Souillac en Jazz - Sim Copans

Half a century of jazz in the Lot

The adventure began in February 1975, when Sim Copans, an iconic figure of jazz on French radio, gave a lecture in Souillac titled "From the Slave Coast to Salle Pleyel." Enthusiastic, three pioneers — Patrick Cazals, Jean-Pierre Rodrigo, and Jean-Pierre Rohic — rallied a group of enthusiasts and organized the first edition of the festival on July 9, 10, and 11, 1976. The association was named Sim Copans in 1985, and the festival adopted the name "Souillac en Jazz" in 1991.

A festival with two faces

Souillac en Jazz is distinguished by its dual programming. The Festival In offers paid evening concerts on Place Pierre Betz, in front of the Romanesque abbey, featuring internationally renowned artists. The Festival Off provides about forty hours of free concerts in the streets, squares, parks, and surrounding villages, making jazz accessible to all audiences.

Iconic venues

The festival takes over remarkable sites in the Lot heritage:

• Place Pierre Betz: main outdoor stage in front of the Sainte-Marie Abbey
• Parc de l'Abbé P. Fayret and Parc Delmas: free daytime concerts
• Grottes de Lacave: concerts in a unique underground setting
• Église de Calès and the village of Pinsac: relocated concerts

The legacy of Sim Copans

Simon Copans, known as Sim Copans (1912-2000), was a French-American academic and radio host. From 1944 to 1975, he popularized American jazz in France through cult shows like *Panorama du Jazz Américain* and *Jazz en Liberté*. As the festival's artistic advisor from 1976 to 2000, and then president of the association from 1988, he profoundly shaped the festival's identity until his passing.

A 100% volunteer festival

Souillac en Jazz holds a unique place in the French festival scene due to its entirely volunteer-run operation. The association, chaired by Robert Peyrillou, who also serves as artistic director, relies on a board of about twenty members and numerous volunteers engaged throughout the year. This human and associative dimension gives the festival an authenticity and conviviality that builds a loyal and growing audience.

Eclectic and demanding programming

True to Sim Copans' spirit, the programming embraces the full diversity of jazz: swing, bebop, contemporary jazz, fusion jazz, world jazz. Over the decades, the festival has hosted leading artists such as Cécile McLorin Salvant, Steve Coleman, Daniel Humair, Louis Sclavis, Erik Truffaz, Youn Sun Nah, and Émile Parisien. Educational workshops, film screenings, exhibitions, and musical hikes complement each edition.