“I challenge anyone to say that nothing ever happens in Blois. » Hervé Bourit, the programmer of the Des Lyres d’été festival, highlights with a touch of humor the richness of an event that has been well established for many years. “This summer, there won’t be a day without something happening, with 99% of the events being organized being free or very inexpensive.”
For the 17e edition, Des Lyres d’été has adopted a poster evoking music, dance, but also the Loire. The royal river will thus be the starting point of the festivities which will extend for two months, from July 2 to 1is September 2024, the Guinguette opening the ball on the port of Creusille. The La Connexion festival will serve as an epilogue in the Bishop’s Gardens, on August 30 and 31.
A poster evoking music, dance and the Loire.
© City of Blois poster
Concerts in the castle courtyard
As is often the case, Des Lyres d’été will give pride of place to music, with common threads to follow. The first will be Music’ô château, with seven concerts organized every Friday evening from July 12 at 7:30 p.m. in the prestigious setting of the courtyard of the royal castle (from €8 to €10). With some great names on the program, including locals Sara and Rania (ex-The Voice kids), Déborah Andrade (ex-The Voice), but especially JP Nataf, the singer of Les Innocents, who will be accompanied by cellist Maëva Le Berre on July 12.
The second common thread will be popular and thematic balls, with initiations offered to the public, for five Wednesday evenings: tango at the Place du Château on July 18, West Indian dances at the port of La Creusille on July 24, country at the port from La Creusille on 1is aAugust, oriental dances at the Bishop’s Gardens on August 7 and Irish dances at the Bishop’s Gardens on August 14.
Photographic walks all summer long
Like last year, the Photographic Walks, which constitute “the only contemporary photography festival in Centre-Val de Loire” as recalled by Fabienne Quinet, assistant to the Cultural City, and Cédric Marmuse, advisor delegated to cultural mediation, will be offered until 1is September, in several places in Blois but also in Mer and Mont-près-Chambord.
Around forty initiatives are set up as part of the Summer Quarters for young and old throughout the summer, from reading to open-air cinema, including live shows, an unusual visit to the castle or a musical stroll with the oud and the kora on the Loire. A great way to escape, especially for those who cannot go on holiday.
Evenings in an atypical setting
Atypical evenings, called “landscape shows”, are also on the menu, with for example a show on the theme of the Loire at sunset on the port of La Creusille on July 26, a poetic Night of the Stars at the same place on August 9, or a sunrise show on August 17 or a moonrise concert two days later in the Gardens of the Bishopric.
This is only a small part of the program “rich and diversified, also linked to the heritage of Blois, which is a way of highlighting the attractive qualities of our city”consider Fabienne Quinet and Cédric Marmuse.
Without forgetting of course the passing of the Olympic (July 8) and Paralympic (August 26) flames and the National Day festivities.
