COGNAC BLUES PASSIONS, THE The Charentais festival will take place from July 1st to 4th, 2026 on Île Madame in Jarnac and in the public gardens of the city of Cognac. A few days ago, the cultural and event production company Belle Factory The poster for this new edition, designed for the second year running by Hugo Marchais, has been unveiled. The Dordogne-based graphic designer, who is also a pianist, has created a visual featuring a landscape in warm colors that perfectly complement the festival's musical atmosphere. Fans will recognize the guitars and the eye, already featured in the 2025 edition. Following this, the organizers announced the first artist who will perform on... Thursday July 2 2026, the famous Jean-Louis Aubert.
JEAN-LOUIS AUBERT
He's one of the most talented French artists of his generation! Born in 1955 in the Ain region, Jean-Louis is a singer-songwriter who founded the band Téléphone in the fall of 1976 with Louis Bertignac. Bertignac even performed at the festival in 2019! With five albums and hits that defined a generation, the band broke up in 1985 after opening for the Rolling Stones at a memorable concert at the Hippodrome d'Auteuil. From then on, Jean-Louis embarked on a remarkable solo career, proving himself to be a talented guitarist and singer as well.
To date, the artist has released 10 studio albums, 6 live albums, and 2 compilations. The hits from these albums are numerous, and it's difficult to list them all, as Aubert's talent is synonymous with success! "Commun Accord," "Les Plages," "Temps à Nouveau," "Alter Ego," and "Voilà c'est Fini" are songs that the public adores, and Jean-Louis has given hundreds of concerts over the years, spread across 11 solo tours. Following overwhelming national demand (and a likely lure of profit…), "Les Insus" (not to use the name Téléphone) embarked on a massive tour in 2015, culminating in a fantastic concert at the Stade de France.
On September 20, 2024, the Officer of the Order of Arts and Letters released the album "Pafini," five years after "Refuge," and hit the road again. Notably, he will celebrate his 70th birthday (including "50 years with us") at the La Défense Arena in Nanterre on December 13. This exceptional show will recount a fantastic career that Jean-Louis will continue to perform at festivals next summer.
For his latest album, he returns to his roots by contacting producer Renaud Létang, who worked on "Comme un Accord," a major hit in 2001. This album from a septuagenarian who embraces his desire to stay young ("Merveille") comprises 11 tracks and was mixed by Bernie Grundman, who worked on Michael Jackson's "Thriller" in 1982! The melodies oscillate between pop, guitar, and electronic touches, while addressing themes dear to the singer. With simplicity, he reflects on our society while also weaving in a touch of personal experience. The track "Un Autre Monde" was despairing, while "Saute!" reveals a saving optimism. In a more elaborate version, this album features four additional tracks, including "L'Encrier," which evokes the theme of a painful separation. In fact, in 2020, Jean-Louis underwent surgery for a heart defect he had neglected for too long. It's easy to imagine that this ordeal is reflected in the lyrics of this latest effort.
On the live front, a beautiful rainbow awaits the Cognac audience, with the artist alternating between rock standards and more intimate tracks. Get ready to greet "Marcelle," to be swept away by the sound of Téléphone ("La Bombe Humaine," "New York avec Toi"), to pay tribute to Barbara, and to discover some new material ("L'Enfant Perdu") if the setlist is exactly the same as the first leg of the tour. Cognac Blues Passions has made a strong statement with the announcement of this first name, which alone unites three generations of music lovers! All that remains is to wait for the rest of the lineup… (can't wait!)
Diego
