The Cultural Service of the French Embassy in Houston is pleased to announce the 2020 French Cultures Festival taking place throughout the month of March in Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas. The festival aims at celebrating French language and cultures through cultural and educational events. (Check out the French Cultures Festival webpage)
The Festival will be officially launched during the 8th annual kick-off concert, a free and family-friendly event open to the public to be held at Discovery Green park in downtown Houston, TX. The concert will showcase a bouncing mix of French / Indie & Blues rock, folk, pop and soul sounds with three francophone and American bands: CharlElie Couture (France), Ariane Roy (Québec) and Vodi (Houston, TX).
Join the Facebook event page!
Date & time: Friday, March 6, 2020 | 6pm to 10pm
Location: Discovery Green | 1500 McKinney, Houston, TX 77010
Check out the event on the Houston Arts Alliance Cultural Events Calendar.
>>> The photos of the concert are now available! Click HERE.
LINEUP
CharlElie Couture (France)
With works spanning music, photography and painting, CharlElie Couture has more than 25 albums, 17 film soundtracks, 20 books of his work, and performed 1,500 concerts worldwide.
The French-American artist, born in 1956, in Nancy, France, studied at the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts (National School of Fine Arts). In 1978, for his PhD, CharlElie Couture chose the theme of “polymorphism of the mind” which he still explores today. On this occasion, he self-produced 12 chansons dans la sciure – a first disk that was released in a thousand copies, which attracted the attention of professionals, and thanks to which he received an invitation to perform during the Printemps de Bourges, a major annual music festival in France – as well as presented photos, texts and paintings. He, in 1981, was the first French artist to sign with Island Records label, famous for other artists such as U2, Grace Jones, and Robert Palmer. The resulting album Poèmes Rock, recorded at the Electric Lady Studio in New York, was produced by Houston-based publisher Michael Zilkha and was a major commercial success. He moved to New York in 2004, where he later created « The RE Gallery », both a workshop and a gallery. His work has been on exhibition in Paris, Nancy, Strasbourg, Rodez, Sète, and Montpellier, France, and in Montreal and New-York.
Included in his multidisciplinary works, CharlElie Couture has composed close to 20 film soundtracks; in 2019, 24 years after the original release of Toy Story, he re-recorded the French version of the leading song You’ve got a friend in me, which he also sang in the original.
His last studio album, Même pas sommeil, was released in 2019.
Ariane Roy (Quebec)
Quebec City (Québec, Canada) musician Ariane Roy proposes a pop/soul alternative project. She is known to be contrasting, free and spontaneous. Singer and guitarist, she was awarded both of the ROSEQ 2019 and Pauline Julien’s grant. Ariane is a sweet mix of multiples influences that left a mark on her musical path, from folk by way of pop, soul and even jazz. Her gift of writing easily goes together with her unique tone of voice and her musical sensitivity. She will release her first EP in 2020.
Vodi (Houston)
Vodi is a 6 piece indie rock band based out of Houston featuring ambient keys, driving rhythms, effortless hooks and a nostalgic sound. Their debut album, Talk, has been hailed as "powerfully optimistic", "shining gold", and "beautifully crafted".
FRENCH FOOD CORNER
In addition to the live music performances, concert attendees will have the opportunity to taste an exclusive selection of wines and gourmet dishes from France and francophone countries (crêpes, quiches, cheese, bread, sandwiches, pastries and other delicacies), with Phoenicia Specialty Foods, Le Macaron French Pastries Houston, and Arts & Crêpes.
VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITIES
Give a hand to fun! Our team is looking for volunteers that would be available on March 6, anytime between 2pm and 11pm. Please contact us for more information, and let us know your availabilities.
THANK YOU TO OUR VALUED SPONSORS!
The French Cultures Festival is funded in part by the City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance, and supported by
- the Four Seasons Hotel Houston,
- Total Petrochemicals & Refining USA,
- the Québec Government Office in Houston,
- Air Liquide,
- French Country Wines,
- Awty International School,
- the Consulate General of France in Houston,
- Phoenicia Specialty Foods / MKT Bar,
- Sallymoon Benz,
- ENGIE North America,
- TV5MONDE USA,
- Pauvarel Moss Law Firm,
- the Consulate General of Switzerland in Atlanta,
- Swiss-American Society of Houston
- City Orchard Houston
- Kronenbourg
- LeNôtre Culinary Institute
- Arts & Crêpes
- Le Macaron French Pastries
THANK YOU
Thank you to Texan-French Alliance for the Arts, Allen Hill Entertainment, Discovery Green, Aztec, Charlie Ewing, and Hillary Brindell.
