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Concerts of all genres at MIDEM 2006

Over 70 bands and artists will perform live in a series of concerts showcasing all genres of music at MIDEM’s 40th edition. The concerts take place in Cannes from the 22 – 26 January and are open to MIDEM participants and the general public.*

On 23 January, the 40th anniversary concert will feature pop/rock performances from Nizlopi, who have recently topped the UK charts, and Spanish phenomenon Bebe, nominated five times this year for the Latin Grammy Awards. Among the artists to have been chosen to perform live during the “British at MIDEM” showcase are Skye, the ex-lead singer of Morcheeba, who will present material from her new solo album and The Delays, who recently signed to the renowned independent record label Rough Trade. The opening night party “Come hear. Finland.” will stage no less than 14 artists to have emerged from the country’s dynamic music scene including the unique metal cellist sounds from Apocalyptica and the rock bands 69 Eyes and The Crash.

A special CQFD (Ceux Qu’il Faut Découvrir – Those You Must Discover) concert will be organised in association with reputed French rock-culture publication Les Inrockuptibles (creators of the competition), and co-organised by MIDEM, French rights organisation SACEM, the Ministry of Culture & Communication and the French Music Export Office. The event will feature performances from the previous CQFD award winners Syd Matters and Rhesus, and the 2006 prize-winner.

Urban music will be hot on the agenda during “British at MIDEM” with the latest sounds from the rap band Goldie Lookin’ Chain and the Steve Mason project, ex front-man of Beta Band, King Biscuit Time. On 24 January “MIDEM Buzz Bands 2006” hosted by Sonicbids, will highlight black music with artists Karlex, Beat Assailant, The Spectaculars, and Selasee, whose music was chosen during last year’s MIDEM to be featured in the soundtrack of the FIFA 2006 video game. Also strutting his stuff during the opening night party will be Finnish hip-hop MC rapper Redrama, who was attributed a 2005 European Border Breaker Award.

World music and traditional music will have their place during this 40th edition, with accordion player Kimmo Pohjonen kicking-off the festivities on 22 January with his Kimmo Pohjonen/Samuli Kosminen Kluster project during the opening night party. Other Finnish highlights include the polyphonic music of female singing trio Värttinä, who are signed up to Peter Gabriel’s Real World record label. Värttinä have also co-written the music to the “Lord of the Rings“ musical comedy, set to premiere worldwide in 2006. On 23 January Anglo-Indian Talvin Singh and new wave Cuban singer/guitarist Raul Paz are among the four artists who will entertain audiences during an exclusive anniversary concert organised in association with the Montreux Jazz Festival.

On the 23 and 24 January, the two Electronic Clubs will unite three of the industry’s finest: François Kevorkian, aka François K, producer and re-mixer of disco-house, recognised for his talent and work with Kraftwerk, Yazoo and Depeche Mode; DJ Pierre, pioneer of the acid-house sound; and Michael Mayer, whose label Kompakt, marks one of Germany’s leading specialists in minimal techno music. Other eagerly awaited performances to take place in the Electronic Clubs come from the extraordinary French DJ quartet Birdy Nam Nam, renowned for their amazing scratch and turntable techniques.

Embracing electronic music to the hilt, MIDEM participants will be able to attend various DJ sets during the opening night party, featuring Jori Hulkkonen, (from Laurent Garnier’s F Communications label), as well as techno DJ Darude. Jack de Marseille will round-up the Electro Happy Hours which take place every evening from 22 to 25 January. During the closing night party which has been organised in association with the record label Pschent, two major names in US house music Satoshi Tomiie and David Morales will take to the decks alongside artists from the French label.

And finally, “Come hear. Finland.” will also present an eclectic mix of jazzy sounds from the likes of the Don Johnson Big Band, Five Corners Quintet and RinneRadio, whilst Australian group Aronas will offer an alternative interpretation of “punk jazz” groove, during the “MIDEM Buzz Bands 2006”.



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