The Transbordeur: music and pop culture since 1989
The Transbordeur, nicknamed “Transbo” is one of Lyons premier live music venues featuring the best contemporary international artists from the worlds of rock, hip hop, electronica and more.
Venue History
The Transbordeur is housed in an old factory which was originally built as a water treatment plant. It has been a cornerstone of Lyon’s music scene for over 25 years. It was created by manager / producer Victor Bosch (Notre Dame de Paris) who today runs Lyon music venue Radiant. The Transbordeur is owned by the city of Lyon and run by Cyrille Bonin and the team Arty Farty (Nuits Sonores festival). The first concert on January 21st 1989 featured iconic English group New Order and since that time many of music’s greatest contemporary artists have graced it’s stage.
Notable concerts in 2016: Lee Scratch Perry, Simple Plan and Joe Jackson.
The Main Room and The Club
The Transbordeur has a spacious main room with a maximum capacity of 1800 and a smaller “Club” with a capacity of 600, allowing it to be adapted for all types of events. Larger concerts provide standing room at the front with a tiered section of seating at the rear. While the majority of events are music, the Transbordeur also holds theatre and dance productions, business events and film shoots. In 2011 various improvements to the building resulted in better access to the bar and improved stage visibility.
Special Events at le Transbo
In 2012 The Transbordeur began using its outdoor space to hold a series of summer concerts, drive-in movies and food festivals, taking place from the end of June until the end of July. The venue is also available for private hire and with the choice of the two rooms (300m2 and 800m2) there are many possible configurations from smaller meetings and cocktail parties to amphitheatre style presentations.
Facilities
There is a full bar service available all evening and if you’re feeling hungry then food is available at several food trucks parked at the entrance to the building serving an assortment of burgers, sandwiches, hot dogs etc There is good access for persons with disabilities and earplugs are available for those with sensitive ears.
Location and Access
The Transbordeur is located about 2km northeast of the city centre at the border between the 6th arrondissement of Lyon and Villeurbanne.
The Transbordeur is a great mid-sized music venue and with its slightly industrial nature it provides a great atmosphere for it’s predominantly rock oriented productions. It’s not really a place for kids but shows are all ages.
Practical Information:
For ticket reservations and individual concert information please see the Transbordeur website:
Doors open at 7pm concerts start at 8pm.
Tips: Arrive early and enjoy the pre-concert atmosphere.