New York is an international city where cultures from around the world meet and combine. This fall, a great way to see that cultural fusion firsthand is to come to Central Park for Vieilles Charrues New York, the American spin-off of one of France’s most popular festivals. Beyond just French culture, Vielles Charrues celebrates the rich history of Brittany: a northwestern region with Celtic roots, a proud culture, and a linguistic tradition all its own. While you’re getting to see the Breton side of things in New York City, you’ll want to live like a local in a furnished apartment and maybe get to know some other people from around the globe in your neighborhood!
Vieilles Charrues: 25 Years
It takes time to build a reputation as one of the premier music festivals in a country as large as France– 25 years, in fact. That’s how long it’s been since the first Vieilles Charrues, which was back in 1992 in Landelau, a town in central Brittany. The area is mainly known for its sleepy dairy farms and mystical old-growth forests, but in the center of Brittany, where there was a tradition of immigration to the US, you can find a curiosity. Pictured above is a replica of New York’s famous Statue of Liberty (itself a gift from France) located in Gourin near the regional hub of Carhaix and the Vieilles Charrues hometown of Landelau.
The festival, like the majestic statue, was meant to be a beacon for different cultures. Its original goal was to combine a variety of genres–not just the Celtic folk music Brittany is famous for–and to bring the public together to appreciate a shared passion for music. On top of longtime favorites from the surrounding area, Vieilles Charrues has played host to French-language music stars like Jean-Louis Aubert, Johnny Hallyday, and Stromae; international sensations like David Bowie, Johnny Clegg, Iggy Pop, and Elton John; and genre-spanning American acts like ZZ Top, Snoop Dogg, Lionel Richie, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, and Joan Baez. The event is now recognized as the largest music festival in France, with nearly a quarter million participants each year.
Now, to honor the 25th iteration of the festival, the Vieilles Charrues organizers have decided to bring the party to New York! You won’t want to miss this even that combines the outdoor music tradition of Central Park’s SummerStage series with French savoir-faire and Breton cultural pride. In a collaboration with BZH–the Breton cultural association of New York–and other French and American partners, Vieilles Charrues is coming to New York in October.
2. Les Vieilles Charrues in New York
In order to bring such a large-scale, much-loved festival to the hot New York market, Les Vieilles Charrues had to seek the right partners. The most important of those is BZH NY, certified nonprofit seeking to promote and educate the public on Breton culture. By hosting events that bring attention to the unique history, language, and cultural traditions of the region, as well as its expat community in New York, BZH New York bridges the cultural divide across the Atlantic.
One of the largest events the organization has ever hosted is the upcoming Vieilles Charrues festival, which will take place on October 1 in the heart of Central Park. One look at the Vieilles Charrues trailer will have you excited, but make sure you reserve your tickets now– the space holds 5,000, but sales are going fast and there’s a lot of buzz. VCNY has prepared a special line-up for its New York debut, featuring top artists like:
- M (Mathieu Chedid), child of famed French rocker Louis Chedid and a talented composer in his own right who adapts different rock styles to his French fans’ tastes
- The Celtic Social Club, a rock group that draws on traditional Celtic music from Brittany and Scotland for a unique fusion sound
- The Avener, a French deep house and electro artist, part of a rich tradition of French electronic music shaping the global music scene
- Krismenn et Alem, a powerhouse duo known for their innovative blend of Breton Celtic music and hip-hop, New York’s own creation
Best of all, Vieilles Charrues, like many long-running music festivals, is known for unique surprises. You never know who will show up, especially in a place like New York!
3. Why New York Habitat and Les Vieilles Charrues?
What a dream come true for Marie-Reine Jézéquel! As a member of BZH and president of New York Habitat, a real estate agency based in New York, Marie is eager to welcome her friends from Les Vieilles Charrues to the city.
For almost as long as Les Vieilles Charrues has been hosting events, New York Habitat has offered a way for short-term visitors to New York to live like a local, no matter how long they’re staying, by arranging stays in quality furnished apartments. To promote French and Breton culture in New York, New York Habitat is offering discounts on agency fees for festival-goers who share a passion for French culture, music, and the city of New York. All you need to do is show proof of purchase for a festival ticket. There’s also an online contest on our Facebook and Twitter for two free festival tickets, but be sure to enter before Labor Day! On top of that, companies or groups of friends can get one free ticket per every ten tickets purchased.
As members of the French community, New York Habitat knows just what visitors need to feel at home. That’s why New York Habitat agents will be there to assist at every step of the way and make sure guests fully enjoy their stays. Since 1989, New York Habitat has been developing its network of more than 16,000 apartments located in New York, a great resource for festival staff and attendees alike. Find a townhouse just off Central Park, a studio down the street from the venue, or a hip Chelsea loft where you can live like a New Yorker.
4. Where to stay to see Vieilles Charrues New York
If you want to be front row for VCNY’s Central Park location, you have lots of choices of where to stay in New York. There’s one big problem, though: New York’s hotels are known for their high prices and tough rules. Instead of going through that hassle, why not live like a local for the weekend? Staying at a furnished vacation rental through New York Habitat, you can do just that. Taking into account the special savings you’ll get for being a VCNY festivalgoer, and the chance to win tickets through New York Habitat’s raffle, it’s the smart choice. Personal service in French, English, and Spanish is another plus when choosing a furnished rental apartment with New York Habitat.
Beyond location and pricing, there are a number of benefits to staying in a real apartment. Maybe you want the privacy and immersive experience of living in a Manhattan apartment building. Getting a choice of apartment amenities, like a full kitchen to cook at home or a sofa bed for extra guests, gives you flexibility. There’s also the irreplaceable charm of staying in a real home, a relief after a day or night out on the town!
You can stay in a storied Manhattan neighborhood featured in TV shows like Seinfeld and Sex & the City with this two-bedroom vacation rental on the Upper West Side. If you’re trying to fit in classic New York activities like a Broadway show or trip to the Museum of Modern Art, check out this Midtown West studio. Live the uptown life in this one-bedroom vacation rental in Morningside Heights, a park-lined area that’s home to Columbia University.
If you have a reason to stay in New York for the fall, consider a furnished rental for monthly sublet. This one-bedroom right off Central Park South will keep you comfortable with air conditioning and wifi. This Midtown studio furnished rental is a smaller option that’s just as convenient, with a terrace and gym right in the building. Get away from the crowds with this Upper West Side studio, or stay right in the heart of things in this Columbus Circle one-bedroom rental.
New York Habitat also offers an opportunity to connect with New Yorkers through their apartment share program. This private bedroom in a shared one-bedroom apartment is at the southwestern corner of Central Park at Columbus Circle. Music lovers will fall for this Upper West Side two-bedroom apartment share near Central Park. On the other side of the park, this Harlem apartment share with two bedrooms has eclectic décor that matches the diverse neighborhood.
Globe-trotting travelers can also take advantage of New York Habitat’s services in major locations in Europe: London, Paris, and the South of France. Make your stay in New York, or any of these destinations, a memorable one by choosing a New York Habitat apartment!
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