greynomad

Has anyone experienced any fun venues, pubs, cafes etc in Brittany where you can hear traditional Breton/Celtic music playing? I will be there for 10 days later this month and would love to hear some. Does this happen frequently as in Irish pubs? We will be doing a lot of unplanned "wandering" in Brittany, so comments on any town or area would be welcome. I know in August there are a couple of big music festivals but we won't be there for them unfortunately.

FrenchMystiqueTours

I don't know about indoor venues but what you probably want to experience is what is called a Fest-Noz. These are outdoor festivals that are held all over Brittany that range in size from a few hundred to a few thousand people. Traditional Breton music is played and people dance together doing traditional steps. Some are more lively, larger and more elaborate than others. I've been to several and they are a lot of fun. To find the location of a Fest-Noz there is a website you can search at this link:

http://www.fest-noz.net/index.php?yezh=2&petra=

greynomad

Thanks FMT but I accessed the site and it only does to 2010.
I'll google Fest-Noz and see what comes up.

greynomad

ttt

Padraig

I have never come across spontaneous performances of Breton music in bars or cafés. The Bretons, like the French generally, do not have a pub culture akin to the Irish one.

The further west you go in Brittany, the greater the likelihood that you will be able to find a Fest-Noz or a local festival where Breton music features.

greynomad

Thank you all. I appreciate your input.

FrenchMystiqueTours

That's a shame they haven't updated that website. The only other suggestion I can make is to check with the local tourist office for wherever you are and ask in person. They'll probably know about any fest-noz or other festivals in their region. Good luck.