It is 4 p.m. this Friday and a few hundred people are gathered in the Freedom. On the stage of the main concert hall in Rennes, Mina Raayeb performs a powerful rap described as “industrial”. The trio from Brest is certainly playing big. Recently formed, he hopes to attract the many programmers hiding in the public. But who are the others? Who are these people who come to the Trans Musicales de Rennes without knowing a single group on the program? Who are these people who pay almost 40 euros to spend a winter evening in an Exhibition Center? While most French festivals rely on big names to attract the public, Trans manages to attract tens of thousands of spectators without any headliner. “New since 1979,” says their slogan. What if it was true?
Let's be honest. In the festival audience, some are clearly musically savvy, many work in the industry and come here to do their shopping. “It’s an essential place for us. It is the place to be », explains Joran, artist manager from Nantes. Some of his bands, like electro duo Atoem, saw their careers take off after playing here. But Joran doesn't come just for that. Beyond work, the blue-eyed thirty-year-old comes mainly “to enjoy”. “You get slapped all the time, even when you don’t know many bands.”
At his side, Maëva gives an even more laudatory speech. “I’m a die-hard Trans fan. I have it posted in my room, I keep the CDs. It’s my favorite festival.” At 26 years old, the one who works for the Vlad and Foudrage labels is already in her 9th edition. “I find that there is a social dimension. Here, we help unknown groups try to emerge in the jungle of Music. It’s precious.”
“They keep their identity, their DNA”
One of the best advertisements for Trans people is also their CV. Since their creation, their historic programmer Jean-Louis Brossard has unearthed hundreds of talents. “I only program groups that I like,” assumes the tireless enthusiast. We won't hesitate to remind you that Nirvana played there, as did Daft Punk, Björk, Ben Harper, Stromae and even other more unexpected things like Blink 182 or Alliance Ethnik. Do you think it's dated? So tell yourself that this is where Zaho de Sagazan was spotted two years ago. You know the rest.
“It’s true that a few years ago, there were perhaps a few more headliners. But I think what makes Trans successful is this discovery side. They keep their identity, do not change their DNA,” says Antoine, 37 years old. “For me, it’s a bit of an unmissable meeting with friends. The atmosphere is really cool. No matter what happens, we’re going.”
Like him, many people from all over “Great Britain” are in the habit of coming every year, without even knowing what they are going to see and listen to. When you ask regulars, the answer is often the same. “The music and the groups are just a pretext,” explains Noémie. For ten years, the young forty-year-old with curly hair came to Rennes to “spend the weekend with her friends” just for the Trans. With a well-established ritual: vigorous aperitif, departure delayed many times and crowded shuttle.
“What’s the point of working in prog? »
Now established in Rennes, the former Nantes resident now hosts the famous “pre Trans aperitif” at her home. “I go there for the camaraderie and to have a good time with my friends,” says Rom. Does he listen to the prog before going there? Not even. “I like to let myself be carried away by the moment. Isn’t that where we make the most beautiful discoveries? “. This festival regular admits that he also sometimes forgets part of what he has seen, carried away by the drunkenness of the crowd. “What’s the point of working in prog? “.
Those who are used to the Parc-Expo admit to having sometimes spent evenings less pleasant than others, wandering from hall to hall without finding what they were looking for. But there are also all those times when they sweated to the brim to the rhythm of Norwegian rock, Icelandic rap sung by women or psychedelic folk from Turkey. Not to mention the impromptu stops in the middle of a boiling Green Room. Because that's what Trans people are.
