Trans Musicales At 30

Organisers of the Trans Musicales Festival in Rennes will hope this year’s lineup turns out to have a Kaiser Chiefs or a Razorlight, as the event celebrates 30 years of discovering happening new acts.

Both acts played the 2006 gathering, although the festival is known for finding talent, as Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, The Thrills, Kasabian, Coldcut, Kaizers Orchestra and The Rakes have played there in the last five years.

Festival press officer Céline Lugué said Transmusicales is becoming even cosmopolitan in its search for stars as the Dec. 3-6 lineup has 90 acts from 30 countries.

The festival also gives a break to international acts that haven’t found France among their best territories, including Primal Scream, Beastie Boys, Calexico, Kraftwerk, Dizzee Rascal and Audio Bullys.

Eighteen acts are from the U.K., including We Have Band, which has enjoyed positive press from NME and the Guardian.
U.S. acts include White Rabbits, The Glitch Mob, The Residents, The Black Angels, and Professor Murder.
 

Miss Platnum, the Romanian-born singer who represented Germany in this year’s European Talent Exchange (ETEP) and picked up five festival shows including Denmark’s Roskilde, could be one of the highlights of the first day.

There’s also a strong local contingency including a local Rennes act called The Wankin’ Noodles.

The festival takes place in three venues in the city’s Parc Expo and five neighbouring venues.