Babel Med World Music Concerts 21 to 23 March

Babel Med brings together music professionals, performers and the general public over three days and three nights at the Dock des Suds.  There will be four stages, 36 concerts and 190 artists from around the world.

Among the 11 performances on Thursday you can see the Tajik-Israeli Alaev Family, Spanish percussion orchestra Coetus, and Du Bartas with their traditional music from the Languedoc.

On Friday there are 13 acts including Afro-European Jazz from Ablaye Cissoko and Volker Goetze, Congolese Rumba with Black Bazar and a "brilliant musical stroll along the shores of the Bosphorus" with the Turkish Taksim Trio. 

On Saturday, 12 acts including Hoba Hoba Spirit "Moroccan Rage, rock from Casa", Rosapaeda from Southern Italy and Tiloun from La Réunion.

Tickets cost 15€ per night or you can get a 3 night pass (exclusively from FNAC) for 35€, which we think is a bargain price for so much quality and variety. For practical information in English about tickets and how to get there visit the Dock des Suds website.

A Weekend of music with Malik Ziad 18 - 20 January

La Meson has given carte blanche to Malik Ziad this weekend. He will perform Friday, Saturday and Sunday with different groups of musicians and different instruments. Malik Ziad was born in Algeria and likes to share his passion for traditional music using traditional instruments. He manages to mix music from North Africa, Brittany and Provence to produce his own particular style.

To get you moving, the first part of each evening is hosted by Big Buddha, a fine artist/DJ with an ear for creating great music mixes.

For a weekend of world music, this is the place to be. Each concert starts at 8pm and costs 10€

New Year Concert 6 January 2013

Looking for some entertainment before the big Capital of Culture opening weekend? This concert will offer a varied mixture of popular and classical music to start the new year. It's at the Basilica Sacré Coeur on the Prado (No 81, near metro Perier). It starts at 4pm and it costs 10€ (free for under 13s).

The performance includes extracts from Haydn's Creation, Tchaikovski's Nutcracker suite, Bach's Magnificat, The Merry Widow and West Side Story. The singers are Murielle Tomao and Jean Christophe Born, with Christophe Guida playing the organ.

Festa Occitana at La Meson 10 and 11 November

Two concerts at La Meson this weekend.
On Saturday 10th it's d'Aqui Dub, their website says:

"Founded in 2001, D'aqui dub has had a long life, chaotic, voyaging. It drains and reincarnates, explores, experiences… even reinvents catalepsy… And is re-founded once again to propose No Specific Time."

It's a sort of Balkan meets Occitan sound and that man Arnaud Froment has a fine gravelly voice.

On Sunday Un Homme a Traversé le Monde
In contrast to Saturday, this is a performance by Renat Sette of his composition based on the poetry of Serge Bec. He is accompanied by Diego Lubrano on guitar, Patrick Ferné on double bass and Aurélie Lombard on accordion.

Both concerts start at 8pm and cost 10€ (plus 3€ seasonal membership if you haven't joined already)

Concert of Egyptian Music 26 October

The Archives and Library Gaston Defferre (18-20 rue Mirès) has exhibitions and events all about Egypt running from October to December. On 26 October there is a concert of classical and improvised Egyptian music, described as deep and meditative, with Oud and Flute. The perfomance is by Hazem Shaheen (Oud) and Naïssam Jalal (Flute).

It starts at 7pm and entry is free. If you miss it, the exhibition of photographs: Egypt, clear and obscure, continues until 22 December.

Photo from www.rencontresaverroes.net

Marsatac 27-29 September

Three stages and non stop music from 8:45pm until 6am at the Dock des Suds. On the programme, hip-hop, electro, folk and pop with, amongst others, Spoek Mathambo, Mix Up Maroc, Mina May and Stuck in the Sound.

If you book via the Marsatac website, tickets are 26-28€ for one night, 50€ for two nights and 68€ for all three. If you just turn up it will cost 33€ a night. Enjoy!

Barrio Chino at the Dock des Suds 21 September

For 20 years Barrio Chino have been creating their version of world music, mixing Catalonian Rumba with Cuban, Algerian, European and American styles. To celebrate their 20th year they are touring France and the world, starting at the Dock des Suds in Marseille. Catch them while you can, it may be some time before they're here again.

It starts at 7:30pm and it costs 11€.

Music by the sea 7 - 9 September

The company La Rumeur has collected together musicians and seafood sellers to entertain you at the Plages de Corbières, L'Estaque. On the programme:

• Friday 7 September at 8:30pm « Lyrico déjanté » Cathy Heiting & Jonathan Soucasse La fanfare « Gershwin & Fire » from the Company La Rumeur.
• Saturday 8 September at 8:30pm « Fantaisiste » Pierre-Yves Plat [classical & jazz ] | Fanfare Fiera Brass [1930s New Orleans jazz].
• Sunday 9 September from 4pm - « en famille » with practical art workshops. 

For more information: 04 91 84 31 68 - 06 68 51 44 55  - www.larumeur.eu -  compagnielarumeur@gmail.com

Yusa and Lizzy Parks perform by the sea 14 August

The open air amphitheatre by the sea, Théâtre Silvain (Bus 83 to Fausse Monnaie), finishes its summer season on 14 August with a concert by Yusa and Lizzy Parks. Yusa is a Cuban singer/song writer, often compared to Tracy Chapman for her style of bitter sweet compositions. She won the BBC World Music awards for best newcomer and best Latin American performer. She plays guitar, keyboard and percussion mastering funk, rap, jazz and soul styles.

Lizzy Parks is the new discovery of the British label Tru Thoughts. She has a voice that will "transport you to unexplored places".

Yusa

The venue is open 6pm to 11pm. Tickets cost 10€ (free for under 18s) and you can buy them in advance from digitick. You can take a picnic and/or try the tapas and cocktails that are on offer.

Rare Concert at Notre Dame de la Garde 11 August

Concerts in Notre Dame de la Garde don't happen very often so make the most of it.

At 8pm on Saturday 11 August the Swiss bi-lingual boys' choir La Maîtrise des Petits Chanteurs de Fribourg will be perfoming pieces by J S Bach, Gounod and Scarlatti. Entry is free.

Maîtrise de Fribourg

Jazz to start the weekend, 3 August

In concert at the Latté on Friday evening, Mariannick Saint-Céran, Paul Pioli and Hubert Rousselet. Mariannick, Réunionaise born in Madagascar, will be perfoming songs from her first album along with tributes to the great divas of jazz and a little bit of Bossa Nova.

Mariannick Saint-Céran, photo by François Guinard

The Latté is a restaurant, tea shop and music club in the Panier, 16 rue Echêvé. The concert is at 9pm on Friday 3 August. A fine start to the weekend.

Ahmad Compaore Trio 13 July

This is one of a series of events taking place at the Théâtre Silvain, an open air amphitheatre just above the Corniche (Anse de Fausse Monnaie - take the 83 bus to Fausse Monnaie and walk up the steps). Go along to see the drummer, percussionist and composer Ahmad Compaoré, performing with Jeff Kellner (guitar), Sylvain Terminiello (double bass)  and special guest Christophe LeLiol (bugle and trumpet).   It starts at 9pm and it's free.

Ahmad Compaoré

There is also a projection of the 1969 Egyptian film, by Shadi Abdel Salam, La Momie (The Mummy).

Roberto Alagna sings at Villeneuve-Bargemon 7 July

If you're near the Vieux Port this evening there's an operatic concert featuring Franco-Italian tenor Roberto Alagna and the Philharmonic Orchestra of Marseille. It's in the open air at Esplanade Villeneuve-Bargemon, next to the Hôtel de Ville. It starts around 8:30 and it's free.

Roberto Alagna

There is also, throughout July, an exhibition of calligraphy in the Espace Villeneuve-Bargemon supported by Marseille Esperance.

Mimi Festival Îles de Frioul 6-8 July

Take a trip (or two) to the Îles de Frioul this weekend to listen to the music and soak up the atmosphere of the islands. There are concerts galore, guided walks and a cookery workshop to help you prepare your concert picnic. It's all organised by AMI (Aide aux Musiques Innovatirces) and artists performing include Blurt from the UK, Orchestra of Spheres from New Zealand and, a world premiere outside Vanatu (Nouvelle Calédonie) for the Peirua String Band. Details in French and English on the AMI/MIMI website.

You can buy a three day ticket in advance for 49€ (concert and ferry crossing) through digtick, you can buy day tickets in advance for 19.99 from digitick Carrefour and FNAC, or you can buy tickets on the day for 25€ at the Vieux Port. If you have mobility problems ring the advance booking office for advice +33(0)4 95 04 95 50.  

Wild camping is prohibited on the islands.

Fête de la Musique 21 June

This year the fête de la musique is celebrating 50 years of pop music. If you venture outdoors on the evening of 21 June you will come across music, in the street, in the cafés and bars and parks and on the beach.  There is too much going on the list it all. Dont worry it's not all pop music.

Here is a taster of what's on offer.

9pm at Théâtre Silvain (an open air amphitheatre above the Corniche, bus 83 to stop Fausse Monnaie)  Concert by the Orchestra of Avignon Provence playing Strauss, Brahms, Mozart, Messager and many more.

9pm at Le Poste à Galène (103 rue Ferrari 13005) 100% pop rock Marseillais: The Magnets, The Last and Bird in Shell. Entry free.

9pm at Palais Longchamp the group Big Band, 17 musicians from the orchestra of the national conservatoire will perform some jazz classics.

Omri Mor Trio at Cri du Port 7 June

Go along to the Cri du Port to see jazz pianist Omri Mor playing with Nenad Vasilic (double bass) and Karim Ziad (drums). The trio played to unanimous acclaim at the 21st Tel Aviv Jazz Festival. Omri Mor has been playing the piano since he was 7 years old and his experience of classical, latin and afro-cuban music all contributes to his particular jazz style. A pleasant way to spend a Thursday evening.

The concert starts at 8:30 and costs 10/12€ plus 1€ seasonal membership.

Omri Mor, courtesy Cri du Port website.

Classical Persian Music 12 May

As part of the second Indo-Persian Festival, which runs until 31 May, Shadi Fathi and Djamshid Chemirani will give a performance of classical Persian music at the Auditorium, Cité de la Musique 16 rue Bernard du Bois. The concert starts at 8:30pm on 12 May and costs 14/16€.

There will be Indian food available and there is a free children's workshop at 3:30. How can you resist?

Festival of Contemporary Music, featuring the work of John Cage

From 9 to 19 May in various venues around Marseille you can hear and see performances of contemporary and experimental music and dance. The festival is organised by the Centre Nationale de Création Musicale (GMEM), and includes a sound installation on the roof of the Friche de la Belle de Mai, concerts to celebrate the centenary of American composer John Cage's birth and lots more. In all 27 events, 70 works, 40 composers, 9 new creations, 9 groups and orchestras, dance, video and a good time to be had by all.

Each event costs 6€ and the programme, with details of locations, is on the GMEM website

Brazilian Rhythms 21 April

Soak up some Brazilian rhythms with a touch of funk/jazz/reggae at el Ache de Cuba (108 Cours Julien, metro Notre Dame du Mont). Featuring Alexandro Manno (singing and percussion) and Marc Buccafuri (guitar). A little bit of Brazilian fiesta in the middle of Marseille.

Entry 5€ (plus small membership fee).

Luigi & Pascuale Grasso Quartet 12 April

The Cri du Port in collaboration with the Italian Cultural Institute presents a concert by a quartet with two virtuoso Italian saxophonists. Described as an Italo-Franco-American quartet brought together by a love of be-bop. Their repertoire includes some of the standards by the greats, Charlie Parker, Theolonius Monk, Bud Powell.

8:30 at the Cri du Port. Entry 12€ 

Luigi and Pascuale Grasso Quartet