The imaginary orchestra
Eric brings his magical orchestra to life using cunning instruments and ingenious inventions. Watch as a humble carpet and Parisian style transforms the street into a wonderland of sound.
Eric Tarantola plays his extraordinary instruments: a sauce pan drum set, an old patched trombone, the “Clock Thumb Piano” and the “Guitanjo” combining a guitar and a banjo. All these instruments are masterfully blended by loop machine and fx pedal to create audio magic.
With these unique instruments and his individual musical style Eric creates a playful universe. L’orchestre Imaginaire is the meeting point between circus and music. Tarantola weaves his rhythms and melodies like a true maestro capitvating both ears and hearts.
ÉRIC TARANTOLA
musician
was born in 1983 in Avignon, in the south of France. I started learning music by studying guitar and trombone at the “Pro Musica” training center in Le Thor, and then continued at the conservatories of Marseille and Avignon.
At the same time, I discovered theater by working as a stage technician at the “Badaboum Théâtre” in Marseille, a children’s theater. This first experience with live performance made me want to mix music with other forms of art.
Over the years, I played and recorded with many bands in a wide variety of styles: funk, hip-hop, salsa, reggae, jazz, cumbia, ska-rock, brass bands… even traditional Afrobeat from Burkina Faso.
In 2009, I created Une Boucle dans la Tête, a solo project where I play several instruments using a loop pedal. That’s when I started performing in the streets and traveling, beginning a true artistic journey around the world.
In 2021, I developed this project into The Imaginary Orchestra, adding a theatrical touch, a character with a unique look, interaction with the audience, and more complex music played on handmade or recycled instruments.
Along the way, I’ve collaborated with artists from many different backgrounds:
→ Circus: Mc Fois, Torpeza Ritmika, Markus Schrag
→ Dance: Elena Peinado, Naïma Ferrer
→ Film: AAIA Collective, Prague Film School
→ Painting: Yasmine Chettouh, Guillermo Escalante
→ Poetry: Yves Gaudin
These experiences have deeply enriched me and continue to inspire my work.
Today, I keep bringing The Imaginary Orchestra to life, always exploring new musical and artistic ideas. I travel, I play, I create… always with the same joy of learning, meeting people… and having fun.
2025 TOUR
SURPRIS’Ô’LOGIS
12 April
Saint Montan, FRANCE
STRASSEN MUSIK FESTIVAL
6 – 8 June
Ludwigsburg, GERMANY
BUSKERS BRAUNSCHWEIG
20 – 22 June
Braunscweig, GERMANY
TURDA INTERNATIONAL THEATRE FESTIVAL
5 – 6 July Turda, ROMANIA
MONTREUX JAZZ FESTIVAL OFF
9 – 12 July
Montreux, , SWITZERLAND
CHALON DANS LA RUE OFF
17 – 20 July
Chalon sur Saône, FRANCE
ATELIER LOOP LE TILT 23 July Le Teil, FRANCE
FLOATING CASTEL FESTIVAL 7 – 10 August Grad Snežnik, SLOVENIA
MARCHÉ DES PRODUCTEURS 22 August Le Teil, FRANCE
PUPPETS OCCUPY STREET 26 – 27 August Craiova, ROMANIA
HANSE FESTIVAL 6- 7 September Korbach, GERMANY
STRAMU 12 -14 September Würzburg, GERMANY
Previous
(more info when mousing over)
Austria
* Pflasterspektakel Street Art Festival, Linz
* Flaniermeile Velden 2014, Velden
Belgium
* Straatkunstenfestival Del Mundo, Maasmechelen
* Rallye- Théâtre de la petite reine, Lessines
* De Gevleugelde Stad Ieper, Ypres
BraZil
* Festival do circo do Ceará, Fortaleza
Czech Republic
* Kingswood event, Prague-Brno
* Za Dvermi Festival, Pragua
CROATIa
* Spancirfest, Varazdine
* Cest is d'best, Zagreb
EGYPT
* Porto Marina summer Festival, Porto Marina
France
* Fête du lac d'Anneçy 74
* La Presqu'île, Annonay 07
* Jazz sur un plateau, Larnas 07
* Fiesta d'été, L'isle sur Sorgues 84
* Ô'Chap, Alba la Romaine 07
* Auprès de mon arbre Guinguette, Mayres 07
* La lune Rouge, Verfeil-sur-Seye 82
* Cirk'n Roll, Chabeuil 26
* La Musardière fête d'automne, Vaison la romaine 84
* Cabaret Solidaire Ukraine, Bourg-Saint-Andéol 07
* Vidjo Folies, Suze la Rousse 84
* El local, Vaison la romaine 84
* Récré'action, Le Teil 07
* Chalon dans la rue off, Chalon sur saone 71
* Bravos de la nuit, Pélussin 42
* 3R-la triade Ressourcerie des baronnies, Nyons 26
* Bar l'Atelier du Cauris, Vaison la romaine 84
* Visites insolites, Bagnols sur Cèze 30
* Association Intervalle anniversaire, Buis les Baronnies 26
* Ecole Lamarque, Viviers 07
* Rochefort fait son cinéma, Rochefort 14
* Cabamesquin Festival, Carsan 30
* Festival International de Poésie, Cordes sur Ciel 81
* Festival Rituels et Art Sacré, Paris 75
* Festival De Théâtre Off, Avignon 84
* Kolorz Festival, Carpentras 84
* Festival Auprès de mon Arbre, Sabres 40
* Festival Graines En Têtes, Brousse et Villaret 11
* Festival de la Parole Poétique, Quimperlé 29
GERMANY
* Pflasterzauber Festival, Hildesheim
* East side music days, Berlin
* Norder Sommerfest, Wachtberg
* Gauklerfest Rottenburg, Rottenburg
* Festival Kleinkunst Insel Usedom, Heringsdorf
* Kulturufer Festival, Friedrichshafen
* Marktspektakel, Obernzell
* Pinneberger Kleinkunstfestival, Pinneberg
* StraBentheaterfestival DaCapo, Kronberg im Taunus
* InterStrabenkunstler Festival, Munster
* Berlin Lacht, Berlin
* Dat Uhlenfest, Hamburg
HOLLAND
* Straatfestival Arcen, Arcen
* Kunsten op straat, Denekamp
* Straatfestival Apeldoorn, Apeldoorn
* Festival Onderstroom, Vlissingen
* Muziek in de straten, Enschede
* Kunsten op Straat, Hengelo
IraQ
* International street theater festival, Darbandikhan
Italia
* Imaginaria 2018, San Pellegrino Al Cassero
* Di Strada In Strada, Bra
Latvia
* Earth Sky Sea Festival, Liepaja
Lichtenstein
* Buskers street festival, Vaduz
MACEDOnia - BULGARIa
* Buskerfest, Skopje
Mexico
* Contemporary Arts Center, Mexico DF
Polonia
* OFCA Festival, Oleśnica
* Buskerbus Festival, Wroclaw- Zielona Gora
Portugal
* Busker festival Obidos, Obidos
* Imaginarius, Porto
Romania
* Street music festival, Satu Mare
* Sibiu International Theater Festival, Sibiu
SAUDI ARABIA
* Al Ula Moments Festival, Al Ula
* Abha Summer Festival, Abha
Serbia
* Basker Fest, Belgrade
Slovenia
* Ana Desetnica Festival, Ljubljana-Maribor
* Histeria Festival, Koper
SPAIN
* Fira Tarrega off, Tarrega
* Trebufestival, Trebujena
* Art en Bitrir, Petrer
* Pirineos Sur Festival, Sallent de Gallego
* Elx Al Carrer Festival, Elxe
* Festival Nuevos Lenguajes Escenicos Artescena, Avila
SWITZERLAND
* Festival Circo TOCATI cirQ’uartier, Bienne
* Gampel Jazz Fest, Gampel
* Sans Souci Festival, Burgdorf
* PlusQ'île Festival, Bienne
* Festival Artistidistrada, Ascona
* Aufgetischt, St. Gallen
* Spettacolo, Brunnen
* Buskers, Chur
* Ostfest alternativ musics, Bern
* Biomarché, Zofingen
* Blinden und Behinderten, Bern
* Streetfood, Bern
* Fiesta del asado, Probstenberg
* 10 ans de clinique pour enfants, Bienne
* Heitere Fahne Die Idealistenkiste, Bern
* Reitschule Theater, Bern
* Zirkusfestival Plusqu'île, Biel
* Montreux jazz festival off, Montreux
* Oyate, Trimstein
* Vollbrand festival, Schangnau
* Boui-Boui festival, Mittwoch
* Zaffaraya fest, Bern
* Theater Barakuba (Mixmit 10'), Basel
* Theater Palazzo, Basel
* Kompetenzzentrum Arbeit KA event, Bern
* La fête du peuple jurassien, Delemont
* Theatre Spektakel, Zurich
* Festival des artistes de rue, Vevey
* Virtual Design Unit, Romanshorn