Manu Bertrand is a multi-instrumentalist musician specialized in American music.
Manu Bertrand is a multi-instrumentalist musician specialized in American music.
For more than 25 years, he has put his musical universe at the service of many artists such as Martha Fields, Gildas Arzel, Shaka Ponk, Tom Frager, Valentine Lambert, Dick Rivers, Eric Bibb or Jean-Jacques Milteau.
Dobro, banjo, mandolin, electric and acoustic guitar, pedal steel guitar and lap steel are all strings to his bow. A totally self-taught musician as comfortable in the studio as in live, Manu Bertrand particularly likes to create bridges between traditional and modern music, between musical styles or between artists from different backgrounds.
A bit more than just country music
Nowadays, this virtuoso multi-instrumentalist remains a powerhouse in the country music scene, but he's also received requests - on a more and more regular basis - to accompany some of the leading lights in French music, such as Tom Frager, Shaka Ponk and Gildas Arzel. He still finds time for studio recording between all the concerts and rehearsals. Or reeling off a few notes for an advertising campaign: you can hear him play the banjo on a TV advert for dairy products.
Acclaimed by the stars
Performing in front of an audience is still his main purpose in life. He has done the tour of the big venues, like the Olympia in Paris, while playing alongside the big names, like Jean-Jacques Milteau, Eric Bibb and Groundation. You can also see him at lots of well-known festivals across France and Europe, which means that his dobro, his banjo, his mandolin and his pedal-steel are becoming more and more familiar. He has even been on TV with Michel Drucker and Antoine de Caunes.
An artist on the move
He travels the highways of France and Europe, and flies off to Morocco, Australia and the USA. Hopping backwards and forwards between Austin, Texas and Bordeaux with Martha Fields Galloway, the American singer and composer, has opened up a whole new set of horizons, some near, some far. Folk and country music have merged to set his instruments on fire and keep the public crying out for more.
Despite his way-too-busy schedule, he's always able to squeeze in some time for his travelling companions, like Erik Sitbon, Wayne Law and Mary Reynaud.
Du Declin
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Manu Bertrand currently collaborates with: Martha Fields - Les Raisins de la Colère - Valentine Lambert - Jean-Jacques Milteau - Carlton Moody - Roxane Arnal - Tom Frager - Gildas Arzel - Mary Reynaud - Boom Ditty - Glenn Arzel & Claire Nivard...
Manu Bertrand has collaborated on stage or in the studio with: Shaka Ponk - Eric Bibb - Dick Rivers - JJ Milteau & Manu Galvin - Groundation - Rising Tide - Erik Sitbon & The Ghost Band Mathieu Lamboley - Raphaëlle Dess - Roots & Drive - Franz Robert Wild - Cantinero - Bobby Dirninger - Zora Young - Urbain Lambert - Oli le Baron - Gaëdic Chambrier - Wayne Law - Mo - Flyin’ Saucers Gumbo Special - Sugaray Rayford - Jean Guy Deraspe - Green Duck - Shannon - Charlie West - Acoustic Project - Texas Line - Tildon Krautz - JB Demouy - Country Station - River Hill - Rio Grande - One Way - Springfield - Ricky Norton - Blue River Band - Accordzéâm - Carole - Garance - Alain Llorca - François Staal - Sophie Tapie - Frank Jean Schmidt - Augus - Phie - Guillaume Boehler - Oswaldo Nieto - Lionel Cuzenic - Allain - Rose Mary Lou - Laurent Esteban - Lo Jay - Bassel...
Original soundtrack ‘Juste Ciel’ - Original soundtrack ‘Home Sweet Home’ - Original soundtrack ‘Yes We Can’ - Pub TV ‘Les produits laitiers’ - ‘L’émission d’Antoine’ avec Green Duck - ‘Vivement Dimanche’ with Sophie Tapie...
You have met Manu Bertrand on different stages in France and abroad including: the Olympia - the New Morning - the Reservoir - the Sunset - the Européen - the Trianon - the Petit Journal Montparnasse - the Zèbre - Billy Bob’s Saloon - the Utopia...
Festival Confluences de Montereau - Festival Terres du Son de Monts - Festival d’Avignon - Festival des Jeux du Théâtre de Sarlat - Country Rendez-Vous de Craponne sur Arzon - Francofolies de La Rochelle - La Roche Bluegrass Festival - Equiblues - Mirande - Festival Jazz en Touraine - May Fest - Bain de Bretagne - Real’Croche - Berck sur Mer - Niederbronn - West Country - Festival de Jazz de Corbeil Essonnes - Samoëns American Festival...
O2 Arena Londres (UK) - Hi-Fi Brisbane, Hi-Fi Melbourne, Hi-Fi Sydney, Brewery Byron Bay (Australia) - Sun Studio Memphis, Station Inn Nashville, Ramada West Memphis, Oak Alley Louisiana (USA) - Southern Fried Festival, Americana Glasgow Festival (Scotland) - Kilkenny, Rythm & Roots festival, Roundwood (Ireland) - EWOB Festival, Blue Room Session (Netherlands) - Faro (Portugal) - Zürich, Geneva (Switzerland) - Cerexhe (Belgium) - Wolsztyn, Ustron (Poland) - Haag, Bad Ischl (Austria) - Brandenburg, Tännesberg, Greifenstein, Geiselwind, Bergsee Ratscher (Germany), Prad (Italy), Free Surf Camp Tamraght (Morocco), Sälen (Sweden), Vinstra, Seljord (Norway) - Bauska (Latvia) - Visagino (Lithuania) - Salardù, Santa Susana (Spain)...