It all began on the cliffs of Champeaux in England's Channel in 2008, which is different from where Maisons-Alfort stands, as the song suggests. A group of committed Champelais gathered there to initiate their venture - concerts with jazz music from April through July every month. Therefore, "Les Fuites de Jazz" existed in April 2009 for its opening season.
Taking advantage of its success, the association decided to create an even bigger project – in 2010, they launched the inaugural "Jazz en Baie" festival that spanned eight days and included stops in Avranches up to Granville on the coast. By 2013, due to increased attendance, they became more professional while keeping their non-profit status intact, resulting in 10,000 attendees at the 2014 edition of the festival.
In 2019, the 10th edition of the festival saw a significant transformation. The association pushed for an "open" aesthetic that would open doors to modern music; thus, it was renamed in 2020 to the festival "Grandes Marees." This exciting evolution gave way to endless musical possibilities and made room for contemporary acts with groundbreaking sounds.
Every year, the festival Grandes Marees is held in Jullouville for a whole week during the last days of July. It's a fantastic event that brings together more than 21,000 people worldwide and is organized by 350 dedicated volunteers!
