In full effervescence, Marseille is seeing a plethora of new events flourish with the most original concepts and formats. Concerts, evenings, festivals with your feet in the water, beach literature; we have selected ten events and evenings for you not to miss this summer.
AU LARGE
What? Music festival
When? 2/3/4 July 2021
Where? Theatre Silvain
How much? From €6.50
Questions? Ask here
A new festival is born and it carries its name well in the magical setting of this green theatre close to the sea. Organised by the “l’Equipée” collective which brings together four well-known musical organisations in Marseille – La Meson, Comparses & Sons, Le Cabaret Aléatoire, and Le Mounguy – it offers a three-day program of concerts. Grooves, movement and emotion will be shared at the Silvain Theatre.
THE PROGRAMME
Friday 2 July
Siska / Noga Erez / La Chica.
Saturday 3 July
Kemmler / Delgres / Amadou et Mariam.
Sunday 4 July
Isaya / Feu! Chatterton / Arnaud Rebotini
GASPARD MON AMOUR
What? Festive evening (Music, Gastronomy et Mixology)
When? 2, 9, 16 and 30 July, and 7 August 2021
Where? Bar Gaspard, Noctilio, Maison Buon, Château d’If, and a surprise location
How much? Free entry, except Château d’If (by reservation – €75 per person for the ferry + diner + the evening)
Questions? Ask here
Over the last 5 years little Gaspard has grown into a big guy in the cocktail world of Marseille. Ben Colombani, the young captain of this beautiful address on Boulevard Notre Dame, wished to celebrate this anniversary with his friends and partners. Music, gastronomy, festive surprises and of course racy cocktails will be on hand to delight your senses and taste buds.
Ô FRIOUL
What? Concert, yoga, meditation, cooking workshops
When? From 8 to 10 July 2021
Where? Ile du Frioul / Centre Leo Lagrange (Boarding 18:30, quai Marcel Pagnol, opposite the la Samaritaine, boat; Icard Maritime)
How much? 1 day from €34.50 / 2 day pass €69 or €74
Questions? Ask here
The Borderline Collective is known in Marseille for having organised a large number of events in unlikely places. This year it is on the famous and heavenly Archipel du Frioul that they have set up their sound system for three days of an unprecedented festival at the Léo Lagrange centre. This incredible and inspiring outdoor setting has of course led the organisers to also offer other activities that lend themselves to the place (yoga, meditation, relaxing), along with high-flying gastronomy since there’s nothing less than a 3-star chef in his food truck.
THE PROGRAMME
– Thursday 8 July
Catastrophe / Courrier Sud
– Friday 9 July
Camel Power Club / Victor Solf / Chrystal Murray
– Saturday 10 July
Myd. (live band) / Jean Tonique / Claire Laffut
OH LES BEAUX JOURS !
What? Debates, readings, concerts
When? From 12 to 18 July 2021
Where? Various locations (Mucem, Vieille Charité, Site archéologique Port Antique, Conservatoire)
How much? Free during the day, €15 evenings
Questions ? Ask here
A festival capable of bringing together in a single programme beautiful writers (From Jonathan Coe, to Chloé Delaume via Maylis de Kerangal, Mathieu Lindon, Éric Reinhardt and many others), and musicians from various universes (Oxmo Puccino, Florent Marchet, Akosh S. or French 79). Debates, readings, concerts; there is something for everyone under the Marseille sunshine.
CIAO MOKA !
What? Concerts, projections, workshops, dance, gastronomy, etc
When? From 21 to 25 July 2021
Where? Couvent Levat and Polygone étoilé
How much? Free
Questions ? Ask here
Marseille and its strong Italian roots had until now no real event to represent and celebrate this vibrant connection. Living in the Italian style is a philosophy that cannot be explained, but which can be lived! The Ciao Moka festival will let you experience Italian culture and flavours – an immersive and multidisciplinary experience which will involve all your senses! The organisers, the Sonica Vibes association, brings together young Italians and Italians, passionate about the culture of their country of origin.
THE PROGRAMME
Wednesday 21 to Sunday 25 July
Musique Elasi / Dance by Elisabetta Guttusu / Graff Luca Ledda
Thursday 22 July
Fanfare-punk-mariachi by Johnny Marre, and a DJ set by Claudio Anemamé.
Friday 23 July
Tropea (pop indie) followed by Spartenza and their Mediterranean vibes.
Saturday 24 July
Projection of the documentary The Milky Way by Luigi D’Alife, in the présence of the director
Sunday 25 July
Italian Village, dances workshops, children’s stories
FESTIVAL DE MARSEILLE
What? Hybrid festival (dance, performance, concerts, etc)
When? 17 June to 11 July 2021
Where? Various locations (Mucem, Vieille Charité, Silo, CCR, Klap, BNM, La Baleine, Théâtre des Bernardine, Théâtre Silvain , Friche la Belle de Mai
How much €10 and €5 for the under 12s.
Questions ? Ask here
For JAN GOOSSENS it’s the last outing as Director of the Marseille Festival; the event which combines dance shows, theatre, concerts, installations, performances, cinema, meetings and parties, and takes place throughout the city for 3 weeks. “How can we turn the crises we are experiencing into opportunities for reinvention and rebirth?” This is the question that the 2021 festival will try to answer by playing the cross-fertilisation card more than ever.
This year will feature the creations and premieres of artists who are well established in Marseille; artists such as Éric Minh Cuong Castaing, Andrew Graham, (LA) HORDE, do Nach, Ahamada Smis or Nolwenn Peterschmitt. You can also attend performances by artists such as Olivier Dubois with Itmahrag and his dancers and musicians from Cairo, Alain Platel and his great classic Out of Context – for Pina, or the great voices of Mali, and Fatoumata Diawara. At the end of August the company Rara Woulib returns with Moun Fou and the Belgian choreographer Seppe Baeyens who presents “Birds” in the public space, and finally a set of Marseille hip-hop artists perform at the Silvain Theatre.
MUCEM PLAN B
What? Cinema & concerts / spectacles / workshops and DJ Sets
When? From 2 to 8 August 2021
Where? Place d’Armes du Fort Saint-Jean / Mucem
How much? Free during the day / Concerts €15 (reductions €11)
Questions? Ask here
A festival that has the good idea of being scheduled for the first week of August when nothing really exciting happens, that’s already good. That the festival takes place outdoors in the enchanting setting of the Place d’Armes in Fort Saint-Jean and the grandiose Cour de la Command at the entrance to the Port makes it even better. And when you can attend a lot of small friendly artistic events for free during the day (shows, workshops, and events), and attend the concerts for low cost in the evenings, we say to ourselves that even if we can’t travel freely we always feel on vacation in Marseille.
MARSATAC / ÉDITION CAPSULE
What? Open air concerts
When? 20, 21, 22 August 2021
Where? Parc Borély
How much? From €30
Questions? Ask here
Look on the bright side; forced to revise its event programme by the pandemic, Marsatac – a mastodon of electro and hip-hop festivals in Marseille – returns this year with an unprecedented edition in the bucolic setting of Parc Borély. Dancing with your feet in the grass and telling stories is most welcome and it’s “so 2021” after all!
THE PROGRAMME
Friday 20 August
Sebastien Tellier, L’Impératrice, Louisahhh live band, MOÏSE TURIZER
Saturday 21 August
Alonzo • Sofiane (Fianso) • Princess Nokia • Cookie
Sunday 22 August
PLK • Soso Maness • Poupie • TESSÆ
ART-O-RAMA
What? International Modern Art Salon
When? From 27 August to 12 September 2021
Where? Friche la Belle de Mai (Cartonnerie)
How much? €5 (reductions €3)
Questions? Ask here
With around thirty galleries and publishers who came to develop specific curatorial proposals for this Marseille fair, Art-O-Rama is a human-sized fair which is conducive to meeting and discovering the panorama of contemporary art and young creatives of today. The opening weekend, in the presence of gallery owners and reserved for professionals, has had the good idea of being extended by an exhibition which makes it possible to welcome a larger public of art lovers.
EXHIBITORS
UTOPIA
What? Electronic music festival
When 24 & 25 September 2021 from 19:00 to 06:00
Where? Friche la Belle de Mai (Cartonnerie, Grand Plateau, Cabaret Aléatoire and Toit Terrasse)
How much? €21.99 the evening and a 2 day pass €36.99
Questions? Ask Ihere
Another event born during the lockdown that forced the entire music industry to rethink its model. With this festival Utopia wishes to support the creative economy through a solidarity market (Ecotopia) and to reflect this in its debates on how to invent the party of tomorrow (Agotopia), but above all it wishes to continue their musical dreams. The impeccable and cosmopolitan line-up should help…
THE PROGRAMME
By Eric Foucher
