Kulturarena Jena | Les Négresses Vertes

In the organizer's words:

If French lessons were a while ago or were never attended, this paradox is not at all noticeable: Partly melancholy lyrics meet illustrious, even sunny music that invites you to party. The fact that something doesn't seem to fit here is purely intentional - it's the style of a legendary French band that emerged from the Parisian punk movement almost forty years ago and still celebrates its love of music and life today: Les Négresses Vertes.

We don't translate the band's name, but are happy to provide an explanation: they originally called themselves "Les Maîtres", or the masters. After the band was thrown out of a club in 1987 by a bouncer with all kinds of absurd insults, it was over for the masters: What was thrown at them was part of the band from then on - the provocative renaming followed hot on their heels. Since then, the irrepressible rock band has been crossing musical boundaries with its colorful mix of French chanson réaliste, South American and Mediterranean influences. You could also say: when punk, waltz, polka, flamenco and rai are let loose on each other, Les Négresses Vertes are not far away!

Almost forty years have passed since the band was founded, forty years with many highs and a few lows. The tragic death of their singer Helno in the early 1990s left its mark, new albums and collaborations with Massive Attack and Howie B provided a breath of fresh air and then there was the temporary break: from 2001 to 2018. Perhaps this creative break wasn't a bad thing at all - at least their energy tanks seem to have been filled to the brim since the reunion: From 2018 to 2024, the old masters belted out more than 350 concerts and still haven't had enough! Stéfane Mellino, François Tousch, Iza Mellino, Mich Ochowiak, Gwen Badoux and Matthieu Rabaté are coming to Jena with their Zobi Tour. French bands have always been a big hit here, and this one is certainly no exception: Thoughtful and danceable, aggressive and obscene, impulsive and sensitive. Music for the world.

Price information:

Presale: 15,00 € Box Office: 20,00 €