As with all recent editions, the festivities of the Cognac Blues Passions will start to Jarnac, on the aptly named "At the Heart of the Blues" stage. This green site bordering the Charente is ideal for a peaceful start to one of the most highly regarded festivals of its kind in France.
Before three days of intensive concerts in the gardens and streets of Cognac, the city of François Mitterrand welcomes Lusaint, Fantastic Negrito, and Ben l'Oncle Soul on July 1st from 7:30 pm to 11:45 pm. We would also like to take this opportunity to highlight that the Blues Foundation of Memphis, which celebrated its 45th anniversary last January, awarded Cognac Blues Passions, recognizing its work in promoting and preserving the Blues. This is a well-deserved honor and reward for Michel Rolland, founder and programmer of the festival, and Samuel Vincent, director of Belle Factory. Congratulations to you and your teams!
The Tours native, who released the album "Sad Generation" in 2025, continues to have fun with this eighth effort in his 16-year career. Now in his forties, Ben still uses captivating rhythms but slows the pace and even flirts with reggae at times ("The Walls"). Some musical collaborations are beneficial, and "Hard To Do" becomes ethereal with the addition of Kaylan Arnold's vocals and a mid-tempo groove. The listener moves away from the hits "Soul Man" and the White Stripes cover ("Seven Nation Army") to discover a mature man, perhaps worried about his future. Without abandoning the gospel of his early work, the artist is melancholic ("Don't Wanna Fall"), and the live performance of this high-quality album will be the highlight of a very promising opening night in Jarnac.
At 58, American Xavier Amin Dphrepaulezz, known as Fantastic Negrito, won three Grammy Awards in 2016, 2019, and 2020 for the same nomination: Best Blues Album. It's safe to say that the former Somali-born drug dealer and Prince fan has made a successful career change! In 2014, he forged his own musical identity in San Francisco and released a self-titled debut EP, which two years later led to a groundbreaking debut album. "The Last Days of Oakland" oozes funk, hip-hop, and old-school blues—just listen to "Working Poor" to hear for yourself! Two years later, with industry recognition firmly established, Xavier turned down lucrative studio contracts and released "Plastic Hamburgers," a Led Zeppelin-esque album that doesn't shy away from soul or incredibly high-quality funk ("The Duffler"). He's been racking up rap collaborations, opening for Springsteen, a duet with Sting, and last October he returned with "Make Me a Believer," a single featuring Everything Velvet, a young artist named Marta Alvarez he met by chance. The result is sweet, perhaps passionate, and incredibly effective. Needless to say, Fantastic Negrito's concert in Jarnac is shaping up to be an unmissable event; the artist hasn't performed in France for two years. If his stage performances live up to his music, it's going to be a blast!
The Manchester-based singer will kick off the Cognac Blues Passions festival on July 1st at 7:30 pm. Having made her name with a Chris Isaak cover, Lusaint's physical and vocal charm will captivate the Charente audience from the moment she steps on stage. Blending soul and pop, the artist is often compared to Adele thanks to the magnetism she generates in concert and her incredibly controlled vocal performances. Initially known for acoustic versions and covers in her early work, Lucy Hopkins has since diversified her style, releasing a string of singles, with "Summertime," released in 2025, being a prime example! Currently on a European tour, she will release a new EP in April. Suffice it to say, the Cognac Blues Passions warm-up is top-notch, and festival-goers will be ready to continue with Jean-Louis Aubert on July 2nd, Vanessa Paradis the following day, and then Ben Harper on the final evening. Four intense days ahead, tickets are now on sale!
Diego
