The 15th Espalion bandas festival (Aveyron) was held on June 1st and 2nd. Lots of applications like every year, but few elected: only 9 including our Juillanaise banda des Eskapats! It was their first participation.
“We didn’t go there to win, just to party with friends, to play alongside other bands from Clermont-Ferrand, Martel, Lavaur… Winning was the bonus of the weekend!” comments Caroline, musical director of this team of 35 Eskapats aged 15 to 77, one of the most numerous among the bands present.
“We first played in the streets from 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., and after the meal entertainment, there was THE performance on stage on which we were rated. A 20-minute performance during which were evaluated the musical quality, the originality of the chosen pieces and the dynamism.
“All the Eskapats had put in serious work, made the effort to play on stage without a score and agreed to do the choreography. Our repertoire was original compared to the other bandas. We were disguised, we had invested in leopard and fluorescent! More or less successful for some! We actually lit the fire with Johnny thanks to the candles we brought. We had prepared a shocking final choreography, with confetti fireworks at the end. People really enjoyed it and we had a great time! amused!”
At midnight, the trophies were awarded: the famous and coveted Golden Dwarf to the Eskapats, the other silver, bronze and special jury dwarves to other bandas with which the party continued, especially on Sunday when all let go as they were no longer in the competition.
The Eskapats returned delighted from their trip to Aveyron where the welcome was very warm, their new companion comfortably seated on the bus seat! It will have to be brought back into play during the next edition of the festival. This dwarf actually bears the name Golden Nestor in reference to the band that organizes the event and which is called Les Souvenirs de Nestor.
He first has a year to discover our village and its surroundings! There is no doubt that his many new masters and mistresses will be able to take it out and present it to us during the votive feast!
