“It’s an essential place”

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In 2025, the Léo-Ferré space will celebrate its 30th anniversary. Thierry Tremintin, manager of the room located in the basement of the Bellevue neighborhood center in Brest, has imagined eight evenings. The first two, marked reggae, will take place on January 17 and 18. At least that’s what he hopes. “The room is on borrowed time. We are in deficit of 12,000 euros,” sighs the caretaker of the place for 20 years.

Assistance from the City is hoped to keep the equipment afloat, mainly weakened by inflation. “The Town Hall has supported us for thirty years, but the State is reducing its subsidies. The national context is darkwe risk falling by the wayside. »

“The death of the Brest music scene”

“I can’t buy anything, not even a microphone,” assures Thierry Tremintin, cultural development agent. The eight evenings, supported by associations, also aim to raise funds to purchase equipment. Destrock, a driving force in the organization of rock and metal concerts, should lead two. “Without Léo-Ferré, it’s the death of the Brest music scene,” believes Franck Bugny, its president and founder. There is a lot of associations that play here and all styles: metal, rock, rap…”

Destrock organizes, on average, four to six events per year in Bellevue, or nearly 80% of its concerts. “The gauge is on a human scale. The proximity of the public is very appreciated by musicians. »

“Without Léo-Ferré, we cannot survive,” says Laetitia Dagorn, rapper and founder of Locamusic records, specializing in supporting emerging artists in the field of current and urban music.

We are the first link in the musical chain, those who detect talent and support them. The Léo-Ferré space allows us to organize evenings at a lower cost and generate revenue.

For amateurs in the process of becoming professional, performing there serves as a crash test. “It’s the first essential step to test yourself on stage,” says Laetitia Dagorn. Saturday December 21, 2024, Locamusic, in partnership with the West HH association, will take over the room for an evening Women want to be heard. Twelve female artists will follow one another on stage. For four of them, this will be a first. Part of the proceeds will be donated to the Léo-Ferré space.

40 events per year

“The Léo-Ferré space is equipped like a concert hall, but officially, it is a club,” recalls Thierry Tremintin, himself a jazz musician. With a capacity of 200 places, it was created in 1994 to “boost cultural life in the Bellevue district, while supporting artists and local community life”. The bet is won. He has established himself as a major player in Brest culture and even beyond.

“My primary mission is to rmake culture accessibleat low prices, between 5 and 10 euros per evening,” argues Thierry Tremintin, who has become a neighborhood figure over the years. Léo-Ferré hosts 40 events per year, from September to June, of which 30 are concerts and 10 are dedicated to theater.

“It’s huge for a small place like that! », specifies the employee with multiple hats, including those of programmer and manager.

The associations, which occupy the room almost free of charge (a modest contribution is requested), benefit from its support. “I organize with them, it’s close to my heart. You have to make sure everything goes well. This allows associations toaLearn without having too many responsibilities. »

“This is where we see the trends”

“Fashion begins with small structures. This is where we see the trends. Before, we were the only ones to program metal, now it’s fashionable,” says Thierry Tremintin. Same observation for the dub.

“There are almost no more small places where groups can play, they have set so many standards,” regrets the Brestois, castigating in passing the latest rules laid down by Sacem. Hence the energy deployed to guarantee the future of the Brest venue.

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