Association à la Recherche d’un Folklore Imaginaire

The Association à la Recherche d’un Folklore Imaginaire (ARFI) is a French musical collective founded in Lyon in 1977. It brings together musicians from diverse backgrounds to promote improvised music, experimental jazz, and musical creativity more broadly, creating spaces for exchange, work, and reflection. The association is a company of musicians active in Lyon groups such as the Workshop de Lyon (founded in 1967), the Marvelous Band, and the big band La Marmite Infernale. ARFI is based at 7 rue d'Alsace Lorraine in Lyon and operates as a private, non-listed organization. ARFI's activities span concerts, performances, and cultural initiatives. Its groups range from duos to big bands and are regularly invited to major festivals in France and abroad. The collective also produces shows that blend music with circus, street arts, gastronomy, theater, and dance, as well as cine-concerts and video-concerts. ARFI has run its own record label since its creation, with a CD and DVD catalog that started in 1989 and now includes more than 80 references. The label's releases are distributed by Les Allumés du Jazz and, for newer references, by L'Autre Distribution. In 2024, ARFI's active groups include La Marmite Infernale, L'Effet Vapeur, Bululú, InDOLPHYlités, Les Incendiaires, and Actuel Remix. The collective also maintains a roster of associated musicians and has a history of groups that have ceased activity, such as the Workshop de Lyon and the Marvelous Band. ARFI continues to organize events, tours, and workshops, with a busy schedule of performances across France and Europe.

The Association à la Recherche d’un Folklore Imaginaire (ARFI) was founded in Lyon in 1977. It emerged from the city's vibrant jazz scene, particularly from the group Workshop de Lyon, which had been founded in 1967. The collective was established to promote improvised music, experimental jazz, and musical creativity by bringing together musicians from diverse backgrounds and creating spaces for exchange, work, and reflection. The name "À la Recherche d'un Folklore Imaginaire" (In Search of an Imaginary Folklore) reflects its mission to explore new musical territories. From its early years, ARFI was associated with groups such as the Marvelous Band, which was central to its formation, and La Marmite Infernale, a big band that renewed its concert repertoires since its creation in 1977. The collective quickly became a hub for experimental jazz in Lyon, with its groups performing regularly in France and abroad. In 1989, ARFI launched its own record label with the release AM012, "Ces messieurs / Kak nié bolé." The label has since grown to include over 80 references, encompassing CDs and DVDs. Early releases included albums by La Marmite Infernale, Workshop de Lyon, and other associated groups. The label's catalog is distributed by Les Allumés du Jazz and, for newer releases, by L'Autre Distribution. Over the decades, ARFI has expanded its activities beyond concerts to include theatrical productions, cine-concerts, and interdisciplinary performances. It has collaborated with artists from circus, street arts, gastronomy, theater, and dance. The collective has also been involved in educational and community projects, such as the Babel Orkestra, created during a residency in the Duchère neighborhood of Lyon. In 2017, the Workshop de Lyon celebrated its 50th anniversary, highlighting the long-standing legacy of ARFI's associated musicians. As of 2024, ARFI continues to be active with a roster of groups including La Marmite Infernale, L'Effet Vapeur, Bululú, InDOLPHYlités, Les Incendiaires, and Actuel Remix. The collective maintains a busy schedule of performances and cultural initiatives, remaining a vital force in the French experimental music scene.

• 2024

  Active groups include La Marmite Infernale, L'Effet Vapeur, Bululú, InDOLPHYlités, Les Incendiaires, Actuel Remix.

• 2017

  Workshop de Lyon celebrates 50th anniversary.

• 1994

  Group L'Effet Vapeur created.

• 1989

  ARFI record label launched with first release AM012.

• 1977

  ARFI founded in Lyon.

A collective promoting improvised and experimental jazz, known for its creative and cross-disciplinary approach.

• La Marmite Infernale

  12-17 musicians, renews concert repertoires since 1977, also does cine-concerts and shows.

• L'Effet Vapeur

  Surrealist and poetic quartet created in 1994, became trio in 1998, quartet again in 2018.

• Bululú

  Project around Venezuelan music proposed by clarinetist and singer Emmanuelle Saby.

• InDOLPHYlités

  Quintet around Eric Dolphy's album 'Out to Lunch'.

• Les Incendiaires

  Created in the image of Trio Apollo with same instrumentation (trumpet, trombone, sax).

• Actuel Remix

  Techno duo (Garcia-Villerd) following Electric duo and 'Old Blind & Deaf'.

• Workshop de Lyon

  Oldest ARFI group, celebrated 50 years in 2017.

• Marvelous Band

  Group based mainly on compositions of Alain Gibert, at the origin of ARFI.

1. 1Welcome | Association à la Recherche d'un Folklore Imaginairearfi.org
2. 2Association à la Recherche d’un Folklore Imaginairewikidata.org
3. 3Association à la recherche d'un folklore imaginairefr.wikipedia.org