“l’Autre Festival” or “Den Andre Festivalen” means “The Other Festival” and refers to the collective’s name “l’Autre Collectif/Det Andre Kollektivet”. The name points to the existence of two parallel collectives based in Oslo and Paris, co-existing and collaborating, functioning as one organism.
Organizing the first festival in 2021 in Chalon sur Saone, France, the event was made to pursue their ambition to create a stronger musical bond in the creative jazz scene between Norway and France. Since the very beginning the collective has invited musicians from the two countries to take part in a large ensemble. The event has been a way of facilitating new encounters and musical discoveries through interpreting a commissioned work from a composer invited each year.
The festival is held annually in Norway (Oslo area) and France (Chalon/Paris). We had eight editions since 2021, four in France and four in Norway.