Rock, jazz, French and international music, hip hop and classical music festivals are just some of the events taking place during the cultural season in Boulonnais. Here are some of the most important festivals which you should go to.
The Mid-Summer Festival (end of June)
What is the best way to celebrate summer in style? Why not by dreaming and letting yourself be carried away by music?! Every year, in the superb setting of Hardelot château and its Elizabethan theatre, the Mid-Summer Festival celebrates Franco-British relations with spectacular events based around Baroque music. Over a fortnight, concerts as well as theatre performances, dance and opera animate this majestic site.
Festival de la Côte d’Opale (July)
This is an unmissable summer event for all music lovers. The Festival de la Côte d’Opale is delightfully eclectic and every July guarantees a wonderful musical experience with dozens of concerts held in the most beautiful places in Boulonnais, from Boulogne-sur-Mer, to Le Portal, Hardelot and even Outreau. The Festival de la Côte d'Opale explores French music in all its diversity with a combination of well-known artists currently working in the music industry together with local and regional talent. It is an event which all generations enjoy.
The Festival d'Hardelot (July)
The Festival d'Hardelot aims to make classical music known and appreciated, and show that music helps an individual to grow. A wonderful series of concerts are scheduled for July which combine classical music and jazz in iconic venues across the resort. These concerts are exceptional in their quality and uniqueness. Internationally renowned artists perform pieces by the greatest composers, including Mozart, Bach, Schubert, Ravel, Purcell and Wagner/Liszt, etc.
The Poulpaphone (September)
The Poulpaphone is an eclectic festival of contemporary, cutting-edge music and is the event of the back-to-school season in Boulonnais. Rock, electro, hip hop, doom metal, pop, etc. - the style does not matter as long as it is creative. Over two days, the two stages on the Garromanche site in Outreau work in tandem, providing a space for local, regional and internally renowned artists to perform.
Tendances Jazz (November)
‘What we play is life’ said Louis Armstrong. After a short while at Tendances Jazz, you understand where he was coming from! This great jazz festival in November sets the Boulonnais coast alight during three fantastic events. Concerts, meetings and master classes on the subject of jazz and blues take place with fantastic regional, national and even international headliners.
Intramurock (November)
Since 1991, the Intramurock association has promoted contemporary music and encouraged artistic expression in all its forms on the Côte d’Opale, and more precisely in Boulonnais. Every year, over one weekend in November, it holds a great festival in La Faïencerie in Boulogne-sur-Mer where it presents the best local, regional and international music. Not to be missed!
