“Something great”: the Jazz in Sanguinet festival returns for its 25th edition

From July 15th to 20th, the Jazz in Sanguinet festival will take place at the Espace Gemme, transformed for the occasion into a Jazz Village. The Landes event focuses on conviviality and local roots.

" We've been working on it for a year," begins Benjamin Faugas, head of entertainment at the Bisca Grands Lacs tourist office. The organization of this Landes musical event is perfectly organized.

And this year, the score celebrates its 25th anniversary. From July 15th to 20th, the Espace Gemme in Sanguinet will be transformed into the Jazz Village, the beating heart of the festival. A source of pride for Benjamin Faugas, who started as a part-time organizer almost ten years ago. "We've managed to create something truly amazing!"

To celebrate this quarter-century, the festival promises some wonderful surprises. Free for the most part (except for the Saturday evening concert), the event demonstrates a commitment to accessibility. "The goal is to bring in the public to introduce them to the world of jazz," enthuses Benjamin Faugas.

The programming is "well thought out." It follows the evolution of jazz and its many facets. "Jazz has changed, and we had to diversify to add other styles of music. Of course, the program includes local artists, particularly from the Landes and Aquitaine regions."

“Jazz has changed, we had to diversify to add other styles of music.”

Starting Thursday, festival-goers will be able to vibrate to the folk sounds of Deer'N Oak, the energetic rock of LS Combo, and the sunny pop of the trio Léonie. The next day, a groovier atmosphere will take over with Cocktail Jazz, Les Tritons, Franck & Damien, and the highly anticipated Booboo'zzz All Stars, who will revisit the great classics in a reggae version. Saturday, the stage will welcome the winner of the musical springboard, followed by Soul Kitchen and the fiery swing of Tiger Rose, before ending with a suspended moment: the solo concert of pianist André Manoukian, who will present his project "La Sultane." This evening, the only ticketed event of the festival, is accessible through a participatory ticketing system.

With around 3,000 visitors last year, the festival continues to cultivate a friendly atmosphere. "Artists love the human side of the festival," says Benjamin Faugas, "and we want to continue to preserve it for a few more years. We do what we know how to do, without pretensions."

This desire for authenticity also involves showcasing the region and its stakeholders. "It's in the festival's DNA to work with local artisans. Food trucks, caterers, brewers, and wine merchants are Landes partners. We also take a stroll before the festival to set the tone," he emphasizes. Starting Saturday, the campsites and lakeside will come alive with a series of free concerts that will raise the atmosphere. Funk, rock, rap, or a guinguette atmosphere, these local events extend the festival's spirit into everyday life. On Sunday, July 20, to gently close this 25th edition, a gospel concert will resonate at Espace Gemme in the morning, followed in the evening by a final festive and tropical touch with the group Zocco Baia.

The team of around fifty volunteers who run the Jazz Animation Sanguinet association come from the town. "We created it to help the Grands Lacs tourist office," recalls Daniel Moreau, president of the association. Despite the decline in funding allocated to the festival, the collective energy remains intact. A dynamic of enthusiasts that has been the heart of the festival for a quarter of a century.

www.biscagrandslacs.com/jazz-in-sanguinet