FBMA
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
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
La Roche Bluegrass Festival ( first weenkend in august ). 4 days
Since its first edition in 2006, under the European World of Bluegrass umbrella, the international Bluegrass Festival at La Roche sur Foron has become established as a leading event in the European Bluegrass calendar.
