Place au Blues — Oraison Blues Festival

A Festival Born from a Passion for Blues in Haute-Provence

The history of Place au Blues is inseparable from that of the association Eden District Blues, founded in August 2002 in Oraison by Gilles Boncour and a handful of enthusiasts. Based at the Espace Culturel Paul Réty, rue Paul Jean, the association has set itself the mission of promoting blues in all its forms — from Delta blues to Chicago blues, including soul blues and blues rock — in a rural area of the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence far from major cultural circuits. After years of organizing regular concerts at the salle de l'Eden, the association launched its own annual festival, Place au Blues, which has become a must-attend event for blues lovers in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region.

The Salle de l'Eden and Place du Kiosque: Two Complementary Stages

The festival unfolds across several sites in the heart of Oraison. The salle de l'Eden, located on rue Henri Arnoux, hosts the evening concerts in an intimate and warm atmosphere, with a human-sized capacity allowing for exceptional proximity between artists and the audience. The place du Kiosque, in the town center, serves as an open-air stage for free afternoon concerts, offering a relaxed and festive atmosphere under the Provençal sun. A barbecue area is also set up in front of the Eden to extend the festivities with friends over grilled food and music.

A High-Quality International Program

Since its creation, Place au Blues has successfully attracted internationally renowned artists to the stages of Oraison. The festival has hosted leading American musicians such as Jimmy Burns, a Chicago blues legend, Eddie Taylor Jr, son of the famous blues guitarist, and Kellie Rucker, an harmonica virtuoso. European artists have also marked the editions: the Italian Veronica Sbergia and her Red Wine Serenaders, the Pole Tomek Dziano with a style inspired by John Lee Hooker, the British band Nine Below Zero, and the American based in New Orleans Luke Winslow-King. The French scene is also represented with artists like Jack Bon, Nasser Ben Dadoo, Le Bardi Manchot, and Nico Wayne Toussaint, a major figure in French blues.

A Friendly and Accessible Spirit

Place au Blues stands out for its commitment to making blues accessible to everyone. The afternoon concerts on the Place du Kiosque are free, allowing families and curious individuals to discover the genre without financial barriers. The evening concerts at the Salle de l'Eden remain at affordable prices, with discounts for members, the unemployed, and free admission for those under 18. Art exhibitions, including the acrylic paintings “Chocolat Show” by Jorge Ramirez, accompany the concerts and enrich the cultural experience. The Eden District Blues association also hosts a weekly radio show, “Du blues, rien que du blues!”, broadcast every Friday on Fréquence Mistral, extending the passion for blues far beyond the festival.