DJ Chart: Nuits Sonores

Violaine Didier, booker-in-chief of Lyon's premier dance festival Nuits Sonores, brings us a chart that best reflects the five-day party's mentality

Feature by Jack Burns | 05 May 2014

An urban dance festival that has taken place in Lyon, France, every year since 2003, Nuits Sonores is based on an ethos of continual renewal, aiming to push the boundaries of what it has achieved the previous year. There aren’t so many big headliners; instead, the bookers are forever on the lookout for lesser-known artistic talent to fill the five-day schedule.

Saying that, there’s still a wealth of big names to keep the masses in motion, and this year's selection of around 250 artists includes Kraftwerk in 3D, Darkside, Trentemøller, Four Tet, Laurent Garnier, Gold Panda and The Brian Jonestown Massacre. So it’s safe to say there’s something for everybody.

We spoke to booker-in-chief, Violaine Didier, to ascertain the types of sound that permeate the Nuits Sonores ethos.

Kraftwerk – The Robots [EMI]
One of the most representative bands of what Nuits Sonores is. Three good reasons: first, we all love it; second, it’s the perfect mix between krautrock and electronic music; and third, it’s a wonderful vision of the future.

The Amazing Snakeheads – Here It Comes Again [from the album Amphetamine Ballads, Domino]
We’ve invited so many wonderful bands since our sister program, Carte Blanche, kicked off 12 years ago. We choose a city and select musicians based on creative merit alone. The Amazing Snakeheads are booked this year [representing] Glasgow. Looking forward to seeing them on stage on 31 May!

ESG – My Street [Soul Jazz]
We at Nuits Sonores like this part of the musical history. New York no-wave has influenced a lot of bands on our line-up, like ESG (first show after so many years in Europe), James Chance and the Contortions (last show in France with the original line-up), Teenage Jesus and the Jerks, Alan Vega…

Boss Hog – Winn Coma [Geffen]
Jon Spencer is a frequent guest at Nuits Sonores, either as part of Heavy Trash or Boss Hog. We invited him to Lyon with Blues Explosion too and we love his universe, and all his friends like Matt Verta-Ray, Bob Bert, Jerry Teel, Kid Congo and the like.

The Aztec Mystic – Knights of the Jaguar [Underground Resistance]
This track was one of the first real anthems of the festival. Rolando himself played it in 2004, closing the festival; Laurent Garnier did the same thing in 2005. That show, his first at Nuits Sonores, became legendary and he has returned every single year since then.

Caribou – Sun [City Slang]
Dan Snaith aka Caribou is an artist that we really love, especially for his open mind and his love for creation. He actually curated a stage for us last year.

Einstürzende Neubauten – Silence is Sexy [Zomba/Rough Trade]
Nuits Sonores love the madness of some bands like Einstürzende Neubauten. There are a lot of similar artists coming out of Germany, like Der Plan, Felix Kubin…

Lost Sounds – I Get Nervous [Goner]
An incredible garage band who never fail to put on a raucous show. Strong memories here, and what better way to pay tribute to Jay Reatard. Rest in peace, Jay.

Nuits Sonores takes place in Lyon, France, 28 May–1 Jun

http://www.nuits-sonores.com