noz you would have probably danced to them or be familiar with their beautiful mazurka Ar Vuhez? as it became a YouTube hit
To add to the stellar lineup the Trio Roblin-Evain-Badeau (clarinet, hurdy-gurdy and melodeon) will also be performing on the Todmorden stage. This trio of talented musicians will take us not only to Brittany but also to other regions such as the Vendée, Poitou and the Berry and it’s going to be incredible.
The amazing Naragonia Duo (Pascale Rubens and Toon Van Mierlo) is returning for the 4th time to our festival, we just simply have not got enough of dancing to their wonderful music and wicked sense of humour.
And after the success of 2 years ago, Oscina is also returning, Frances Watt (flute/voice), our founding mother will appropriately join Chris Walshaw (bagpipes and sax) and another one of our favourites, Anna Pack (melodeon) to the stage to make everyone dance to their brilliant arrangements.
Once again, we can’t wait!!!
There will be an array of music, dance and singing workshops for all abilities, led by the band members and the fabulous Kerry Fletcher who will get you on your feet dancing in no time..
The format stays the same: a bal/fest-noz on both Friday and Saturday evenings, a full day of 18 music, dance and singing workshops for ALL abilities and instruments on Saturday, and a fantastic buzzing mega music and dance session on Sunday to close the festival and drift gently back home.
There will be delicious, sweet pancakes and savoury galettes made by Isabelle and The Mobile Crêperie during the Friday bal and Todmorden has many good quality cafés, restaurants and pubs. There is a bar at the bals too.
On Sunday lunchtime we are asking everyone to bring some food to share for the buffet. Please, do contribute if you intend to eat so there is no shortage.
We are once again offering discounted tickets to under 25s and have booked once again the fabulous Hebden Bridge IOU hostel as we are keen to offer affordable accommodation and encourage unaccompanied people to join us, and it is just a fantastic place! Despite being in Hebden Bridge, it is very accessible and there are direct trains and buses to Todmorden as well as car sharing. Details of the hostel can be found here: https://hebdenbridgehostel.org/. If you would like a bed there, please contact Yannick directly: yannick@frenchdanceleeds.co.uk.
Please note that the ticket price had to go up due to huge increases in the cost of the venues. Despite this we have tried to keep it as affordable as possible while still offering you a splendid programme. As we are not able to absorb the booking site fee as we have done in all the previous years, we have managed to lower the weekend ticket price slightly from initially advertised.
We would also love you to be part of the 25th celebration by sharing your memories from past festivals. Dig into your archives and find those memorable moments from previous festivals and click the link below to upload your photos:
https://weduploader.com/upload/UotDin6HhjWswW1u
A bientôt!
L’équipe des Panards Dansants