From prodigious guitarists to pop stars, the Corsican festival “Les nuits de la guitare” is betting on eclecticism

At Patrimonio, Christophe Maé and Pascal Obispo share the bill for the 33rd edition of the festival with gypsy jazz and the American Cobi. A mix of genres to introduce a sometimes novice audience to the best of the guitar.

The 33^e The edition of the Nuits de la guitare offers eight festive evenings around music with sixteen concerts. The kick-off was given by the Spaniard Antonio Rey, a big name in flamenco guitar.

Born in 1990 under the impetus of a handful of amateur guitarists, the festival has since grown. From three days at its beginnings, it has grown to eight today. An international event, it has welcomed, from its first editions, renowned artists: Gilberto Gil in 1996, Paco de Lucia in 2001, and Marcus Miller in 2002.

This year, it was Antonio Rey, presented by the organizers as one of the heirs of the great Paco de Lucia, who opened the ball. The 2020 winner of the Latin Grammy Award for the best flamenco album, with his father and sister who accompanied him on stage, won over the audience of spectators who were not very familiar with flamenco. Most of them had come to applaud The Wailersthe legendary Bob Marley’s group, which is touring to commemorate the 40th^e album anniversary Legend.

Bringing together guitar virtuosos with big names in French and international song is the organizers’ strategy for developing the festival. “Tonight, there are a lot of people who discovered Antonio Rey but they didn’t come for him. They loved it, there were encores but they would never have come in such large numbers to listen to flamenco guitar.” explains Jean-Bernard Gilormini, organizer of the festival.

“It’s varied, it starts with guitars and goes towards many other musical styles. It’s always in a roots, bohemian, party spirit” sums up a festival-goer present at the festival’s opening night. A musical melting pot which, this Saturday, July 20, is taking shape again with Cobi as the opening act. The performer of the huge hit Don’t you cry for me (2016), an excellent guitarist, will precede Christophe Mahé on the stage of the open-air theater.

Sunday, July 21, it’s a gypsy jazz evening with Gypsy Jazz Messengers. Thomas Dutronc will be surrounded by outstanding guitarists (Stochelo Rosenberg, Fanou Torracinta, Rocky Gresset, Adrien Moignard, Joscho Stephan) and a double bass player (Biréli Lagrène). It’s a safe bet that the Australian Tommy Emmanuel, scheduled for the early evening, will join this exceptional concert.

The following day, Monday, July 22, Pascal Obispo, who is celebrating his 30-year career, will take over on stage from the charismatic Irish guitarist Johnny Gallagher. Pomme, named female artist of the year at the Victoires de la Musique in 2021, will close the festival on July 25.