Music

Luthiers in Nice repair five- or six-figure violins and cellos

In a Nice workshop, two trained luthiers are busy helping musicians produce their best performances

French researchers revive Gaulish instrument from 300BC

The percussion lance was discovered in a tomb in Seine-Saint-Denis

US producer Quincy Jones dies age 91: His long love affair with France

The legendary musician lived and studied in France and maintained links with French artists and producers throughout this life

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I joined a rock band in France

Alan Kennedy-Bolam, 75, credits joining a ‘Franglais’-speaking group with helping him integrate and stay fit

‘Like losing a limb’: French musician’s appeal for stolen cello

The instrument is worth €1.3m, but the cellist has said her appeal is not about the ‘commercial value’

World’s largest Celtic festival is in full swing in Brittany

Plus, discover some Breton words in celebration of France’s huge ‘Interceltic’ festival

French conductor Zahia Ziouani fights inequality with classical music

The award-winning conductor talks about beating ‘boys club’ attitudes and film about her life. She recently headed the orchestra which performed at the closing ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Singer Goldman composes new song for a school play in France

French pop legend responds to teacher's request for a song for play about importance of Republican values in World War Two in Vénissieux (Rhône)

French heavy metal music festival launches kids spin-off

Organisers hope special event at Hellfest will inspire interest in the genre for 'the younger generation'

Paul McCartney announces two concerts in France at end of 2024

The events will form part of the Got Back tour which began in 2022

French music legend Françoise Hardy dies at age of 80

The sixties singer was named as one of the best 200 singers of all-time by US magazine Rolling Stone

Historic ‘The Who’ bass guitar on auction in Lyon today

John Entwistle’s bass, which is estimated to fetch around €15,000, was named following a heavy drinking session

One of France’s main music festivals at risk of closure

‘If nothing changes the 2024 edition could be the last’ say organisers of Les Vieilles Charrues

6 songs to capture the rhythms of the French language

Work on your French ear by singing along if you can!

Musical festivals in France in 2024: who is playing and when

Make sure to add these dates to your diary

Whistling folk singer Roger Whittaker dies at French home

The singer sold nearly 50 million albums worldwide. The 1969 song Durham Town is among his well-known hits

Interview with Ibrahim Maalouf: ‘I compose what comes from my heart’

The Lebanese-born French trumpeter tells us of his influences, collaborations and why he preaches the message of love

10 French songs that have sparked debate over the years

As one of France’s all-time hits is criticised for its right-wing tone, we look at other contested songs

Beethoven's ‘skull parts’, found in France, returned to Austria

The bone fragments will now be studied in a bid to shed light on the composer’s multiple health conditions

French choral revival hits all the right notes

The coronation of King Charles III highlighted the rich choral music tradition in the UK

Meet British singer-songwriter Terry Scott Jr, based in Normandy

He got his big break in 1970 playing in front of 600,000 people at the Isle of Wight festival

‘I played bad classical music because the male composer was famous’

We speak to a French cellist about her lifelong quest to put a spotlight on forgotten female musicians

Tina Turner had several links with France: here are five

Her connections with France included owning a villa near Nice

These 10 songs can help you improve your French

Listening to music is a good way to work on your French without even trying

‘Volunteering at French jazz festival was exhausting and exhilarating’

A behind the scenes look at the ups and downs of being an event volunteer in France

Drought measures, fuel prices, FIFA awards: The week ahead in France

This week (February 27-March 5) also sees the start of the Paris-Nice cycling race and the 40th anniversary of the death of iconic Tintin creator Hergé

Why Paris metro busking can be a career springboard for musicians

We talk to two buskers about why they do it – and how much they earn

Deaf people in France enjoy music concerts thanks to vibrating vests

The goal is for those who are hearing-impaired to join in with everybody else, says an association which supplies the vests for events

French website allows you to split the cost of subscriptions

You can share the cost of Spotify, Disney+, Canal+ and many more platforms between friends thanks to the service offered by this French start-up

Visionary rock opera Starmania is back and on tour around France

The hit show – which is full of popular tunes – was loved in the 1980s to 90s but its themes are still very relevant today

Four albums recorded in France and one song that should have been

We look at which bands used French recording studios and the most French sounding song recorded in London

‘Se mettre au diapason’: Our French expression of the week

We look at a musical expression related to the idea of being in tune with another person or a certain situation

August 15: What’s coming up this week ahead in France?

A public holiday, increased funding for electric bikes, a surfing competition, a classical music festival and more

What’s coming up this week in France (July 11)?

Temperatures of up to 40C, celebrations for the Fête Nationale, two top music festivals and more

VIDEO: Pianist delayed by train strike puts on fun concert in Nice

Mario Galli plays with his feet and knees as well as his hands on the station’s free-to-use piano

La Fête de la musique turns 40: events planned around France

Over the years, the festival has grown increasingly popular. We look at how to find concerts near you

Bowie bassist’s chance collaboration with French music star next door

When Gail Ann Dorsey moved to Paris to be near her partner as Covid hit she had no idea her flat hunt would lead to French rock royalty’s doorstep

Oscar-winning legendary Greek composer Vangelis dies in France

The global artist whose creations include the iconic music for the films Chariots of Fire and Blade Runner had an apartment in Paris

'The end of Oasis' smashed guitar sells for six figures in France

The Gibson ES-355 was broken during a fight between brothers Noel and Liam Gallagher minutes before a concert. The fight led to Oasis' break up

Rolling Stones tease European tour with French dates to be announced

The British rock band is celebrating 60 years together and will come to France this summer, with Paris and/or Lyon the most likely destinations

Paris classed ‘world’s third most musical city’ in new ranking

Study looked at the influence of famous musicians, the number of music schools, record labels, music shops, and frequency of world tours

Elton John, Bowie, Queen: many A-list stars have recorded in France

Hits such as (in part) Pink Floyd’s The Wall and the Bee Gees’ Saturday Night Fever were born at the iconic music studios Le Château d’Hérouville or Super Bear

From poverty to glory: Life of legendary French singer Edith Piaf

With little education and no music tuition, she became an international star and the sound of a post-war generation

Brad Pitt to revive legendary music studio based in his French chateau

Big names such as AC/DC and Sting have recorded at Miraval Studios in the past. Damien Quintard, who Pitt has asked to manage the studio, tells us about the project

Meet the shamanic (spiritual) drum maker in Dorodgne

Only five percussion makers exist in the entire country, according to the Institut National des Métiers d’Art, and Louisa Vinciarelli thinks she is the only one who makes her instruments from scratch

French tetraplegic DJ creates Paralympics closing music with eyes only

DJ, rapper and music composer Pone said he ‘couldn’t say no’ when he was invited to create the dance-style mix for the Tokyo closing ceremony

US-born French icon Josephine Baker to enter France’s Pantheon

The legendary performer will become the first black woman to enter the mausoleum, in recognition of her historic role as a singer, dancer, activist, and World War Two Resistance agent

Woodkid to perform special song at Olympic handover ceremony in Paris

Yoann Lemoine, who also goes by the name ‘Woodkid’, has previously worked on videos for the Paris 2024 Olympic bid and collaborated with Katy Perry and Taylor Swift

Vibrating vests let hearing-impaired feel music at concerts in France

Devices designed to enhance sensation for gamers now being used to allow the hard of hearing to enjoy music by feeling the rhythm instead

Orchestra’s touring hassles only start for UK musicians after Brexit

The London Symphony Orchestra has made it to the Aix-en-Provence festival. It is a rare glimmer of hope in the otherwise grim post-Brexit world British musicians face if they want to play in Europe

Pianos to return to French train stations with 50-player concert

The instruments have been silent in SNCF stations since the pandemic but their reinstatement will be heralded with a nationwide event on Thursday July 1

Tetraplegic French rapper releases new album composed with his eyes

The new ‘mini-album’ record by Pone will raise money to help people like him – who require tracheotomy operations to survive – to receive care at home

Fête de la musique: What you can and cannot do this year

The national music festival, which started in 1982, takes place today with thousands of concerts planned. We look at the rules in place due to the Covid-19 pandemic

I was one of the 5,000 at France’s first indoor concert since Covid

The Indochine concert in Paris was a medical trial to test whether large-scale indoor events can be held safely. Joanna York was among the 5,000 attendees to experience the historical event

Charity replaces French retiree's loved piano destroyed by Storm Alex

Joy as new instrument is delivered to village hit by severe weather in October

Fans celebrate France’s highest-ever score at Eurovision

Barbara Pravi’s performance saw the country come second overall, with its best result in 30 years, prompting fans - including President Macron - to celebrate the almost-victory

Masks and 23:00 curfew for France’s June 21 Fête de la musique

The annual event sees musicians take to the streets to offer free and often spontaneous concerts

French astronaut Thomas Pesquet launches new Coldplay song from space

The band watched on a live video link as the zero-gravity Frenchman floated in the space station, showed them a view of Earth - and hit play on the new single

Instrument played by Leonardo da Vinci returns to his French chateau

The arm lyre is known to have been played and loved by the Italian polymath, and is one of the instruments played in a new concert at his former Clos Lucé home

Meet the organ maker whose projects contain up to 500,000 parts

Etienne Fouss built his first organ at 24 and is one of around 40 makers in France who make instruments from start to finish

Covid France: Musicians perform for public via open windows

Musicians in a town in southwest France took part in a concert from neighbouring buildings this weekend, with residents saying the event gave them ‘hope’

Musicians beat venue ban with mini-gigs at homes in Toulouse

Book a private concert and the musician will come to your home or garden and play for you or a small group while respecting Covid-19 health measures

Opinion: Brexit will make musicians’ lives harder

Reader Irene Babinet, 84, from La Rochelle whose pacs partner Tony Bell has been a bass player for many years, writes for Connexion about how Brexit is set to create complications for musicians.

‘British music will die’ as touring difficult after Brexit

The end of EU free movement for British citizens post-Brexit means that British artists face visas, work permits and more for EU touring

Serge Gainsbourg dominates airwaves 30 years after his death

The French singer-songwriter died 30 years ago today, leaving behind a controversial but impactful legacy… and the ashes of a Ff500 note

Daft Punk, French dance music duo, splits after 28 years

The two friends from Paris - now global icons of house and electronic music - announced their split via video

First music from prehistoric French shell in 17,000 years

A prehistoric conch shell found in southwest France had been deliberately crafted into a horn-like instrument - and it still works

Aveyron is home to the world’s biggest bagpipe collection

Maison de la Cabrette in the French village of Cantoin has over one hundred instruments on display, each with its own story to tell

British violinist’s concerts a thanks for French cancer care

A former first violinist for the London Symphony Orchestra is holding free nightly concerts in the French village where he lives in the run up to Christmas as a tribute to the country’s medical services

Meet the maker of the 'world’s smallest accordion'

When professional accordionist Stéphane Bonifassi could not find an instrument on the market that suited him 23 years ago, he started making his own

French bells entertain town in coronavirus lockdown

Respecting social distancing guidelines is definitely not a problem for musician Jacques Martel

Events in France this month: art, nature and music festivals

Discover the events not to miss in France this September.

Hang phone cable from window to help the homeless

People in towns and cities with windows facing the street have been asked to leave a plug extension lead dangling from a window – ground or first floor only – to help homeless people recharge their mobiles.

What's on(line): films, music, gallery tours & more

A round up of the arts and culture stories creating a buzz in France.

A beginner's guide to popular French music for 2020

Brave a maligned music scene with our guide. It's better than you think...