It is an event that has become unmissable, both on a Breton and national scale. “50% of people are from Brittany, the other half are people from all over France. Some come from Marseille just for the fest-noz,” smiles Marie-Louise Boulch, president of the Bloaz Nevez association. This year will not be an exception and the 2024 edition should still be sold out. “Last year, we had to refuse people entry! We were full with 1,100 people in the two rooms made available by the town hall. We had so many people that I called the competition in January so that they could organize a fest-noz at the same time, we had too many people. »
“We are proud, it shows the notoriety of our fest-noz”
Born in Plouigneau in 1989, before moving to Saint-Thégonnec Loc-Eguiner, the fest-noz has experienced 33 passages in the new year (two covid years), all under the eyes of Marie-Louise Boulch. And if the event has built its reputation over the years, singer Hervé, elected male revelation at the Victoires de la Musique in 2021, was rave about this event in B, the magazine of the Brittany Region, last April: “I particularly recommend the New Year’s fest-noz in Saint-Thégonnec. It’s a great example of what Breton music is, with the presence of all generations dancing together. I find that there is really an energy, a kind of gentle madness. » “We are proud, it shows the notoriety of our fest-noz,” enthuses the president, who tours the festù-noz throughout Brittany with her husband, François, in search of new groups to invite.
Throughout history, festù-noz have often defended great causes. With Amnesty, ours is also militant.
“Our fest-noz is militant”
The Bloaz Nevez association, literally “new year” in French, only organizes one event a year, that of December 31 in the evening, and donates all profits to Amnesty International of Morlaix. “Throughout history, festù-noz have often defended great causes. With Amnesty, ours is also militant, these festou-noz have a soul. » Funds which will finance the actions of the human rights organization. In 2024, Amnesty carried out numerous actions: the installation of a Ukrainian family in Carantec, interventions at the Cléder college on the migration issue, etc.
In Saint-Thégonnec Loc-Eguiner, nine cases of people who are victims of human rights violations will be presented, with the possibility of signing petitions, which had collected nearly 2,500 signatures in 2023.
On the two stages, twelve groups and 34 artists will liven up the evening, marked by the return, ten years later, of Jean-Charles Guichen and his group, or by the 100% female trio Dixit, very popular last year.
Editorial investigation: Feminization, rejuvenation… The revival of fest-noz
Practical
Tuesday December 31, 2024, New Year’s Eve fest-noz at the Saint-Thégonnec village hall, from 9:30 p.m. to 5 a.m. Admission: €14, free for children under 14. New Year’s drink and onion soup, served at 3:30 a.m., free. Refreshments, sandwiches, pancakes and pancakes all night long. Contact: tel. 07 80 40 27 33 or 06 78 96 61 74.
