Honoring Youenn Gwernig: Plouguerneau’s Bretons in New York

Youenn Gwernig’s rich personality has made him one of Brittany’s ambassadors. Humanist and universal, he was one of the champions of Breton identity open to the world. A multifaceted artist, he was a cabinetmaker and sculptor, musician and singer. Emigrated to the United States in 1957, where he met Jacques Kerouac “I became very good friends with Jacques Kerouac. I spent a weekend with him at his home in Massachusetts; the day will come when we will go to Brittany together, like two Celtic princes,” he declared.

Finally it is Brittany which will go to New York during the festival which celebrates it, from May 15 to 21, bearing the work of this great ancestor, who died in 2006. The association BZH New York supported by the Brittany region will receive a group of musicians from the Ar Vro Bagan troupe, from Plouguerneau, formed during the play written by Goulc’han Kervella “War hent Youenn Gwernig”. The artists are in residence this week at the Armorica cultural space, in Plouguerneau (29). They are Julien Stevenin, double bass, Typhaine Corre, Tangi Merien, vocals, Tangi Le Gall Carré, accordion, Erwan Moal, guitar.

Thursday in this place a videoconference made it possible to exchange with representatives of the association BZH New York, Yann Pelliet of the production office Paker Prod and Yann Rivallain, project manager Bretons of the world of the Brittany region and to discover the program of this festive week “The Bretons are everywhere. We wish to develop these exchanges in various countries of the world. »

After a reception at the French consulate on May 16, a concert at the Irish pub Fiddlestiks will be offered on May 17. On May 18, the musicians will perform at the Drom club on Fifth Avenue in New York. Friends of Brittany around the world will be able to relive this concert-event thanks to a special recording and rebroadcast of the Fête de la Bretagne. On the 19th, in Astoria, a district of Queens, in New York, the traditional meal will allow encounters between Breton music and friends of Brittany from the Big Apple.