A Message From Jean-François and Didier

Hello, bonjour, welcome, bienvenue
Comment allez-vous? How do you do?

Thank you for cliquing onto our website. We are honoured to have so much fan. We are busy in the moment with vague general rock and roll activities, so we have asked our peoples to write our website for us. We hope to expose ourselves to you so you can see what all the fuse is about – and maybe you will decide to buy our CD or come to see a show? Whoever you are, whatever you do, nous vous aimons (we love you). Vive la France.

Dans La Maison

Priorité à Gauche are Jean-François and Didier – two French rock, rap, pop and roll stars who have wowed British audiences with their unique sound. This is a French exchange like you have never seen before. Whether rapping about the merits of British culture and their new-found celebrity, or getting back to their roots with just a couple of guitars, Priorité à Gauche are hyper-maxi cool and definitely ‘dans la maison’ – in the home.

The hippest music act to emerge from France in recent years, Priorité à Gauche have entertained audiences all around the globe, most recently with their all-acoustic show, ‘Unplugged’, whilst promoting their album of the same name - and reflecting on the world in their own unique and very Gallic way.

Priorité à Gauche have appeared on a variety of television and radio shows including The Now Show, Loose Ends, Parsons and Naylor Pull Out Sections, Front Row, Lenny Beige’s Variety Pack, The 11 O’clock Show and Edinburgh Nights. They have performed at the NME Brat Awards and Shepherd’s Bush Empire for Children in Need, as well as extensive touring around the UK, France and Australia.

Priorité à Gauche have also had their very own BBC Television series - ‘Le Hip Parade’, a weekly look at the top ten pop songs from around Europe where the number one song is always suspiciously by the same familiar French pop duo. They also presented “The World’s Most Bizarre Adverts’ - three hour long shows for Channel 5.

Before The Giddy Heights Of Fame

After meeting at a computer-programming course the pair hit it off immediately due to their mutual interest in music and performing. Their first efforts elicited little interest from recording companies and the two pursued part-time jobs whilst performing regularly in small Parisian underground clubs and sometimes on the Parisian underground. During the day, Didi had found work recording electronic sounds for office software packages, while Jean-François abandoned the computer scene and found work as a part-time promotions actor, specialising in the wearing of novelty costumes and often involved in touring with school’s awareness campaigns.

The breakthrough came in 1995 when an independent label released their first album, ‘Je Ne Suis Pas Un Numero, Je Suis Français’ (I Am Not A Number, I Am French). A political commentary on living in contemporary France, it was relatively well received, and enjoyed an eponymous top twenty hit in France. Also from the album the song 'Frogman' – a tribute to Jacques Cousteau - crossed the channel and made it to 57 in the British charts. On the back of this, the pair decided to tour the UK and share their new material and perceptions with British audiences. The result was some of their finest work to date in an album entitled ‘Vive La Devolution’ (Long Live Devolution), known in the UK simply as ‘Priorité à Gauche’.

Priorite a Gauche then went through a period of disillusionment with the music industry, and decided to get back to their acoustic roots, touring small venues and cafes with their ‘Unplugged’ show. Check the gigs page for details of live shows.

Arnold Widdowson (Didier)

Arnold started his career in the double act ‘Ben & Arn’ which won the Perrier Newcomer award in 1999. Since then he has created the thinking man’s French pop duo – ‘Priorité à Gauche’ which has enjoyed six sell-out Edinburgh shows. Apart from Priorité à Gauche, other writing and performance credits include ‘Velvet Soup’ and ‘Revolver’ (BBC 2), ‘Back To School’ (Channel 5), ‘A/S Guru’ (BBC 2), ‘Comedy Café’ (ITV), ‘West Wing’ trailers (C4/E4), ‘Stars Behind Bars’ (Channel 5) and 'Genie In The House' (CHX/Nickelodeon).

Justin McCarron (Jean-François)

Justin's first acting job was as 'Padraig' in the LWT/Little Bird mini-series 'Troubles'. Since then he has worked mainly in theatre, including shows with Orchard Theatre, New Perspectives, Forest Forge, Bristol Old Vic and The Watermill Theatre in Newbury. He lived in France for 4 years, working with Compagnie Oz, Theatre de la Manicle and co-founded Theatre En Chemin. Film and television work include 'Green Wing' (Channel 4), 'Love Soup' (BBC), 'Dream Team' (Sky), 'Prince William' (Fox) and the feature film 'Ali, Rabbia et les autres' directed by Ahmed Boulane. Justin has written music for various theatre and film projects.