Matmatah is a band founded in Brest in 1995 on the ruins of Tricards Twins, a duo formed by Stan and Sammy who toured local bars. Fanch and Eric Digaire joined them to form the stage quartet that achieved immediate success in Brittany thanks to two iconic titles, "Lambé An Dro" and "Les Moutons".
The first is an invitation to have a good time in a neighborhood of their favorite city, the second is a succession of humorous rhymes ending in "lain-o" whose atmosphere recalls Irish pubs under a rhythm of plinn (sound of feet tapping on the boards). The Celtic atmosphere is never far away and the career of the group is launched with the album "La Ouache" which was released in 1998, produced by a certain Claude Chamboisier known as "Framboisier" from the Dorothée club! The album also contains titles that have become cult for fans like "Emma" and "L'Apologie" which, as its name indicates, promotes the joint but not the ricard. A few legal troubles await the members of Matmatah but the band's reputation is established and "Rebelote" is released in March 2001. At the time, competition is tough with Louise Attaque who had hit the mark with an eponymous album published in 1997. Over the years, Gaëtan Roussel's band has always maintained enormous success but it is clear that Tristan Nihouarn's lyrics, to my taste, are more sophisticated but probably less recognized.
Over the years, Matmatah followed the normal course of a successful group with the change of certain members (arrival of Marseille's Scholl on drums, departure of Sammy), nominations in various awards evenings with mutual congratulations, concerts abroad (Russia, India, Canada, China) and hits that adorn the 4 albums that the group will produce until 2007. "Au Conditionnel", "Crepuscule Dandy" and "La Cerise" are among them and remain very popular in concert. Musically, a very rock turn is taken and assumed. Far from a simple bar variety intended to please, Stan and his family prioritize their musical desires. However, they split up in 2008 after 13 years of existence. Each goes about their business, from solo projects to concert hall management.
In 2016, Stan, Eric, Scholl and Emmanuel Baroux (formerly of Aston Villa) resurrected Matmatah and released the album "Plates Coutures". This album, which marked their comeback, is of incredible quality, both musically and for the singer's sharp lyrics. "Marée Haute" is probably one of the band's most beautiful songs and the tour was a triumph. The fans waited but it was worth it! 6 years later, "Miscellanées Bissextiles" proves that you can write rock in French but that a dictionary is necessary to decode the author's talent. Between two periods, the excellent Julien Carton, who worked with Stan when he published "Sauvage Erreur de Ma Part", joined the band on synthesizer and Léopold Riou, his father's son, became a fiery new guitarist. Suffice to say that these two elements are predominant in the quality of the shows offered by 3 old veterans by bringing their youth and a touch of madness. In December 2023 at the end of their last tour, Matmatah released a live album recorded in Brest and announced that they would celebrate their 30th anniversary at the Accor Arena in Paris in 2025. They just released in April a cover of "Putain Putain" by Tc Matic (Arno), the original of which dates from 1983.
ACCOR ARENA PARIS SATURDAY OCTOBER 11, 2025
Besides the excellent manager Julien Banes, the one who could best talk about Matmatah is the Kerampuilh field! Indeed, the group has regularly performed at the Vieilles Charrues festival and the show is incredible, both for the audience and for the musicians (according to Scholl during an interview). This atmosphere will be repeated on October 11, 2025 at Accor Arena for one simple reason: Brittany has a date with its favorite band! Whether they are Parisian, Breton or relocated in France, lovers of Celtic rock and Gwenn-ha-Du will be there to celebrate an anniversary like no other. Much more than a symbol, it is patriotism to attend the unique performance of the best Brest band in the capital!
During its previous tours, the group established a set-list that adapts over the course of the concerts by varying one or two titles in order to maintain the homogeneity of the desired musical message and to ensure optimal visual technique. For this anniversary, it is a "one shot" which will have no warm-up session, nor catch-up. The desired date, a Saturday, was calculated as close as possible to the D-day and according to the availability of the venue. Far be it from me to make plans on the comet concerning this or that surprise guest who would come to join Matmatah but without taking too much risk, it would not be surprising if a bagad (like Kevrenn Alre from Auray) and Kevin Camus / David Pasquet were part of it! A fest-noz atmosphere should take over Paris and for one evening, the interceltic festival of Lorient will be eclipsed. It is also possible that bands with the "Upton Park" stamp (Dead Chic, Cancre, etc.) will provide the opening act, but for the moment, everything is just speculation!
Just like the possibility of including covers of The Who, Eddy Mitchell (via Burt Bacharach) or The Buggles, old songs from the band rarely played or simply unreleased tracks. One thing is certain, tickets are selling like hotcakes and music lovers are strongly advised to get their hands on the Holy Grail quickly so as not to miss the performance of Jean-Michel Lambé and his friends. Once a fan, always a fan!
Diego OnTheRocks
Photos: Lola Demarquez & Lenny Urbain
Acknowledgments: Julien Banes / UPTON PARK
