in Sète, unmissable places for celebrations

A double anniversary with a round number, including a centenary, that deserved a boat dedicated entirely to the memory of Georges Brassens, one of the most iconic French authors, composers and performers of the 20th century. While Sète finally reaches the climax of the celebrations (Brassens was born on October 22, 1921, died prematurely on October 29, 1981), let’s go to discover some essential places of the celebration and the memory of the artist.

The Roquerols boat, anchor of the festivities

The celebrations take place at the epicenter of the ancient flagship specially designed for the centenary, called the Roquerols. It hosts shows, reconstructions, events and workshops around Brassens, in addition to a delicious restaurant. Before dropping anchor in Sète, the ship saw the country. Built in London in 1939, it stayed in the Thames Estuary. Then it was transformed into a museum in Amsterdam, into a concert hall in Paris, before moping in Marseille … The City of Sète wanted to mark the centenary of Brassens with a particular place.

The boat was renamed Roquerols in reference to a place loved by Brassens. “At the end of the canal, there is the Thau pond, and on a rock, there is a lighthouse, the Roquerols lighthouse, tells Jeanne Corporon, deputy mayor of Sète in charge of the Brassens year. When he was young, Georges Brassens moored his boat there to swim. This is why we took this name for the boat. And he welcomes us in his bathing suit! “ A life-size black and white photo of the singer with bathing suit and towel throne on the deck.

The room at Impasse Florimont reconstituted on board

On the Roquerols bridge, a small room houses a symbolic reconstruction of the room that Georges Brassens had in Paris, impasse Florimont, in the 14th arrondissement, with his friend Jeanne Le Bonniec and Marcel Planche, the latter’s husband, who l ‘hosted. “We reconstituted the living space he had in Paris, with his manuscripts, explains Jeanne Corporon. This is where Jeanne greeted him when he returned from STO [en mars 1944, pour une permission pour raisons de santé, ndlr]. As he did not want to go back to Germany, he hid there, with the animals of the house, it was Noah’s ark! We know the love story he had with Jeanne. He wrote songs to pay homage to his hostess who hosted him for years, La Cane de Jeanne, Chez Jeanne… He wrote The Chanson de l’Auvergnat for Marcel who was no more Auvergne than me! Even when he started to be famous, in the 1950s, he continued to live there … “

Georges Brassens spent a good twenty years in this little house in Impasse Florimont, which is part of his legend. “When he settled there, there was neither water nor electricity, he lived in the most complete destitution. But he was well there, he wrote his most beautiful songs there. Brassens was not at all attached to comfort. He liked this discomfort. Jeanne asked him nothing, she let him compose, that was the most important. He wrote, he went to the libraries and he composed. Jeanne fed him, she even bought him tobacco for his pipe. It was she who gave him his first guitar. “ Among the photos on the walls of the small room, we can see Brassens washing himself with a basin in the courtyard of the dead end. “As soon as he got his first stamp, he started to install water and electricity”, specifies Jeanne Corporo, who owes her first name to the precious Jeanne de Brassens, who was her godmother.

The cabaret where Patachou launched the career of Brassens, aboard the Roquerols

“We recreated the cabaret atmosphere of Patachou, emphasizes Jeanne Corporon. It was a tradition, Patachou cut men’s ties! Every once in a while she would take one from the audience and she would go! “ [ndlr : la chanteuse repérait ceux qui ne se tenaient pas bien, a raconté sa fille plus tard] Located on the Montmartre side, this restaurant where Patachou sang in the evening played a decisive role in the career of Georges Brassens. “This was the important step that brought him glory. One evening in the winter of 1951, he went to Patachou’s, accompanied by his friend Victor Laville, journalist and designer (he drew him a famous portrait which illustrated album No. 4), he sang. She was captivated. So she launched it, she toured with him in Belgium. “ In the room, image archives are projected, including a documentary by Rémi Sautet.

The Roquerols is moored quai du Maroc, in Sète, officially until the end of the year. It has an auditorium in the hold. We can only hope that its existence will continue beyond the centenary year.
> Its programming

Espace Brassens, temple of the poet’s memory

Built opposite the Le Py cemetery where the poet rests, the Espace Brassens has existed for 30 years. Between its permanent exhibition and occasional events, it relates the life, influences, career, poetic glossary but also the links and commitments of Georges Brassens with the trade union world and libertarian currents.

A place loaded with memories of the poet (including a guitar), reconstructions, sometimes playful evocations, quotes and colors, anything but sinister. We can read there a laudatory and poetic message that Charles Trenet – who was the great musical shock of Brassens’ youth – wrote to him in 1962. “Espace Brassens lives well, it is very popular, it is the flagship of Sétoise culture”, rejoices Jeanne Corporon. One of the Sète singer’s boats welcomes visitors at the entrance, perched in front of a large-format portrait.

For those most nostalgic for Brassens who love water, his last boat, the Gyss, has returned to its location on the Quai de Bosc in Sète, after restoration … It can be seen in particular during a cruise on the canals from the city, a very nice walk not to be missed.

Portraits of Sétois faithful to their poet

Many portraits adorn the city, displayed on the quays. By a word of admiration, a quote or a simple song title, the Sétois pay homage to Brassens.

> As for the shows, François Morel presents in creation in Sète, at the Molière Theater, the show Brassens is 100 years old October 22 and 23, two dates that are sold out. The concert on the 22nd will be broadcast live on board the Roquerols. François Morel will have at his side the singer Juliette, among other lovers of Brassens. The comedian-actor-singer will present in the wake of this tribute to Montpellier and Narbonne. In addition, he released a discographic tribute to Brassens on October 8 with Yolande Moreau.

Among the other artists to perform in Sète, Alexis HK sings at Roquerols on October 30, Ours on November 6, Barbara Carlotti on November 13 … Not to mention the 22, v’là Georges festival, organized by the Cap Brassens association , which pays a special tribute to the poet from October 22 to 29 for the centenary edition, with 45 groups and artists and some 75 free concerts throughout the city.

The Sète site lists the entire program of centenary concerts, shows and conferences and centralizes all the activities relating to exhibitions, guided tours, free tours, workshops, etc.

> On the exhibition side, the Paul Valéry museum in Sète offers, from October 8 until December 31, the exhibition “Robert Combas chante Sète et Georges Brassens”, which brings together some forty works, paintings produced during a previous tribute paid in 1992, and recent and unpublished portraits.

> On the television side, France 3 dedicates its evening of Thursday, October 21, 2021, from 9:05 p.m., to the Sète poet, with the variety show A day with Brassens, tour in Sète with several artists, then in the second part of the evening Brassens by Brassens, documentary by Philippe Kohly.