Simon Le Garff

A musician, composer, and improviser—a self-taught (very) young prodigy on his instrument—Simon Le Garff has developed his own style through encounters that have exposed him to diverse musical worlds, all while playing the oud, an instrument with a history spanning millennia.

He makes the oud his voice and uses it to tell the stories that fascinate him. As a young artist, he seeks to bring people together around his musical world.

LE GARFF / VARIS DUO

This duo was born from the unexpected pairing of an oud and an accordion. In close harmony with their instruments, the two partners share a passion for musical adventure, composition, and improvisation in a repertoire that is at once original, rich, virtuosic, and sensitive. Far from any romanticized view of the Orient, they harmonize their musical worlds and blend their Western and Eastern influences with a mastery as palpable as the joy they take in playing together!

Text by Florence Roumy / SUDS in ARLES Discovered by the Les Suds festival in Arles in 2026

Francis Varis needs no introduction—he’s one of France’s greatest accordionists, and was recently seen performing in our region alongside Titi Robin, the master of Mediterranean fusions. Simon Le Garff hasn’t yet built a career as extensive as his musical partner’s, but this (very) young oud prodigy is poised for a bright future. At first glance unexpected, this oud-accordion pairing sits at the crossroads of the duo’s influences—spanning original compositions, covers of songs gathered from around the Mediterranean, and improvisation. Far from facile Orientalism, the duo creates a dialogue that makes time stand still, where the accordion’s breath blends perfectly with the woody vibrations of the oud.

Text by Armel Talarmain — Le Grand Soufflet 2026