Les Détours de Babel
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Edition 2025 — Détours de Babel
The 15th edition of Les Détours de Babel took place from March 21 to April 13, 2025, in Grenoble and throughout the Isère region. With 70 musical events, the festival celebrated the joy of discovery and the magic of world cultures through concerts, musical brunches, shows for young audiences (Babelino), collective listening sessions (Babel Kawa), and artist encounters.
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15th Edition — The Joy of Musical Openness
The 2025 edition of Les Détours de Babel offered 70 musical events from March 21 to April 13, taking over concert halls, heritage sites, and meeting places in Grenoble and the Isère region. Under the banner of discovery and openness to world cultures, this 15th edition confirmed the festival as a must-attend event of the Grenoble spring.
Opening at La Belle Électrique
The festival kicked off on March 21 at La Belle Électrique with an evening of electro-traditional music, setting the tone for a program blending revisited traditions and contemporary creation.
Notable Artists and Creations
Highlights of this edition included:
- Only — Percussions de Strasbourg (March 28): a performance of body percussion and repurposed objects, accompanied by live street art creation
- Rényon — Christine Salem (March 30): an all-female ensemble celebrating the Maloya tradition of Réunion Island, infused with blues and rock
- LEMMA — 10th Anniversary with Souad Asla (April 4): musicians from Algeria and Mauritanian griot Noura Mint Seymali
- Kin'Gongolo Kiniata (April 6): street music from Kinshasa with handmade instruments, and a wild instrument-making workshop
- Makoto San: bamboo-techno-trance fusion from Asia
- Sharouh: Middle Eastern electronic music
- Siti Amina & Love and Revenge: Eastern vocal traditions
- Yusan Zillya: music from Crimea in resistance
Musical Brunches and Participatory Formats
The Musical Brunches took place at the Musée Dauphinois on March 30 and the Fort Barraux on April 6, offering convivial moments at a pay-as-you-wish price. The Babel Kawa (Monday collective listening) and Babel Solos (Wednesday discoveries) formats provided intimate encounters with the artists.
Closing Concert
The festival concluded on April 13 with Here and Now, a Franco-Moroccan creation by Walid Ben Selim and Marie-Marguerite Canot, blending Sufi poetry and harp, accompanied by the Robinson Khoury Quartet.
Programme
Highlights of the 2025 Program
- Only — Percussions de Strasbourg: body percussion and live street art
- Rényon — Christine Salem: Maloya from Réunion, blues, and rock
- LEMMA 10th Anniversary — Souad Asla: musicians from Algeria and Mauritania
- Kin'Gongolo Kiniata: street music from Kinshasa and wild instrument making
- Makoto San: bamboo-techno-trance from Asia
- Game Lov'Vibes: Indonesian gamelan ensemble
- Yusan Zillya: music from Crimea in resistance
- Robinson Khoury Quartet & Walid Ben Selim: closing concerts
Highlights
Memorable Moments of the 2025 Edition
- 15th anniversary edition of the festival
- 70 musical events over 24 days throughout Isère
- Diverse formats: concerts, musical brunches, Babel Kawa, Babel Solos, Babelino
- Kin'Gongolo Kiniata: participatory wild instrument-making workshop with recycled materials
- Poetic closing with Walid Ben Selim, blending Sufi poetry and contemporary creation
Prices
From 5.00€ — 25.00€
Travel to this festival
Book your train or bus to reach Détours de Babel at the best price.
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Where does it take place — Détours de Babel
Théâtre Sainte-Marie-d'en-Bas et lieux divers en Isère
17 rue Bayard, 38000 Grenoble