Away to live: Bastid'art

Sunday, July 27, 2014

Bastid'art is high-flying entertainment

If high-wire acts and acrobats take your breath away, or if you fancy clowns or marionettes, don't miss this weekend's Bastid'art. It's the 20th year for the arts festival, which is held in the streets of Miramont-de-Guyenne (47).

Circo Bocabajo, from Spain and Argentina

The weekend actually kicks off in Marmande on Thursday evening, July 31. The following day, the festivities move to Miramont, where there is virtually non-stop entertainment beginning around noon on Friday, Aug. 1 and at 10 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 2-3. Several performances charge a modest admission, but the vast majority are gratuite.

This will be my third Bastid'art and I plan to catch all three days, including (sshhh, it's a surprise) a flash mob on Saturday at 1930. More than 50 companies of artists from around the world are scheduled to perform at this year's Bastid'art.

Here are some photos from last year's event:

Circo Bocabajo, from Spain and Argentina

From Italy, Mattatoio Sospeso

Alchymere, from the Haute-Garonne, France

Clown/mime Roland Zee, from Paris

Bulles de Zinc from Loire Atlantique, France

Les FrHaven acrobats from Alpes Maritimes, France

Bastid'art publishes a great little program. Be sure to pick one up when you arrive at the event so you can plan out your day. For more information, visit the Bastid'art website here.

Saturday, August 10, 2013

Bastid'art, with clowns and accordions, bien sûr!

Circo Bocabajo, from Spain and Argentina

Last weekend was Miramont de Guyenne's 19th annual Bastid'art. A miniature three-day version of Reno's Artown, the arts festival featured international music, dance, theater, and circus/acrobatic acts, most of them free.

We stopped by for a few hours on Sunday and caught some of the entertainment.

As an aside, after several years of helping produce Artown's Little Book, I can appreciate the work that went into the Bastid'art handy guide. Bien fait!