French Music Festival OohLaLA Returns To LA For Second Year

Returning for the second year in a row, The OohLaLA Festival is bringing its French chic flair to venues around Los Angeles September 30-October 2. Following the success of the inaugural three-day music fest which included remarkable performances from dance-pop provocateur Sébastien Tellier and new wave musical collective Nouvelle Vague, the showcase reappears with more hot artists arriving out of France's electrifying music scene. This year's installment will span various locations across the city including Club Nokia, the El Rey, as well as Spaceland. Once again, the event will be presented/executive produced by Goldenvoice and presented by KCRW. Tickets go on sale Saturday, July 31 at 10 am and can be purchased via various outlets, to be found at the Festival's official website.

Distinguished for bridging the gap between continents while highlighting emerging talent, OohLaLA curates its acts to span genres and selects artists who embrace France's rich musical history and simultaneously reflect fresh sounds. With that notion, there's no better example than Gotan Project, whose unequalled Tango-infused electronica will be featured at Club Nokia Saturday, October 2. The trio is currently supporting their most recent Tango 3.0 release, adding to their already impressive discography that surpasses millions in album sales. Joining them on night three of the Festival will be General Elektriks, the brainchild of Herve "RV" Salters, a French national with a penchant for vintage keyboards. The now Berkeley, Calif. based-Parisian is well embedded with the Quannum crew and churns out an intoxicating mix of future soul, indie rock, old-school hip-hop and free jazz. The evening will be well rounded with El Hijo de la Cumbia, who pay distinct homage to the classic cumbia sound yet masterfully inject Columbian rhythms, hip-hop and dancehall beats, and dub experiments. The outpouring of international flavors will surely keep the dance floor busy.

The festivities will kick off September 30th at the El Rey Theatre, where OohLaLA will give a weighty nod to French label and influencers, Record Makers, who celebrate their 10th year anniversary. The inimitable Sébastien Tellier will return to the U.S. stage along with an all-star band and special guests, marking his only worldwide appearance in 2010. Capping off the evening will be disco-dynamos Acid Washed, a DJ set by electro house artist Kavinsky and the hypnotic electro-krautrock sounds of Turzi. A flurry of distinguished friends and family of the esteemed label are sure to pass through as well.

Sandwiched in between the refined electro international fare, night number two will take place at Spaceland, featuring emerging artists The Bewitched Hands On The Top Of Our Heads and Revolver. The psychedelic/folk collective, The Bewitched Hands On The Top Of Our Heads, owe as much to Flaming Lips and Grandaddy than to Mercury Rev and Arcade Fire. Their impeccable vocal harmonies steer their catchy melodic pop, while still rooted in their very own Gallic psychedelia. The latter is an exciting new group whose self-proclaimed "pop de chambre" gives the obvious salute to the Beatles, the sunshiny harmonies of the Beach Boys as well as 17th century baroque composers. Their fantastically eclectic album, Music For A While, has climbed to Gold status in France and earned them two French Music Awards nominations.

San Francisco will get a taste of the fun when they host a special one-night-only OohLaLA event with Gotan Project and General Elektriks at the Warfield, October 3.

This event is sponsored by the Consulate General of France in Los Angeles and the Cultural
Services of the French Embassy in the US. The other main sponsors are CulturesFrance, whose aim is to develop French cultural exchanges internationally, and France Los Angeles Exchange (FLAX), a Los Angeles-based 501(c)(3) foundation dedicated to fostering a better understanding of France through public and cultural art events that promote cross-cultural learning. Additional international partners include La Sacem, the French equivalent of ASCAP; the French Music Export Office, Le Bureau Export; the CNV; and trendsetting KCRW (89.9. FM and KCRW.com) will be a presenting partner of the festival while TV5 Monde (US) and French opinion-leading cultural weekly Les Inrockuptibles will also be heavily involved.

• Thursday, September 30, 2010 | El Rey Theatre
  Record Makers 10th Anniversary Birthday Bash
  Sébastien Tellier & friends
  Acid Washed
  Kavinsky (DJ set)
  Turzi
• Friday, October 1, 2010 | Spaceland
  The Bewitched Hands On The Top Of Our Heads
  Revolver
• Saturday October 2, 2010 | Club Nokia
  Gotan Project
  General Elektriks
  El Hijo de la Cumbia

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