GeorJacLéo Festival

ℹ️ Festival discontinued. The GeorJacLéo Festival no longer seems to be held currently. No edition has been publicly documented beyond 2016 (Isabelle Aubret was the guest of honor that year), the official website georjacleo.com is no longer active, the page dedicated to the festival on the Albret tourist office website no longer exists, and the event is not listed in the Vianne commune's agenda. Should a new edition be organized, this entry would be updated.

Poetic Song in the Spotlight

The GeorJacLéo Festival was born from the passion of a group of music lovers for Francophone poetic song. Its name paid direct tribute to three pillars of French song: Georges Brassens, Jacques Brel, and Léo Ferré. The festival's mission was to promote poetic song and organize an event dedicated to the repertoires of these three essential artists, as well as all those who championed or had championed this demanding repertoire.

Origins in Vianne

The GeorJacLéo association was founded in early 2000 by French song enthusiasts. The first edition of the festival took place in Nérac on September 9, 2000. Subsequently, the festival settled in the medieval bastide of Vianne, a 13th-century fortified village with incomparable charm, where it found its roots. Over the years, it became a beloved event for lovers of Brassens, Brel, and Ferré in southwestern France. The 15th edition was held on October 17, 18, and 19, 2014.

Three Days of Shows and Sharing

Every third weekend of October, the festival offered eight major shows spread over three days. The program highlighted amateur and professional artists who performed the repertoires of Brassens, Brel, and Ferré, but also Barbara, Ferrat, Béart, and all singer-songwriters perpetuating the tradition of French poetic song. Among the artists who participated in past editions were Francesca Solleville, Anne Sylvestre (guest of honor in 2014), and Isabelle Aubret (guest of honor in 2016).

Moments of Conviviality

Beyond the concerts, the festival was distinguished by its moments of sharing: aperitif concerts and post-show dinners brought artists and festival-goers together over fine food to discuss their favorite authors. These privileged moments contributed to the warm and intimate atmosphere that was the festival's reputation.

Exhibitions and Activities

Alongside the shows, the festival offered exhibitions as well as sales of books, CDs, photos, posters, and t-shirts related to the world of Brassens, Brel, and Ferré. These activities enriched the experience and allowed for a prolonged immersion in the universe of poetic song.

A Festival Committed to Poetic Song

The GeorJacLéo Festival aimed to be an event carrying humanist values inherited from its three tutelary figures. It offered a platform for a demanding and poetic form of artistic expression, going against ephemeral trends, and contributed for about fifteen years to the cultural influence of the bastide of Vianne and the Albret territory in Lot-et-Garonne.