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English
France
Bluegrass Musique Association FBMA
is a non-profit organisation whose purpose is to promote Bluegrass music in France.
We do this by giving information about Bluegrass activities, creating opportunities
to help musicians and fans meet and by helping individual initiatives related
to Bluegrass events. Main activities include a two-monthly newsletter "Bluegrass!",
the organisation of the spring and winter Bluegrass weekends, a mail order service
for French bands' cds and this web site. Members
get several benefits that include : - The
bi-monthly newsletter delivered to your home,
- Free
ads in the newsletter,A free link to your website (band or commercial activity)
from this site
- Possibility
to sell your cds through or mail order service (2 band musicians must be members),
- Reduced
entry prices to concerts organised by FBMA,
- No
charge for organisation of Bluegrass weekends (5 euros for non-members)
To
find out more please contact (in English or French) the association's president
: To
Join We
currently have about 150 members, if you wish to join them fill in this form and
send a check for 20 euros made out to FBMA to Valerie Morin, Châtenay,
71290 Simandre, France Main
Bluegrass in events in France Information about these events, that
happen every year, can be found on this site and in the newsletter "Bluegrass!"
They are also discussed in the forum
section. Spring
Bluegrass Weekend (Whitsun).
Organised by FBMA and/or AEGC in the Paris area. The opportunity for some 80
musicians to get together, jam and discuss Bluegrass, Old Time and other related
styles of music. Scratch bands form up during the weekend to present an informal
concert on the last evening. Cost varies and includes board, lodging and use
of site facilities. A contribution of 5 euros is charged to non-members to help
cover hidden costs.
Winter
Bluegrass Weekend (November). Organised by FBMA on a long weekend
in November in Vichy (in the centre of France), this event was first held in response
to musicians who wanted a place to meet and play during winter. Again, this is
a jam-fest and helps close out the summer. Regular bands can play in the fine
theatre to a paying public (entry is free to fbma members). Cost is about 35
euros a day for full board plus 5 euros for non-members. La
Grange Rouge (2nd weekend in June).
The Grange Rouge is a cultural and artisanal association based in an old 18th
century barn in the area of Macon, Bourg-en-Bresse, Louhans (about 3 hours south
of Paris). Every year they organise a musical happening for French traditional
and Bluegrass music where bands can play in this beautiful setting. Accommodation
is possible in the farmhouse "gite" or on the adjacent campsite. This
event is organised independently of fbma although the association helps with the
sound and holds its AGM on the Sunday morning. Check out the website.
Festival "Country Rendez-Vous" de
Craponne (last weekend in July). The biggest country music festival
in France (which also showcases some great Bluegrass bands) is also an opportunity
for Bluegrass fans to meet on the camp site to listen and play in a great "festival"
atmosphere". A must on the French bluegrass calendar. Web
Site
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