French musicians to shine on Turkish stage

The fourth edition of XXF Very Very French Music Festival will bring the finest examples of contemporary French music to Istanbul and Ankara. Organized by the Istanbul French Cultural Center and Babylon in Istanbul between Nov. 17 and Dec. 8, the annual music festival is set to take place on the Babylon stage and host Alpha Blondy, Aaron, Brodinski, Fanfaraİ, Guts, Jean Tonique and La Caravane Passe. This year, the festival will travel to Ankara for the first time and bring creative French musicians Dec. 6-16. The Ankara stage of XXF Very Very French Music Festival will host AaRON, Club Cheval and Nouvelle Vague.

After taking interest in reggae music, Alpha Blondy recorded "Jerusalem," the landmark album of African reggae music in 1986 in Jamaica. Considered as a "world musician," Blondy gives brotherhood and reconciliation messages for all nations in his songs.

French DJ and producer Brodinski, who has been devoted to electronic music since his youth, is pointed to as one of the most talented DJs in recent years. The Frenchman, who collaborates with hit names such as The Shoes, Scissor Sisters, and Mike Snow, founded the band Bromance to celebrate his collaborations with Gesaffelstein.

French beatmaker, hip-hop and funk producer Guts is one of the founding members of Alliance Ethnik, which he has been producing for the last 10 years. He kicked off his solo career in 2007 and has released three international studio albums so far. For his latest album "Hip Hop After All," he joined forces with Cody Chesnutt, Masta Ace and Patrice.

Consisting of musicians who are citizens of various countries around the world, Fanfarai is a cosmopolitan, atypical band. They promise Istanbulites an inter-cultural journey through their repertoire featuring various genres, including rai, chaabi, gnawa, jazz, Afro-Cuban, Arabic, Barbary, Latin and salsa.

Bringing nostalgic funk melodies together with modern rhythms and reinterpreting today's rock classics for the dance floor, Jean Tonique offers his audience an energetic night thanks to his creativity and talent. He recently released his EP, "The Look in Your Eyes," and invites music lovers who want to lose themselves on the dance floor to the Babylon stage. The band La Caravane Passe came together in 2001. They are known for blending Balkan melodies, Catalan traditional music and alternative rock with electro music. The band released their album "Gypsy for One Day" in 2012. The talented duo of French electro music, AaRON, made their break through with their theme music for Philippe Lioret's film "Je vais bien, ne t'en fais pas." The theme song "U Turn" caused a stir around the world, and their fame goes beyond the borders of France.