Angers City Limits

Say it with me now: “Ahn-jay.”

That, Austin, is how you pronounce the name of our French sister city, a college town replete with castles some 200 miles southwest of Paris. They recently hosted “Playback” for Austin Week, a celebration of Lone Star music, film, food, art, and culture. The tables now turn for Angers Week, in which ambassadors from their city visit Austin to share some homegrown culture in a series of events running today through Saturday.

Music factors heavily into the cultural exchange. In September, Austin exported Golden Dawn Arkestra, Bob Hoffnar’s Mood Illusion, Grace Park of the Deer, Jai Milano, Ethan Azarian & Jeff Johnston, Elijah Ford, Kalu James, Beth Chrisman, and Andy Bianculli of Star Parks to perform for French audiences. This week, we welcome a cadre of bands from the similarly music obsessed city of Angers.

Here are the core four:

San Carol

This battle of men vs. machines results in synth-driven live-tronica with Krautrock influences and a heavy pulse the group describes as “music between a microeconomics lesson and eight hours in a clean supermarket.”

Angers Week shows

Thu. 10 @ Barracuda: King Khan BBQ Show & Paint Fumes aftershow with Annabelle Chairlegs, VedeTT ($15, all ages)

Sat. 12 @ Butterfly Bar, noon-7pm (no cover, all ages); Swan Dive, 9pm: Devin James Fry, Ruby Fray, Cherry Plum ($5, 21+)

Sun. 13 @ Blackheart, 9pm (no cover, 21+)

Cherry Plum

The music of Cherry Plum unintentionally adheres to Americans’ perceptions of France. It’s lean, gorgeous, and has a dark – even noir – quality. The gothic folk/guitar pop act, returning after an American debut at Angers Week 2015, lights up your ears with gorgeous harmonies in English and Français.

Angers Week shows

Wed. 9 @ Lenoir: Wine & Music in the Garden, 6-9pm

Thu. 10 @ ABGB: Pizza & Beer Pop-Up & Project ATX6, 6pm (all ages)

Fri. 11 @ Stay Gold: Kalu James, Molly Burch, Little Mazarn, Ethan Azarian & Jeff Johnston, 9pm ($5)

Sat. 12 @ Butterfly Bar, noon-7pm (no cover, all ages); Swan Dive: Devin James Fry, Ruby Fray, San Carol, 9pm ($5, 21+)

VedeTT

They call it “Spleen Wave,” a term we cannot fathom translating. We call the quartet, led by Florent Vincelot, sensitive dream pop with modern rock and electronic elements.

Angers Week shows

Thu. 10 @ KUTX Studio 1A: Live performance, 2pm

Thu. 10 @ Barracuda: King Khan BBQ Show & Paint Fumes aftershow, with Annabelle Chairlegs, VedeTT ($15, all ages)

Sat. 12 @ Butterfly Bar, noon-7pm (no cover, all ages)

Sun. 13 @ Blackheart, 9pm (no cover, 21+)

Meduse

Trans-Atlantic pop big and elegant, carried by the breathtaking interplay of guitarist/vocalist Nicolas Chavet and synth/vocalist Julie Saunders.

Angers Week shows

Wed. 9 @ Cheer Up Charlies: OVRLD + Austin Angers Creative present Bali Yaaah, Roaring Sun, Upper Reality, 9pm ($3, 21+)

Thu. 10 @ Blackheart: Ash Gray, Mrs. Glass, 9pm (no cover, 21+); Stay Gold: Sound Dessert Showcase, 11pm ($5, 21+)

Sat. 12 @ Butterfly Bar, noon-7pm (no cover, all ages)