The three fabulous free concert evenings,* a festival in themselves, are among the most eagerly-awaited events for the Le Mans 24-Hours spectators. The two practice evenings, Wednesday and Thursday, will hum to the rhythms of Amir’s captivating music, the French revelation of 2016, the pounding beat of the Celtic Social Club, and on Saturday the mythical group of the 70s, Kool & the Gang, will take over the stage for a not-to-be-missed jazz-funk evening.
Wednesday 14th June
Amir
Amir, the revelation of 2016, has conquered the public with songs like J’ai cherché or On Dirait. The Franco-Israeli writer, composer, singer’s success story began in 2014 when he reached the final of the third season of The Voice. After this adventure he was nominated to represent France in the Eurovision Song Contest in which he finished sixth with the song J’ai cherché. It reached no. 1 in France and was the most widely-played song in the first six months of 2016. It was taken from his album Au coeur de moi, a double platinum disc. The second extract from this album, On dirait, has met with the same success. Last year it won several awards including the MTV Europe Music Awards for the best French artist. Amir is currently touring France. After several sell-out concerts he will drop in at the Le Mans 24 Hours for an exceptional show.
Facebook page: http://fr-fr.facebook.com/AmirpageOfficielle/
Thursday 15th June
The Celtic Social Club
The Celtic Social Club was created in 2013 by drummer and producer Manu Masko along the same lines as the Buena Vista Social Club and the
New Orleans Social Club. It is a musical ensemble which mixes traditional Celtic airs with rock, blues, folk, reggae, kan ha diskan and hip-hop. The group consists of a collection of musicians: Manu Masko (drums), Scottish singer Jimmie O’Neill (The Silencers), traditional Breton music virtuosos Ronan Le Bars (Uilleann pipes), Pierre Stephan (violin), Richard Puaud (bass), Mathieu Péquériau (harmonica and washboard) and Goulven Hamel (banjo and mandolin). The Celtic Social Club was meant to be a one-off for an inaugural concert at the Vielles Charrues in Carhaix in 2014. But the members quickly transformed themselves into a powerful, tightly-knit and inventive group which toured France in 2015 and 2016 as well as giving a series of concerts in Europe, Asia and the United States. It has announced its second album for 2017.
The Celtic Social Club is often accompanied by top-line guest artists and its ambition is to popularise Celtic music by opening it up to rock and current musical trends and to make all kinds of public dance and smile.
Internet site: http://www.celticsocialclub.com/accueil
Saturday 17th June
Kool & the Gang
This American jazz-funk and funk group was founded in 1964 by brothers Robert and Ronald Bell with a few childhood and school friends. Kool & the Gang then became one of the leading groups of the 1970s and 1980s. It has sold more than 70 million albums throughout the world and inspired major musical currents like rap and above all R&B. It is one of the most frequently remixed hip-hop musical groups.
Thanks to different pieces of music like Celebration, Fresh, Cherrish, Jungle Boogie and Summer Madness , Kool & the Gang have won two Grammy Awards and seven American Music Awards. The group has topped charts all over the world and been awarded 31 gold and platinum discs.
Kool & the Gang’s career has lasted over 50 years making it one of the oldest R&B groups on the international scene and its live performances are still a byword for excellence. A unique, not-to-be-missed concert in France!
Internet site: http://koolandthegang.com/
Each of these concerts will be opened by a first act whose names will be announced later.
*Free for holders of a general enclosure ticket for the Le Mans 24 Hours and under 16 year olds accompanied by an adult.