Vogue la Galère
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Tags: Croix Rousse, Lyon
Every year in October, a funfair starts in my neighbourhood. And then it never ends. Every day you walk past the outgrowths of commercialism to the metro station, wondering whether you should not perhaps play one of the numerous grab-arm games on the way to win a PS3. Of course, provided that these gripper arm with its thin - you guessed it - gripper arms is even capable of lifting a PS3 and dropping it through the slot undamaged. But well, that is another topic.
Croix-Rousse in Lyon is often called an artists’ quarter, and it is precisely these artists who find the funfair a thorn in their side. Reason enough to organise a large-scale counter-event: the “Vogue la Galère”. And that, in turn, is reason enough for a few exiled Germans like me to spend the whole weekend there. Just kidding, there were other nationalities there too.
A touch of the spirit of Croix-Rousse…
What did I quote again in my short “speech” at the anniversary of my profession?
Everything great in the world only happens because someone does more than they have to
In Croix-Rousse, this “someone” is the Crieur Public with his “Ministère des Rapports Humains”. With a bunch of volunteers and an even bigger bunch of commitment, it is possible to organise a festival - the many helpers at the Sommer Mewinale know what that means. Is it worth it? Yes, yes, and yes… although… yes, yes.
Alors approchez, Mesdames et Messieurs!
I have never been to Tollwood, but this is pretty much how you imagine it: colourful awnings over the stage; wooden cable reels that have been converted into tables; people who could hardly be more different. Somewhere between a child’s birthday party and travelling back in time to the Summer of Love. With incredible attention to detail: even the trees were specially pimped with colourful fluorescent tubes.
Friday was a colourful potpourri of cabaret and hip hop concert. The fact that the whole thing still worked was down to the Crieur Publique: how easy it is to combine a wide variety of events when you simply act as a marketplace presenter. The day ended with the phenomenal set by the local heroine Carima Amarouche - only for real with two human beat boxes.
On Saturday, there was the big “concours international de cris d’animaux”. The task was to imitate the cries of animals as authentically as possible (visually and acoustically). There were millions of chickens, cats, dogs… and a dinosaur (which was announced as a dragon, but you cannot have everything). Sunday, on the other hand, brought oriental-inspired sounds and the fantastic play “Comme c’est beau l’Australie quand il pleut”, somewhere between theatre, musical and situation comedy.
Now I just have to find out when the next “Vogue la Galère” is and get to Lyon in time. Who is coming along? More pictures can be found in my Flickr gallery.