Marching Band Festival in Antibes

When the french say "faire un bœuf" it's our equivalent of a "jam session" when the bands play improvised solos and vamp over tunes, drones, songs, and chord progressions. You will get plenty of that - and more - at the Antibes / Juan Marching Band Festival; a welcome recent addition to the Riviera Social Calendar.

RSAJ Band © Justine Aubert

The 3rd iteration - 2024

The 3rd edition of the "Marching Band Festival" is the perfect way to kick-off the summer season and (as usual) coincides with Easter Weekend, This year, the Town Hall has organised 7 groups; comprising 7-14 musicians each, who will parade through the streets and/or deliver concerts from Saturday March 30 to Monday April 1 (throughout both Antibes and Juan-les-Pins).

Marching Band Poster © Antibes Juan-les-Pins town hall

The 2024 Line-Up for the Marching Band Festival

Confirmed performances from these six bands (with one further to be announced soon):

Suck Da Head (on Instagram)	Zygos (official website)
Bandakadabra (official website)	Les Velcros Brass Band (on Instagram)
Hip Horns Brass Collective (official site)	Skokiann Brass Band (official site)

The 2024 Programme for the Marching Bands Festival

Saturday March 30 - Morning (all Antibes)

• Antibes Grand parade from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. with 7 groups

• Circuit: Place de Gaulle - Rue de la République - Place des Martyrs - Traverse Lacan - Rue Lacan - Place Nationale - Rue Thuret - Boulevard d'Aguillon - Rue Aubernon - Cours Masséna - Rue Georges Clémenceau - Place Nationale

• Finishing at Pace Nationale where there will be 20 minutes of jam with all 7 groups performing together - not to be missed!

Saturday March 30 - Afternoon - Antibes

• Concerts from 4 p.m. to 4:40 p.m

  • Place Marenda Lacan - Suck Da Head;

  • Place Nationale - Zygos;

  • Bld d’Aguillon - Bandakadabra

• Then the 3 groups together at Place des Martyrs for 20 mins

Saturday March 30 - Afternoon - Juan-les-Pins

• Concerts from 4 p.m. to 4:40 p.m

  • Promenade du Soleil - Velcros Brass Band;

  • Carrefour de la Joie - Hip Horns Brass Band;

  • Corner Dautheville / G.Gallice - Skokiaan

• Then the 3 groups together at Petite Pinède for 20 mins

Sunday March 31 - Lunchtime - Antibes

• Concerts from 4 p.m. to 4:40 p.m

  • Cours Masséna - Hip Horns Brass Band;

  • Place Nationale - Velcros Brass Band;

  • Bd d’Aguillon - Skokiaan

• Then the 3 groups together at Place Nationale for 20 mins

Sunday March 31 - Lunchtime - Juan-les-Pins

• Concerts from 4 p.m. to 4:40 p.m

  • Promenade du Soleil - Zygos

  • Carrefour de la Joie - Bandakadabra

  • Angle Dautheville / G.Gallice - Suck Da Head

• Then the 3 groups together at Petite Pinède for 20 mins

Sunday March 31 - Afternoon - Juan-les-Pins

• Juan les Pins Grand parade from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. with 7 groups

• Circuit: Palais des Congrès - Avenue Georges Gallice - Boulevard Edouard Baudoin - Promenade du Soleil - Bather - Rond-Point Courbet - Promenade du Soleil - Boulevard Edouard Baudoin - Petite Pinède

• Finishing at Petite Pinède where there will be 20 minutes of jam with all 7 groups

Monday April 1 - Lunchtime - Antibes

• Concerts from 4 p.m. to 4:40 p.m

  • Place des Martyrs - Suck da Head;

  • Boulevard d’Aguillon - Velcros Brass Band

• Then the 2 groups together at Place Nationale for 20 mins

Monday April 1 - Lunchtime - Juan-les-Pins

• Concerts from 4 p.m. to 4:40 p.m

  • Baigneuse - Bandakadabra;

  • Carrefour de la Joie - Zygos;

  • devant Sweet Café - Skokiaan

• Then the 3 groups together at Petite Pinède for 20 mins

Marching Bands Parade Route

The Route in Antibes:

The Route in Juan:

Check out the vibe

Why not check out this great video from the 2022 event, to get a feel for what you can expect, when you visit:

How to Get there

• By train: you have a choice of the Antibes station (on the SNCF-TGV fast line from Marseille to Ventimiglia) and the Juan-les-Pins and Biot train stations (only local TER trains). Buy your tickets in advance for reduced hassle. Timetables here.

• By car: exit the A8 autoroute at "la Provençale" (exit 44), then take the RD 6007 followed by the RD 6098 to the centre. A full list of car parks is here.
  

• By bus: The local bus network is run by Envibus who provides services in Antibes as well as the surrounding communes, including Juan-les-Pins, Biot, Châteauneuf, Gourdon, Vallauris Golfe-Juan and Villeneuve-Loubet. Most services run every 15 to 30 minutes and you can download the timetable at the Envibus website:

  • Bus 2 - Antibes - Plage du Ponteil - Phare du Cap - Eden Roc

  • Bus 10 - Antibes - Biot Gare SNCF - Marineland - Biot village - Valbonne

  • Bus 14 - Fort Carre - Port Vauban - Plage du Ponteil - Port de la Salis

  • Bus 15 - Juan les Pins Gare SNCF circular

  • Bus 23 - Antibes - Biot Station - Villeneuve-Loubet Marina - La Colle sur Loup
    

Resources

• The official website for the Marching Bands Festival

• The festival line-up on Bandsintown
  

Accommodation

With panoramic views, private infinity pool, super-fast Broadband / WiFi and modern air-conditioning, Haute Vue is a Holiday Home Villa in Montauroux; perfectly positioned for exploring both the interior of Provence and the French Riviera. Sleeping 10/12 in 5/6 bedrooms, it is the perfect central base for a holiday in the South of France; close to the beautiful perched villages of Provence and in easy reach of the beaches and sights of the sparkling Côte d'Azur.