Fête de la musique

We started off just after school watching a group set up at Pessac town square - it was a drums/synth/singer combo and the girl sang that song that goes something like Itchy-citchy-wa-wa-yaa-yaa. I was mortified when she got to the next bit which offers somewhat unexpected invitations in French of an overnight stay! Thankfully there were not that many people around at that point..



Then after the study - Mark sandwiches - we scuttled off the find the action and the pastor and family.



The fireworks were scheduled for 11h30. At one point we wondered if M. Juppé had cancelled them in a fiendish revenge for his election defeat, but they began at about midnight and were very pretty. Some photos to give you a brief flavour.



I think that the fête de la musique does for Bordeaux what the bonfire night display did for Deeside - a time for us to bond and to feel like a community. The big difference is that fête de la musique involves an all-night stint (not for me!) and rather a lot of alcohol. It was the first time I have seen loads of drunks on the streets in France.



Next year I'll avoid the town centre and the whole family can go to the Pessac fête until a reasonable bedtime for the kids. The Pessac fête will be a bit more our scene.
Here are a banda (my favourite), some salsa dancers and a group attached to a "resto of the islands".