The arrival of the shepherds Allauch 24 December

For a traditional provençal start to Christmas make your way to Allauch on the border of Marseille to see the shepherds leading their sheep from the hills. It's a performance in Provençale by volunteers, though the sheep probably dont get a choice. If you're driving dont try to park in old village because that's where it all happens. You can also take part in midnight mass via a big screen outside the church, there's not room for everyone inside. It Starts at 10:30pm but get there early to avoid the traffic.

Christmas Art Fair 22 and 23 December

Still looking for that special present for someone? Fancy treating yourself? Just want a break? In the Gallery Hors-Les-Murs/HLM at 20 rue Saint Antoine (tram stop Place Sadi Carnot) the Christmas art fair continues until 6pm on Friday 23. If you're there at the end you can start your Christmas with a wee vin chaud. The fair is selling a variety of art work, books and original presents at reasonable prices. Everything on show comes from local galleries.

Christmas market with a difference 17 and 18 December

Still haven't found that ideal present? Why not try this market, you're sure to find something original. It's at Cours Julien (metro line 2 Notre Dame du Mont) Saturday and Sunday 17/18 December.

Benjamin Britten Carols at Christmas 16 December

The Chorale Feminin Hymnis, accompanied by Anne-Sophie Daupin on the harp, are performing the Ceremony of Carols at the Eglise Saint Barnabé, Place Caire (metro 1 next to Saint Barnabé station). It starts at 8:30 on Friday 16 December and it's free.

Setting the Panier alight - December 16

On Friday 16 December, there's a festival of light, starting at 5:30 at the Accoules Bell tower (behind the Hôtel de Ville), with a torchlight procession, lighting up the bell towers, fire-eaters, jugglers, fireworks and a concert in the Eglise Saint Laurent with the Angelos Chroale. What more could you wish for on a dark winters eve?

An evening of Jazz 8 December

At the Cri du Port, starting at 8:30pm Francesco Bearzatti, a gifted clarinet and saxophone player dedicates an evening to Duke Ellington,  and Exultet Trio (accordion, guitar and percussion) provide their very own version of hybrid jazz. Not to be missed. It costs 15€ (plus 1€ membership).

Francesco Bearzatti

Exultet Trio

Dance Performance at Le Merlan 8 December

As part of the modern dance festival Dansem, Nacera Belaza performs "Le Temps Scellé". With a dance style that is intense but also minimal, she tries to touch the spirit. Nacera Blaza works with her sister and other collaborators to provide a personal, memorable and moving performance. Details are on the Merlan Theatre website.

Nacera Belaza

Donkey Day 4 December

For children of all ages. In the village of Allauch, a day dedicated to donkeys, with rides, a procession of donkeys and a market. Details are on the village website.

Donkey Day

Yiddish Punk Cabaret Sunday 20 November

Or Eastern European Folk Rock, or Klezmer for the alienated. You decide how to describe it after hearing international cultural phenomenon Daniel Kahn and the Painted Bird at La Meson on Sunday 20 November at 8pm. Entry 10€.

Latest album Lost Causes

Massalia Orchestra 28 November

It's at the Opera Marseille but it's not opera. It's a group of singers who will sing chanson with a difference, a fusion of classical, opera, and jazz. Go along to hear new and original French chanson composed by Jean-Claude Roger. If you miss them in Marseille they are performing at the Grand Théâtre de Provence in Aix on 2 December.

You can reserve by contacting cultureplusprovence@gmail.com or telephoning 0770606980

National Ballet of Marseille 9 to 12 November

Three productions from the National Ballet of Marseille by three invited choreographers: Inverses - exploring alienation by Annabelle Lopez Ochda, Les nuits d'été by Thierry Malandan, based on six melodies for voice and piano by Berlioz, and The Birds by Jean-Christophe Paré, Director of the Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Danse de Marseille.
It costs 9-12€. You'll have to be quick to get tickets 9 and 10 November are sold out.
Tel. 04 91 327 327.

Live music 11 and 12 November

La Meson brings you two very different concerts. On Friday 11 November at 8pm Booster Echoplex concert, nu jazz/live looping. Booster, a child of funk and 70s groove produces a sound described as somewhere between jazz and electro-chic, with a collection of bizarre, including some home made, instruments. Entry 7€

Booster Echoplex Project

Saturday 12 November at 8pm, an acoustic soul concert with Gerald Toto and David Walters, two solo singer/guitarists performing together. The concert will include songs from Gerald Toto's recent album "Spring Fruits". Entry 10€

Gerald Toto

David Walters

Playing with Fire, November 4

Friday, 4th of November sees the opening of a video installation entitled "For whom, for what, do we burn?" (Pour qui, pour quoi, brûlons-nous ?) by Dominik Barbier at the Espace Culture - 42 La Canebière 13001 Marseille.

Men on Fire

Apparently, Dominik Barbier has always been fascinated by playing with fire - why not go along and give it a try, it starts at 18.00 and it is free.

Flamenco at La Meson 5 November

Music, food and dancing at La Meson: Tablao Flamenco with Paca Santiago. La Paca is performing at La Meson on Saturday 5 November 8pm. It costs 12€. It's a small venue so booking is recommended.

La Paca

Jazz Concerts 3 and 11 November

Two great jazz concerts at the Cri du Port, 12 euros (plus 1€ seasonal membership fee)

At 8:30 on 3 November Benjamin Faugloire Project, a trio (piano, drums, double bass) who got together in 2005. Now promoting their second album, The Diving.

Benjamin Faugloire

  

AT 8;30 on 10 November, Ping Machine, not a trio, more a big band with 13 members and a sound inspired by Darcy James, among others, moving between classic big band, swing and modern. They're promoting their new album, "des trucs pareils"released in September. Definitely worth a look (or listen).

Max Charloven exhibition at American Gallery until 3 November

The Max Charloven exhibition is at the American Gallery of Contemporary Art until Thursday 3 November. You are invited to the closure of the exhibition at 6pm at the gallery. If you'd like to go then (or before then) to see what Max Charloven has done in the gallery and the garden, the gallery contact details are here

The garden and inside the American Gallery

Marseille Cassis Classic 30 October

The Marseille/Cassis is a run with a difference, 10 kilometres up the Col de Gineste (327 metres climb) and 10 kilometres down to Cassis. It's too late to apply to participate but you can come and support the Marseille City of Culture team. It starts at 9:30 at the vélodrome in Marseille.

Marseille/Cassis 20k

Camille at Toursky Theatre 28 October

Camille, who performs a unique style of French chanson, is promoting her new album ILO VEYOU (no that's not a typo) at the Theatre Toursky, 8:30 on 28 October, 35€ a ticket, which is a bit expensive but worth it if you're looking for a change.

Camille

Experience Marseille Differently, Nocturnes 20 October

From 6pm to 10pm on 20 October the Quartiers des Antiquaires will welcome you to browse the antique and art shops. It's around rue Edmond Rostand (metro line 1 Prefecture) and you'll find little treasures like the one below at Studio 19.

Boxes Fall

Bad Manners in Marseille - October 23

Bad Manners

Not a comment on social etiquette, but on a visit to that great city by the cult British two-tone / Ska band from the 1980s - time to dig out those white socks and black loafers.

Bad Manners play Le Poste à Galène (103, rue Ferrari - 13005 Marseille) on 23rd October.  Doors open 20:00 and the concert starts at 21:00.  Tickets 18 € in advance, 20 € on the door.

The pleasure of using a wheelchair 14, 15 October

Not so much a performance, more an experiment. If you register by calling 04 42 18 19 88 you can join in a public event in Aubagne (buses to Aubagne from Castellane metro station). Accessibility is a problem in and around Marseille. The Tony Clifton circus' Mission Roosevelt is a different way of drawing attention to the problem. It's part of the Small is Beautiful season, details of which are on  our website.

This is the Tony Clifton Circus website.

Circus at the theatre Le Merlan 19 to 23 October

The Quebec circus performers "Les sept doigts de la main" (the seven fingers of the hand) are presenting PSY a performance about sanity and madness - as far as we can tell from the web site. Performances start at 8:30pm (apart from the Sunday which is at 3pm).

The theatre is not in the city centre but there are buses (navettes) that you can book at the same time as tickets (full price 20€). For more information see our website.

You can see a taster video and buy tickets on Le Merlan's website.

Jazz sur la Ville, Marseille 6 - 8 October

Jazz concerts organised by the Cri du Port.
Thursday 6 October 8:30 Nelson Veras Trio at the Cri du Port (8 rue du Pasteur Heuzé) with Nelson Veras (guitar) Thomas Morgan (double bass) and Stéphane Galland (drums). 10/12€ plus 1€ seasonal membership fee.

Friday 7 October 9pm Giovanni Mirabassi Trio at the Italian Cultural Centre (6 rue Fernand Pauriol) with Gianni Mirabassi (piano), Gianluca Renzi (double bass) and Lukmil Perez (drums)

Gianni Mirabassi, a disciple of the pianist Enrico Pieranunzi, describes himself as a sort of Michelangelo mixed with Bill Evans and Che Guevara. Imagine that! Or even better go along and find out. 10/12€

Saturday 8 October 4pm Marion Rampal, Paul Pioli and Pierre Fenichel Trio at the Merlan library (Centre Urbain du Merlan, Avenue Raimu 13014 Marseille). The trio pay hommage to Duke Ellington by interpreting, not only his great classics but also some rarer compositions such as those written for his religious music concerts. Entry free.

Art sale weekend 1 and 2 October

144 Marseille artists will be selling their work on the ground floor of Immeuble Communica,  2 place François Mireur (next to the Centre Bourse-metro line 1 Vieux Port). Go and browse, you might find just what you're looking for.

Esplanade Saint Charles 11,12,13 October

As part of Small is Beautiful, a series of events will take place on the esplanade and steps of Saint Charles station, including an installation based on skateboarding (8pm, 9pm and 10:30pm) and a visual and sound performance using marionnettes (continuous from 6:30pm).

New season at Cri du Port from 27 September

On 27 September at 7pm the Cri du Port reopens its doors with a mini concert by the duo Olivier Maurel and Maria Simoglou (piano, voice and percussion), followed by a performance based on Pathé newsreel from 1929 and 1930 and a buffet and music in the bar and patio. For details of how to get there go to the music venues in Marseille page on our website.

Kabbalah at La Mesón on 23rd September

Kabbalah are playing at the (re)opening of La Mesón on Friday 23rd September.  Yiddish/Klezmer music meets Marseille Culture - not to be missed.

See our web site for details of where to find La Mesón.

Open Brocante on Sundays

Sunday is Open Brocante day in rue Edmond Rostand. Lots of the antique and art shops display their wares in the open air, like the picture above on display at Studio 19.

Heritage weekend 17-18 September

This weekend 17-18 September is heritage weekend. Lots of museums and otherwise private places will be open to the public, so go out and take a look.