The Vieilles Charrues Festival (French: Festival des Vieilles Charrues, pronounced [fɛstival de vjɛj ʃaʁy]; Breton: Gouel an Erer Kozh, pronounced [ˈɡweːlãn erɛr kos]; literally: Old Ploughs Festival) is held every year in mid-July in the city of Carhaix, located in western Brittany, France.

This festival is the largest music festival in France, attracting more than 280,000 festival-goers every year (346 000 in 2023).[1] This festival was created in 1992 in Landeleau, a small village in central Finistère. At that time, less than 500 revellers attended and the festival was more like a private party. The following year, the festival welcomed more than 2000 and that was the beginning of its success story. In 1995, due to lack of space on the original site, the festival moved to Carhaix city center and in 1998, for the same reason, the festival chose a site on the outskirts of Carhaix. In October 2016 the festival organizes an exceptional concert at Central Park in New York City in tribute to the many Bretons who were immigrants to the city in the nineteenth century.

Each year, more than 7,000 volunteers enable the festival to be a success, with their actions in the numerous bars, restaurants, and other stands of the festival. The festival thanks them by giving money to local associations. The organizers also helped to finance Hall Glenmor, a concert hall, and to renovate the Château de Kerampuil, a castle located near the site of the festival.

Vieilles Charrues Festival 2006 - Panoramic View
Vieilles Charrues Festival 2016 - Panoramic view on stage

Lineups

2023

2022

2020

It was announced on 13 April 2020 that the 2020 edition would be cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, even if Emmanuel Macron, the President of France, announced on 13 April that only festivals before mid-July had to be cancelled.[2] Celine Dion was to sing on July 16 as part of her Courage World Tour for her only festival date in France (the 55,000 seats had been purchased in less than nine minutes).[3]

2019

2018

2017

2016

In New York City (Central Park)

In Carhaix

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

July 15–18 [4]

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

July 22,23 and 24asso.fr[4]

2004

July 23,24 and 25asso.fr[4]

2003

July 14,18,19 and 20asso.fr[4]

2002

July 14,19,20 and 21asso.fr[4]

2001

July 14,20,21 and 22asso.fr[4]

2000

July 14,21,22 and 23asso.fr[4]

1999

July 13–18asso.fr[4]

1998

July 17,18 and 19asso.fr[4]

1997

July 4,5,6asso.fr[4]

1996

July 5,6 and 7asso.fr[4]

Miossec, Bernard Lavilliers, Zebda, Les Innocents, Maxime Le Forestier, Frank Black, Ouf La Puce ..., Marcel et Son Orchestre, Red Cardell, Tayfa, Boulequies et Sonotones, Ar re Yaouank, Gwenc'hlan, Oxyde de Cuivre, The Guilt.

1995

July 7–9, First Edition in Carhaixasso.fr[4]

Blues Brothers, The Silencers, Red Cardell, Ar Re Yaounak, Spook & the Guay, Soul Cactus, Taraf de Haïdouks Junior, Carré Manchot, A Bout de Souffle, Ongi Etorri, Mike Hutchison, Namas Pamos.

1994

Held at Landeleau (July 5)asso.fr[4]

Les Satellites, Dolly, Oy Ventilo, Les Raouls j’te Pousse, Scotch Snap, La Folyre.

1993

Landeleau (Saturday 10)asso.fr[4]

Les Pires, Oy Ventilo, La Folyre, Soft Touch Band, Students Brass Band and B12

1992

Creation of fête des Vieilles Charrues as a small village event in Landeleau. No concert poster nor list available.[5]

Stages of the festival

Glenmor

Glenmor stage is the biggest stage of the festival. It is named after Emile Le Scanff, also known as Glenmor. With a total surface area of 1,000 m², Glenmor stage is one of the largest French stages.

As every other stage of the festival, Glenmor stage is set up before each occasion of the festival, and taken down after the end of the concerts.

Kerouac

Kerouac stage is the second stage of the festival. It is named after Jack Kerouac, whose ancestors were from Brittany.

Grall

Grall stage is the third stage of the festival and is named after Xavier Grall. Hip-hop and electronic music artists often play on this stage.

Gwernig

The smallest stage of the festival, Gwernig, is located under a circus tent. It is named after the Breton-American poet Youenn Gwernig. Concerts on Gwernig stage are traditionally held by Breton music and world music bands.

References

  1. ^ "Festival des Vieilles Charrues : l'événement breton a rassemblé 346 000 personnes, un nouveau record". Franceinfo (in French). 2023-07-17. Retrieved 2023-07-18.
  2. ^ "Coronavirus : "C'est inenvisageable d'organiser les Vieilles Charrues" pour le directeur du festival". France Bleu. 2020-04-13. Retrieved 2020-04-15. Emmanuel Macron a annoncé ce lundi soir que les festivals ayant lieu après la mi-juillet pourraient se tenir. Les Vieilles Charrues, prévues du 13 au 19 juillet à Carhaix, pourraient donc, sur le papier, avoir lieu. Un scénario pourtant peu probable pour le directeur du festival, Jérôme Tréhorel.
  3. ^ "Les 55 000 billets pour Céline Dion aux Vieilles Charrues écoulés en moins de 9 minutes". Libération.fr (in French). 2019-10-09. Retrieved 2020-04-03.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r 20 ans de Vieilles Charrues. July 24, 2011.
  5. ^ "Festival des Vieilles Charrues « European Festivals 2012". Festivalseurope.wordpress.com. 6 November 2010. Retrieved 2012-11-07.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Festival des Vieilles Charrues.

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