Music Events
by Neil Atherton

Rock, Pop & Blues
Tool & Papa Roach Angry, dark post-thrash metal meets North Californian alt-rock metal in a double bill of God-knows-what’s-next-metal. June 5, 7pm, 179F, Zénith 211 av Jean Jaurès, 19e, M° Porte de Pantin, no box office

Rocket From The Crypt Rollicking indie-rockers bring on their new album “Group Sounds.” June 6, 8pm, 99F, La Boule Noire, 120 bd de Rochechouart, 18e, M° Anvers/Pigalle, tel: 01 49 25 89 99

Sonic Youth Not so youthful anymore, but still making staggeringly sonic rock. June 7, 7:30pm, 176-220F, L’Olympia, 28 bd des Capucines, 9e, M° Opéra, tel: 01 47 42 82 45

David Byrne Former Talking Heads front man and electronic music visionary. Look out for a forthcoming collaboration with X-Press 2. This guy’s phat. June 13, 7:30pm, 201-256F, L’Olympia, 28 bd des Capucines, 9e, M° Opéra, tel: 01 47 42 82 45

Paradise Lost Gothic doom-metal band find themselves in Pigalle. June 13, 8pm, 121F, Locomotive, 90 bd de Clichy, 18e, M° Blanche, tel: 01 53 41 88 88

Gary Moore Sometime Thin Lizzy guitarist goes “Back to the Blues.” June 14, 8pm, 165-198F, Le Grand Rex

Little Arthur Duncan Chicago blues harp man teams up with Iceman Robinson on Slide-guitar, June 7-16, Quai du Blues, 17 bd Vital-Bohot, 92200 Neuilly-sur-Seine, dinner+show, tel: 01 46 24 22 00

Thomas Fersen Parisian-born resident of Norway recites his essentially acoustic folk-pop set. June 13-16, 8pm, 143-165F, La Cigale, 120 bd de Rochechouart, 18e, M° Anvers/Pigalle, tel: 01 49 25 89 99

Echo & The Bunnymen Post-punk gone pop à la Ian McCulloch. June 17, 8pm, 149F, La Cigale, 120 bd de Rochechouart, 18e, M° Anvers/Pigalle, tel: 01 49 25 89 99

Stereophonics Welsh indie from Kelly and Richard Jones, playing hits from their latest recording JEEP (Just Enough Education to Perform) which Daimler-Chrysler were apparently none to happy about. June 18, 8pm, 168F, La Cigale, 120 bd de Rochechouart, 18e, M° Anvers/Pigalle, tel: 01 49 25 89 99

Bon Jovi New Jersey pop-metal. They’re not old, just older. June 19, 8pm, 263-335F, Bercy, 8 bd de Bercy, 12e, M°Bercy, tel: 01 43 46 12 21

Garance Reggae Festival Commercial, one-day excuse for a reggae festival with The Gladiators, Steel Pulse, Sly & Robbie and Morgan Heritage. June 23, 8pm, 210F, Bercy, 8 bd de Bercy, 12e, M° Bercy, tel: 01 43 46 12 21

Neil Young & Oasis The Crazy Horseman on stage with the mono-browed brothers Gallagher. June 24, 7pm, 251-337F, Bercy, 8 bd de Bercy, 12e, M° Bercy, tel: 01 43 46 12 21

David Gray Not the most charismatic of blokes, but still makes sublime-sounding pop. With Cousteau in support. June 25, 7:30pm, 132F, Café de la Danse, 5 passage Louis-Philippe, 11e, M° Bastille, tel: 01 47 00 57 59

Electro, Hip Hop & Soul
Bugge Wesseltoft Norwegian jazz guru samples his latest Conception of Jazz album. June 2, 7:30pm, 99F, Le Plan, Ris Orangis, tel: 01 69 43 03 03. (Also at Parc Floral Jazz Festival)

Stereo MC’s Rob B, The Head and the MC’s are back! See CD reviews for more. June 2, 8pm, 121F, Elysée-Montmartre 72 bd de Rochechouart, 18e, M° Anvers, tel: 01 55 07 06 00

Eric Benet Urban gospel crossover singer with inspired R’n’B/ hip hop licks. June 8, 8pm, 132F, Elysée-Montmartre 72 bd de Rochechouart, 18e, M° Anvers, tel: 01 55 07 06 00

Gorillaz Pretend indie-dance hip hop cartoon-type group that doesn’t really exist, fronted by Blur’s Damon Albarn. June 22, 8pm, 179F, La Cigale, 120 bd de Rochechouart, 18e, M° Anvers/Pigalle, tel: 01 49 25 89 99

Talvin Singh Tabla and turntable supremo. June 28, 8pm, 154F, Elysée-Montmartre, 72 bd de Rochechouart, 18e, M° Anvers, tel: 01 55 07 06 00

Nitin Sawhney “From oppression comes expression” is Nitin’s favorite truism. Much respected forefather of the Asian underground. June 29, 8pm, 143F, Café de la Danse, 5 passage Louis-Philippe, 11e, M° Bastille, tel: 01 47 00 57 59

Jazz, World & Blues
Rhoda Scott Also known as the Barefoot Lady due to her penchant for playing the organ without shoes. June 5-8, 9.30pm, 75F/55F, Caveau de la Huchette, 5 rue de la Huchette, 10e, M° St-Michel, tel: 01 43 26 65 05

Chris Thomas King Band Modern electric bluesman with his self, his guitar and his blues. June 6, 9pm, 121F, New Morning, 7-9 rue des Petites Ecuries, 10e, M° Château d’Eau, tel: 01 45 23 51 41

Nina Simone Legendary soul-jazz vocalist. June 8, 8pm, 282-491F, Palais des Congrès, 2 pl Porte Maillot, 17e, M° Porte Maillot, tel: 01 40 68 00 05

Joyce Prolific Brazilian songstress recently revived by her exploration into drum’n’bossa. June 19, 9pm, 132F, New Morning 7-9 rue des Petites Ecuries, 10e, M° Château d’Eau, tel: 01 45 23 51 41

Tarika Hanitra Rasoanaivo’s Madagascan five-piece band explore the Indonesian origins of the Malagasy heritage. June 26, 9pm, 115F, New Morning 7-9 rue des Petites Ecuries, 10e, M° Château d’Eau, tel: 01 45 23 51 41

Toni Lynn Washington Boston-based blues singer. June 27, 9pm, 121F, New Morning 7-9 rue des Petites Ecuries, 10e, M° Château d’Eau, tel: 01 45 23 51 41

ALFRESCO JAZZ
Paris outdoor concerts

It’s that time of year again... June 21 — the first day of summer — marks the 19th edition of the Fête de la Musique initiated by François Mitterrand’s flamboyant Minister of Culture, Jack Lang. Which basically means: music, music everywhere. From Bastille to place de l’Hôtel de Ville. From sidewalk cafés to pedestrian alleyways...

And, yes — it’s the return of Vincennes’ annual jazz fest... At the Parc Floral every weekend, rows of deck chairs line the lake and picnickers lay among the rhododendrons. This time round, free concerts include Tania Maria, Omara Potuondo and Didier Lockwood. To July 31, Sat & Sun at 4.30pm, Parc Floral de Paris, bois de Vincennes, M° Château de Vincennes, tel: 01 55 94 20 20 or www.parcfloraldeparis.com (Entry to park: 10F)

“La Défense Jazz Festival” More free outdoor jazz peppered with funk, salsa, reggae, soul, blues, even electro... Top June 5-17 gigs include Ernesto “Tito” Puentes, Bugge Wesseltoft and the Nils Landren Funk Unit. June 5-9, noon to 2pm, facing the Quatre-Temps commercial center. Next, by Agam’s monumental fountain — June 11-15, noon to 2pm and June 16 & 17, 2-7:30pm. Esplanade de La Défense, M° La Défense (Parvis), tel: 01 47 29 34 53

Two further fests spotlight Django Reinhardt. An International Guitar Festival at the Palais des Congrès includes a tribute to Reinhardt, along with Al Di Meola, B.B. King. June 23-26, 8pm, M° Porte Maillot, tel: 01 40 68 00 05. Then, summer weekenders will flock to the 22nd Festival de Jazz Django Reinhardt, on l’Ile du Berceau à Samois, a picturesque islet just outside Fontainebleau, which features mondo jazz: manouche from Italy and Germany, swing from Canada, Latin from Cuba, etc. (Info: 01 64 69 54 66)