Jean-Paul Cailloce is a Marnaz elected official deeply involved in local life and the Marnaz Blues Nights festival since its inception. Behind this now-essential event, he coordinates a massive organization supported by elected officials, volunteers, and municipal services. For him, the event is first and foremost about people, conviviality, and the joy of keeping blues culture alive in the valley.
From community involvement to the blues scene
My name is Jean-Paul Cailloce, I am married to a true Marnaz native, father of three children and grandfather of five grandchildren. Originally from Brittany, I have lived in the valley for 42 years. I became involved in local community life very early on: ski club, football, brass band, parents' association… Since 2008, I have been an elected official in Marnaz, Deputy Mayor for Local Affairs, responsible for associations, sports, and the Municipal Activities Office.
For the Marnaz Blues Nights, I am the liaison with the municipality and I coordinate the festival's organization with the elected officials on my committee, municipal staff, volunteers, and the AEM. I have been part of the adventure since the very first edition in 2013.
Behind the scenes at the Blues Nights
Behind the Nuits Blues festival lies an enormous amount of preparation that the public doesn't always realize. Starting in January, several committees work on the event. We can count on nearly 130 volunteers, the technical services of Marnaz, and partner companies such as Chapiteaux de Haute-Savoie and AMADEUS for sound equipment.
Unlike many other festivals, we manage all the food and drinks ourselves. Despite the scale of the organization, the atmosphere remains very positive and exhilarating. There's a real team spirit where everyone knows their role perfectly.
I particularly remember the 2018 edition, marked by a major storm. Despite this, our headliner insisted on playing until the end for the audience who stayed, and we improvised the end of the evening under the partners' tent. In the end, even unexpected events become beautiful memories.
Ears full of memories
Each edition leaves me with different memories. The exchanges with our patron, Cisco Herzhaft, are always incredible. I particularly love seeing the third-grade classes open the festival each year. It's a very moving moment to see a hundred children singing after learning about the history of the blues at school with Cisco. The encounters with artists from all over the world are also memorable. They all greatly appreciate the welcome they receive in Marnaz and the exceptional setting overlooking the Bargy mountain. I wouldn't be able to single out one artist over another, because each one brings something different through their culture and their way of experiencing the blues.
I'm also thinking of the "Musique À Toutes Mains" group, which brings the town to life all week before the festival. They perform in schools, at the retirement home, at the Micro-Folie, and at the festival site. They share their passion with tremendous joy and good humor.
A festival that has become unmissable
Today, the Marnaz Blues Nights have become a must-attend event in the valley. This festival offers a blend of blues music, local microbreweries, friendly food, opportunities to meet the artists, and above all, a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Even after the COVID period, the public returned immediately. This reinforced our belief that this event truly matters to the residents. For our municipal team, it is essential to offer this type of cultural event in an industrial valley surrounded by magnificent mountains. We want to create moments of shared experience that are accessible to everyone.
If I had to sum up the atmosphere of the Blues Nights in three words, I would say: conviviality, family and simplicity.
The final scene… before starting again
When the festival ends, I feel an immense amount of joy, happiness, and satisfaction after all the work we've accomplished together. What I also love is when we get together a few weeks later for the debriefing meeting. We share anecdotes from the two evenings and start planning the next edition.
And if I had to convince someone to come and discover the Nuits Blues de Marnaz, I would simply tell them that it is a free, accessible, friendly festival, with quality food, reasonable prices and above all very good concerts in a warm and family atmosphere.
Experience the vibrancy of Blues Nights
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