PRESS BOOK Introduction - By organizing the Country Rendez-Vous Festival, Country Rendez-Vous Festival Association's goal is to promote Country Music, its cultural environment and French language. - The Country Rendez-Vous Festival was born in 1988 and is now regarded as the most important Country Music Festival in France. The quality of their programmes help young French talents gain a foothold in the music business. - The cultural event takes place once a year on the last week-end of July in the natural setting of Craponne sur Arzon. It is an open-air festival on a 4 sq.m. fully-equipped site. - Because the Country Rendez-Vous Festival contributes to their economic and touristic development the whole region and the city of Craponne sur Arzon are involved in it. - Country Rendez-Vous Festival Association is energized by the increasing number of spectators, the press, radio and TV coverage, the consideration of its private and public partners and the regular help of its 250 volunteers. The History of the Country Rendez-Vous Festival. - The first International Country Music Festival was born in the summer of 1988 in the little village of Dore l'Église (Puy de Dôme(63), Auvergne). - In March 1993, because of its unique conception and particular audience in Europe, the name Country Rendez-Vous Festival was given to the event. Since then the number of spectators has multiplied by 40 (250 spectators in 88, 1200 in 89, 3500 in 90, 4000 in 91, 5000 in 92, 6000 in 93, 7000 in 94, 9000 in 95 almost 10000 in 1996, 10000 in 1998,15000 in 2001, more than 18000 in 2002 and 2003, 20000 in 2004 & 2005 and the record was beaten in 2006 with more than 25,000.. - Until 1991 it was a two-day festival (Saturday and Sunday). That year an extra night (Friday) was added to give exposure to young French talents. - Since it started in 1988 the Country Rendez-Vous Festival has been a place of major performances for the best French, European and American Country Music artists, namely: Bill Monroe (the "father" of bluegrass), Marty Stuart, Mark Chesnutt, Kathy Mattea, Alison Krauss & Union Station, Rhonda Vincent , Jon Randall, Chely Wright, Hal Ketchum, Chad Brock, Brady Seals, Anita Cochran, The Sweethearts of Rodeo (USA), Dale Watson, Bruce Robison, Kelly Willis, Tim & Molly O'Brien, Steve Wariner, Steve Earle, Peter Rowan & Jerry Douglas, Heather Myles, BR5-49, Danni Leigh, Guy Clark and Verlon Thompson, Lee Roy Parnell, The Hot Club Of Cowtown, Jack Ingram, The Hackberry Ramblers, Kevin Fowler, Cross Canadian Ragweed, Pinmonkey, Elizabeth Cook, Michael Peterson... - Last year the festival was particularly exceptional thanks to its wonderful line up of American songwriters and singers: Jon Randall, Mark Chesnutt, Jessi Alexander, Pete Anderson, Moot Davis, The Greencards, Cory Morrow, James Hand, Zona Jones, John Arthur Martinez, Forty5 South... - The Country Rendez-Vous is a multicultural event which is a showcase for all the different components of the musical style. The quality of their programmes has been widely praised. It has also encouraged the creation of many other festivals of this kind in France. - In July and August 2005, an exhibition of "The World of Country Music" took place in the city centre. One of its highlights was a retrospective showing the evolution of the festival. It presented a good opportunity for all to start collecting books, posters, programmes, photos, souvenirs, CDs... Country Music, an ideal rendez-vous in Craponne. - The Country Rendez-Vous Festival takes place in a natural setting in the very heart of Haute Loire that resembles the mountainous birthplace of Country Music. Here, in Craponne not far from where "The General" ( we mean Lafayette, of course) used to live, the hills and mountains that surround the site of the open air festival bring to mind the Appalachian countryside of the South East. - Moreover, the department of Haute Loire has always been a heartland of festivals. Ten of them form the Association known as "Haute Loire, terre de festivals". The Country Rendez-Vous Festival : Fidelity, Originality, Novelty - All the American artists of high renown marvel at the beauty of the area and share the stage with the other French and European bands; each of them having the opportunity to express its own interpretation of the wide range of Country Music styles. Every year large numbers of spectators converge on Craponne for the Country Rendez-Vous Festival, which has become the place-to-be for Country Music fans. The site - a 4 sq.m. field sloping gently down to the stage - swarms with friendly and hospitable people. Some of them are true Country Music addicts, others are Sunday musicians or merry makers or American car or Harley bike collectors, their ages ranging from 7 to 77. All the social, racial and cultural origins are represented there. - Country Music is quite popular in the States, it is just starting in Europe. Country Rendez-Vous Association aims at creating a movement to promote its culture and its musical environment. - The Country Rendez-Vous Festival directs energetic action in order to create opportunities for young French talents to perform on stage and mix with the Masters of the genre. The "On the Fringes Festival" has become a show that cannot be ignored. It is the opening of the festival. Each year four French bands perform on stage downtown. They all get a write-up on the local papers. Most of the well-known French bands got their send-off from this traditional contest. The cultural aspects of the Country Rendez-Vous Festival A fragrance of musical perfumes - The entire festival is dedicated to all the different forms of Country music (bluegrass, cajun, honky tonk, zydeco, western ...). Throughout the 24-hour concert the spectators are given the chance to appreciate all the numerous aspects of Country Music. Such instruments as the Pedal Steel Guitar, the American mandolin, the Washboard and the "ti-fer" are introduced to them. They may enjoy the tones of the banjo, the mouth organ, the fiddle, the Cajun accordion, the dobro, the double bass and of many other acoustic or electric instruments. - Numerous stalls and booths are to be found on the premises, where arts & crafts, clothes, records, books and typical Western items are for sale. The Country Rendez-Vous Festival offers its own booth to the associations that wish to give information and details about their activities (Bluegrass Magazine, France-Louisiana,...). On the fringes of the Festival - During the festival several facilities are available such as: - Music and dancing training courses Country Rendez-Vous Festival Association organizes courses for beginners of country and western dances and music lessons. Banjo, fiddle, mandolin, cajun accordion, dobro, pedal steel guitar, upright bass lessons are given by professionals and qualified teachers. - Exhibitions, record exchange - Musical street shows - Country Rendez-Vous Radio is something unique in France. It has a range of 20 miles and broadcasts its 'Full Time Country Programme' 24 hours a day before,during and after the period of the festival. Therefore thousands of listeners can enjoy a great number of varied songs, which are quite different from the traditional standards they are used to. Plans for 2007 - Country Rendez-Vous Festival Association plans new shows for 2007 - Video clips in bars and shops. - A round table with associations in relationship with America will be set up - Three giant screens on the premises for the spectators' comfort. The economic aspects of the Country Rendez-Vous Festival - The Country Rendez-Vous Festival has a great part in the economic and touristic development of its department and region. Every trade within 40 miles makes profit from the event. Hotels, inns, guest houses, camp sites, bars, restaurants, bakeries, groceries, butchers, service stations reckon that they run a healthy profit during the festival. Furthermore in order to improve all kinds of facilities on the site, a great number of local craftsmen work for the festival (electricians, plumbers, joiners...). The Organizers of the Country Rendez-Vous Festival Country Rendez-Vous Festival Association: Board of Administration: 15 members 2 salaried workers 300 volunteers President : Georges Carrier Secretary : Marie-Pierre Debard The Partners of the Country Rendez-Vous Festival - The Country Rendez-Vous Festival is an extraordinary approach to Country Music and its success is based on the support and partnership of different actors and sponsors. With the material and financial support of Associations ......................... Board of Associations of Craponne ......................... Tourists' Information Bureau of Craponne ......................... Haute Loire Terre de Festivals ......................... C.M.A. (Country Music Association)   Public Partners ......................... Craponne City Counsel ......................... General Counsel of the Department ......................... Regional Counsel of Auvergne ......................... Regional Natural Parks   Private Partners .........................Kronenbourg Breweries ......................... Credit Agricole Bank The Country Rendez-Vous Festival and the media - Their coverage is the keystone of the festival. - The local and regional press always rise to the occasion. La Tribune, Le Progres, L'Eveil de la Haute Loire et de la Loire, Le Renouveau, La Montagne, all these local and regional newspapers widely promote the festival. Every Year France 3 Auvergne does a report on the Country Rendez-Vous Festival.   - All the newspapers, magazines praise the festival and help along its success.   Television ......................... France 3 Auvergne ......................... France 3 Rhône-Alpes ......................... France 2 ......................... Direct 8 ......................... Canal Jimmy ......................... Tele Lyon Metropole   International, national, regional newspapers & magazines ......................... USA Today ......................... The Sun Sentinel (Florida) ......................... The Tennessean ......................... Le Monde, Liberation, Le Parisien ......................... Vocable ......................... L'Humanité ......................... La Tribune, Le Progres ......................... La Montagne ......................... Camping Car ......................... Country Music Roundup (UK) ......................... The Jambalaya Magazine (Spain) ......................... Nitro Magazine ......................... Marie Claire ......................... Crossroads Local Press ......................... L'Eveil ......................... Le Mois ......................... Info Magazine ......................... La Gazette de la Loire     French Country Music Magazines ......................... Country News ......................... Rock Sound ......................... Le Cri du Coyote ......................... Bluegrass Revue ......................... Freeway ......................... Sur La Route De Memphis ......................... Big Bear ......................... Country Gazette ......................... Country Pocket ......................... Highway FM ......................... Country Music Attitude French Radios ......................... Radio Tele Luxembourg (National and European) ......................... Radio Country Club (Full time internet radio station) ......................... Radio Nostalgie ......................... Radio France (Bleu Berry Sud, 63, ...) ......................... Cherie FM Ardèche ......................... RCF (National) ......................... Europe 2 Le Puy ......................... RFM Le Puy ......................... NRJ Le Puy + 100 French and European radio stations (Radio Arverne, Radio Craponne, Antipode Belgique............. )