we're off to Brittany (not Britney) festival

This time next week the gang of us will have settled into our away-base at LES VIEILLES CHARRUES music festival in BRITTANY. What began 16 years ago as a 'smidgeeen' of a community project has grown into one of the largest musical events in Europe - certainly the biggest in France. It attracts in excess of 150,000 over the course of the July weekend.

According to French newspaper LE MONDE it has somehow managed to 'preserve the friendly chilled-out atmosphere of its beginnings' despite it's remarkable growth.

This is our maiden-voyage to this particular festival so we're trusting Le Monde and the gang of festival hounds we hooked-up with at the ROCK-EN-SEINE FESTIVAL in PARIS last August. We were taken under the wing of an amazing BRETON posse who extended us the hospitality you'd reserve for long-lost brothers. They raved about the unique atmosphere of their festival and made us sign contracts (in blood!) that we'd re-group there - so we're on our way! (Fre and Gabriel flew over and celebrated KATEANN's birthday with us last Easter at CLOMANTAGH CASTLE in KILKENNY.)

What's more Kateann, RÓNÁN and SÚLÁN - who'll be touring around CZECH-GERMANY-FRANCE-SPAIN this month - are taking a detour to join our crew in Brittany!

The festival boasts three of the biggest stages in Europe and is well-known for its somewhat eclectic mix of performers. It's an event thrown in true Breton style; that Celtic sense of diversity, welcoming with open-arms and absence of pretense appears at the heart of the festival’s success so I know we'll feel very much at home.

BEN HARPER & THE INNOCENT CRIMINALS, MORCEEBA, ETIENNE DAHO, THE KOOKS, SEBASTIAN, THE HIVES, CHRISTOHE MAY, THE WOMBATS, YEAL NAIM, BABYSHAMBLES, MOTORHEAD, ZZ TOP, TONY CLIFTON CIRCUS, QUALITE STREET and on, and on the line-up goes!

RYANAIR fly:
BREST from DUBLIN & LONDON
DINARD from LONDON, BIRMINGHAM, BRISTOL, EAST MIDLANDS
NANTES from DUBLIN, SHANNON, LONDON, BOURNEMOUTH, LIVERPOOL
AERLINGUS fly to RENNES

Further info, line-up, local travel connections:
Les Vieilles Charrues (Carhaix, Brittany)
3 day ticket incl camping €72
4 day ticket incl camping €95

Book tickets at: www.digitick.com
Less expensive at: www.elca-services.ch