A musical, human adventure, which began in underprivileged neighborhoods of seven French cities, will end on the big stage at the prestigious Francofolies music festival in La Rochelle (western France). This is the goal of the 2014 France Ô Folies project, supported by the Vivendi Create Joy solidarity program in association with Francofolies.

This project encourages the discovery of young talent from disadvantaged areas. Thirty-five artists were preselected by citizens’ juries in seven French cities: Bagneux, Bordeaux, Fort-de-France, Le Havre, Orléans, Saint-Denis in Reunion and Val d’Europe. All of them received professional training before performing onstage in their own city.

When all of these concerts were finished, seven winners, one per city, were selected by a jury of professionals to perform on the Grande Scène de Saint-Jean d’Acre in La Rochelle on July 11. They will open a concert featuring Tal, Ben l’Oncle Soul, ZAZ and Christophe Maé in front of no fewer than 12,000 people!

The partnership with Vivendi Create Joy made it possible for groups from French overseas territories to participate, adding diversity to the project, and allows budding artists to introduce us to different styles and musical inspirations.

More information (in French) at: www.francofolies.fr/artistes/france-o-folies