The Festival Sin Fronteras

Text: Nick Forrester

For over 12 years the Cabaret Sauvage has been hosting a variety of eclectic music. The Festival Sin Fronteras builds on the establishment’s commitment to highlight music, performances and cultures that may otherwise have remained unknown.  

Between July 16 and August 8 the festival offers four themed weeks: Latin America, Black Africa, the Transylvania and the Maghreb, with a variety of exhibitions, films and concerts.

Located in the Parc Villette, in north-eastern Paris, the Cabaret Sauvage is housed in a large circus tent, which allows for high capacity musical events and seating around the outside (circus-style) for larger performances.

The Black Africa section of the festival runs during July 23, 24, 25 and offers a mixture of African inspired music, percussion and stories. Among those performing there will be lively French Afro hip-hop artist Bin Bop, electro jazz from Mamani Keita, and vibraphone and balafon players Kyoute and Neerman.

Then there is the Transylvania festival, for nomadic spirits, running July 30, 31 and August1. Here you can expect Gypsy music, readings and fortune telling. Highlights include Russian singer Dava, Moldovan rock from Zdob Si Ztub, a Gypsy orchestra and the Nadara Gypsy Band, who participated in the soundtrack of Tony Gatlif's 2006 film Transylvania.

Maghreb Marrakech is the final stage, which offers a north-African inspired world of music and Arabic decoration. This includes performances from French acoustic singer and guitarist Samira Brahmia, who offers a variety of South Algerian influenced folk and jazz. The festival will conclude on August 8 with a grand ball and performance from Bal Oriental with the Super Rai Band.

Many of the performances are free but tickets to each section are sold online for €33, to guarantee access.

Throughout the festival there will be exhibitions, short films and documentaries. You can also get involved in the workshops which involve story-telling, cooking and dance.