Dance, photography, concerts, opera, and street arts will set the rhythm for the weekend from May 8 to 10 in Montpellier, with a series of cultural events spread across Domaine d’O, Rockstore, Pavillon Populaire, Opera Comedie, and the Figuerolles neighborhood.
Saperlipopette
Saperlipopette, a festival dedicated to young audiences, is still a victim of its success. Some shows are already sold out, but there are still opportunities to enjoy beautiful moments with family, whether it’s scheduled in the amphitheater of Domaine d’O or freely accessible in the park.
This year, two major shows are featured. Firstly, “Ce que le jour doit à la nuit”, a performance by Hervé Koubi with Epsedanse dancers, at 11:30 am. Secondly, “Petit Frère”, at 6:30 pm, a contemporary circus show blending acrobatics, dance, and visual theater. Additionally, there is “Dark Circus” (2 pm and 5 pm), at the cozy Jean-Claude Carriere Theater, which presents a live animation film.
For free performances in the pine forest, there is “Pour Hêtre” (12 pm and 3 pm), a duo with a tree, “La Boîte”, a musical theater piece (5:15 pm), and the clownish fable “Tandem” (2:15 pm and 4:30 pm).
Anniversary of the Naufragés
The Naufragés, a surviving group from the French alternative rock wave of the 1980s, are celebrating their 40th anniversary at Rockstore. The venue suits the Montpellier-born band, emerged in the wake of OTH and led by Spi, in the times when bands like Les Bérurier Noir, la Mano Negra, or les Wampas infused French rock with political and social commitment or whimsy.
While OTH marked a generation of rockers with its punk rage, Les Naufragés moved from the tortured South to Brittany, the land of Spi: focusing on ports, sea shanties, pop balls, and tales of wandering. With harmonica, accordion, and ska or rockabilly rhythms, Les Naufragés crafted an unconventional identity over fifteen albums released in forty years, emphasizing live performances. Their uniqueness attracted France Culture, which recorded a concert at Rockstore in the 1990s.
The anniversary concert carries symbolic and historical significance at Rockstore, celebrating both the band and the venue’s 40 years. For those who want to hear OTH again, L’École de la rue, a Rennes-based group, will perform some of their songs. The lineup also includes Les Tardigrades, a young local band.
The Boutographies
The Boutographies Festival, dedicated to young European photography, returns for its 26th edition at the Pavillon Populaire. Through the official selection, exhibitions, and screenings, artists explore contemporary issues such as personal memories, collective traumas, social norms, and environmental crises. Parallel selections and off-site exhibitions around the city extend this visual dialogue. Notable showcases include Julien Fumard’s “Bâtisseurs de glace” documenting drought solutions, Alexandre Bagdassarian’s “Seize et demi” portraying incarcerated youth, and Marie Lukasiewicz’s “Beyond Coral White” questioning our destructive relationship with nature.
Magdalena
“Magdalena,” a rare work by Heitor Villa-Lobos, is presented at the Opéra de Montpellier in an adapted version for the Opera Junior, bringing together teenagers and young adults. Created in 1948, this “musical adventure” blends opera, musical comedy, and South American influences in a richly orchestrated score filled with Brazilian rhythms. Set in Colombia, the plot intertwines social drama, satire, and love story against the backdrop of labor strikes and religious tensions. This version is reimagined for young performers. Once forgotten, “Magdalena” now stands out as a unique piece, balancing popular entertainment with ambitious musical storytelling.
La Grande Parade Métèque
Join the Grande Parade Métèque in the Figuerolles neighborhood. On Friday, from 2:00 pm to 10:30 pm in Parc de la Guirlande, a day themed “Decolonizing our Imaginations” offers creative workshops, performances, and concerts. Saturday features circus shows, a children’s concert, and a musical finale with the flamenco of Manuela Diaz and the maloya of Maya Kamaty, following a colorful and lively parade through the neighborhood streets.
