Aires Libres is a free, multidisciplinary music festival created in 2005 in
Marseille (
France) by the French collective "A L'unisson". Inspired from
Les Siestes Electroniques, "Sous la Plage" and" Pelouses électroniques", three events created in
Toulouse and
Paris two years ago. Aires Libres’s main goal is to showcase
electronic music outdoor, and promote various cultural activities for children and their families through visual art and several artistic workshops. Access is free and most Aires Libres events take place in the Summer touring various places with a significant historical heritage in the French department of
Provence.
Concept
Aires Libres recreates an attractive spacetime continuum to listen to music in sheer nature with family and friends.
Aires Libres events pursue the following goals:
To introduce innovating musical and visual art forms
To introduce artistic activities to both children and their families
To preserve social linkage and nature proximity through the discovery of exceptional sights situated near large cities
To Increase public awareness concerning ecological issues and
sustainable development in a natural environment
Beyond its music programming, Aires Libres’ originality lies in two different perspectives:
Prioritizing the tastes and interests of children and their families.
2007: Aire Libre is held out of the city for the first time at l'Etang des Aulnes (
Saint-Martin-de-Crau -13)- a massive lawn nearby a pond in les Domaines Départementaux with the collaboration of Conseil général des
Bouches-du-Rhône. Format being reduced to a day period (12h-20h). Invitation at Sous la Plage festival-
Paris.
2008: First touring season in Provence, with two major dates right before summer
Mont Sainte-Victoire-Domaine de Roques-Hautes (
Le Tholonet) early June, St Pons forest in
GémenosSainte-Baume-mountain, in September.
2009: 5th year and second touring season, the festival is now maturing and solidifying. Aires Libres gets back to two prestigious natural sites: the
Mont Sainte-Victoire-Domaine de Roques-Hautes à ( 7 June -Le Tholonet), and l'Etang des Aulnes à
Saint-Martin-de-Crau, (6 September). First dates in the
Hautes-Alpes mountain
Embrun (19 July), invitation @ festival Transhumance in
Briançon (22 August - cité
Vauban).
2010: Aires Libres will choose a single and major date on 5 September at the Domaine Departemental de l’Etang des Aulnes (
Saint-Martin-de-Crau). Almost 6,000 people attended the 2010 concert.
2011: Back in Marseille, in
Palais Longchamp, with
Marsatac festival on the same week-end (2 October)
2012: previewed in
Palais Longchamp,on 30 September, but festival canceled due to rain
Aires Libres is produced and organized by R2 (
Marseille-
Provence). Its founding members (Sébastien Manya, Hervé Lucien, Paul Santoni) are still at the head of the project, except for Yann Quélennec, a music journalist who died on 1 December 2005.
Aires Libres has now official sponsorship from French institutions including the Conseil général des
Bouches-du-Rhône, Conseil régional de
Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (Department Council), the Sessùn clothes brand and
Red Bull Music Academy.
The
environmental management of the festival is also supported by ADEME.
Past acts
2005: Spleen, « DJ $olal » (Philippe Cohen-Solal:
Gotan Project ), AsWeFall, Erik Rug, DJ Oil, D-ED, DIRTY Sound System
2006:
Uffie & Feadz,
Murcof, Lawrence, Âme, James Taylor
Swayzak, Patrice Tassy vs Manudub, Hazaak, D-ED, L'Amateur, Sundae, Paul
2007:
Pantha du Prince, David Walters, Jacen Solo, Paul, 9th cloud,DIRTY sound System
2008:
Fairmont, Kelpe, Clara Moto,
Pilooski, Alif Tree, Krikor, Double U, Sundae, Popa Anca, Paul, Hauschka, Philippe Petit, DIRTY Sound System, DJ Oil, Eva Revox, Patrice Tassy, D-ED, Alcaline, A1 Sound System, Eva Peel.
2009: Padded Cell, Etienne Jaumet (
Zombie Zombie),
Maurice Fulton, Baris K, Mondkopf, Kantes, Sundae, Paul, L'amateur, Dimitri plays, Oh tiger Mountain, The FKClub, Likan, Fred Berthet-Dj Steef, Girlz inthegararge,DIRTY soundsystem,
2010: Âme, Tim Sweeney, Mekanik Kantatik, Kid Francescoli, Paul, L'Amateur, Marabout Fonk System
Music:Initiation to Dj mix (Mimi)Computerized music– (Emaho),
Circuit bending (Confipop), Retro Gaming (Archeopterix),Vintage
synthesizers workshop (Etienne Jaumet)...
Visual arts: Wall drawing for children design by (Studioburo), Caly and preliminary sculpture (modelling) (Matière à faire), "Métrobidule" (train ticket bending)(Mattsatsat), picture for colouring (Underten)...
Visual art installation,
Land art: Kakemonos (Charles), "Panoramiques" (Sundae),"Art-en-ciel & tourneseul",
Ikebana...
Environment: Guided visits of the sights, donkey rides, cycling activities, Increase of public’s awareness towards environment, dedicated workshops (
WWF)...