Liet International 2010 is in Lorient!
Lorient hosts the 7th edition of Liet International
Call for new songs in European minority languages
Seventh edition of minority language song contest Liet International in
Lorient/An Orient, in Breizh/Brittany, France
On Saturday the 27th of November 2010 the Breton city of An Orient (French: Lorient) will host the seventh edition of European minority language song contest Liet International, the one and only song contest for singers and bands who sing in a European minority language. In Brittany the song contest will be organized and produced by the Festival Interceltique de Lorient, in close collaboration with Foundation Liet International from Friesland in the Netherlands. After six previous editions in Friesland, the Netherlands and Swedish Lapland (Sápmi), Liet International has been invited to Brittany by Mrs. Lena Louarn, the vicepresident of the Région Bretagne/Rannvro Breizh.
The organization therefore calls upon bands and singer/songwriters throughout
Europe to submit new songs this edition.
The contest will consist of 11 singers or bands who represent European regions. Bands or artists are invited to send in newly composed music and lyrics until September 1st 2010. Liet International 2010 aims to announce the selection of the songs no later than the 8th of September.
In previous contests Liet international had songs in languages such as Basque, Breton, Catalan,
Cornish, Corsican, Frisian, Friulian, Gaelic, Galician, Karelian, Lowgerman, Manx, Meankieli,
Mordvinian, Northfrisian, Occitan, Romani, Sámi, Sorbian, Votian and Welsh. The Sámi (Laps)
have won the festival four times, but the last edition in Swedish Lapland in 2008 was won by
the Corsican singer Jacques Culioli.
Liet International, a Frisian initiative, collaborates closely with various other song contests
in minority languages throughout Europe. The winners of these events automatically qualify for Liet International. Until now, three bands already qualified for Liet: the Asturian band Xera, the Frisian band Equal Souls and Sámi singer Pia Maria Holmgren. Suns, an open air festival on the 28th of August, will send two participants to Liet International 2010.
This means that there are six open places for all other minority languages of Europe. One of
those will go to Britanny. The selection is done by a small and completely independent selection jury in the first week of September. The lyrics and music should be new or newly written and composed, so called traditional songs are not accepted.
The singers/groups chosen will be invited to take part in the contest. Liet International encourages participants to seek financial support for the travel expenses from the nation they represent. We take care of hotel and living expenses.
Two prizes are awarded: one voted for by the international jury and the other by the audience. The panel of judges comprises a representative from each participating region. It is also our intention to arrange a live broadcast on the radio and the internet, so listeners can vote by SMS-text or on the website. Liet International will be registered for television and usually attracts a lot of media attention.
Partners of Liet International are Arlef (Udine in Italy), the autonomous government of
Asturias, the province of Friesland in the Netherlands and the Council of Europe/Conseil de
l’Europe.
For band/artist registration click here.
