The Francofolies of La Rochelle
The Francofolies festival is the festival of the French-speaking scene. Every year, in July, La Rochelle vibrates during 5 days of concerts at the foot of the Towers. An unmissable event in the French musical landscape.
A festival anchored on the territory
If there is one festival that has remained faithful to its values and editorial line for over 35 years, it is the Francofolies. Perhaps the reason for its success and longevity. Initiated in 1985, the musical adventure of the Francofolies de La Rochelle has established itself as THE festival of the French scene. New artistic team, new challenges, new experiences, the Francofolies have never been as youthful as they are today.
The first festival to promote all the voices of French-speaking music, the Francofolies de La Rochelle has seen the birth of generations of artists and has become one of the major events of the summer. Each year, nearly 150,000 festival-goers gather for 5 days of music by the sea !
Nearly 100 concerts are programmed each year on several stages spread throughout the city. Here, one does not come to consume, one comes to discover, to learn, to share, to be moved. The festival-goers know it well.
The Jean-Louis Foulquier stage, in homage to the creator of the Francofolies, has already seen the greatest artists of the French scene, but also the most promising: -M-, Angèle, Bigflo & Oli, Soprano, Véronique Sanson, Jain, Christine & The Queen, Johnny Hallyday, Alain Souchon, Alain Bashung, Lomepal, Joey Starr...
La Coursive, Nationale stage is also the venue for the Francofolies. Each year, discover the Original Creations of the Francofolies, the Francos Juniors shows, or also the Collections Particulières and the Premières Francos at the Grand Théâtre de la Coursive, the Théâtre Verdière and the Salle Bleue. The Francofolies also takes place at La Sirène with the collective nights and at the Notre-Dame church.
The Francofolies have recently seen the birth of new projects: the Village Francocéan, the Folies Littéraires at the Maison des Francos, the singing walks with the Tourist Office and the Francos Stories with Disney+. Not to mention the "J'ai la mémoire qui chante" meetings at the foot of the Tour de la Chaîne, true little sung biographies of unexpected personalities, or the new master classes at the Maison des Francos on Rue Saint-Jean du Pérot.
Creations, meetings, gastronomy, parties and concerts are part of the Francofolies every year.
The Junior Francos
Children also have the right to their Francofolies! In partnership with the Sacem, the festival selects each year shows, each more creative than the last, for young audiences. Funny songs, poetry, rock adventures, theater, inventions, great voices... everything is possible in imagination and reality!
A committed, social and solidarity-based festival
The Francocéan Village in the Bobinec garden, an eco-citizen village, grows in value every year. Its stage, in free access, is dedicated to the discovery and the young artists. The village also offers animations, conferences, meetings, workshops for children and adults. A space dedicated to the sensitization of the public to the art, to the living and to the sensitization.
The Oasis : in the Francocéan village and in the Francofolies village, the festival sets up listening and prevention spaces. Alcohol tests, helmets for children, earplugs, etc. are available to festival-goers.
More than ever the Francofolies contribute to the access to culture for all, with notably the "suspended tickets" set up with the Secours populaire. A collective of sign language interpreters, the chansigne, will also be present at certain concerts.
The FrancOff: free stages in the heart of the city
The Francofolies is also a city that vibrates to the sound of the festival ! Every year, every day of the event, meet in the bars, streets and restaurants of La Rochelle to share festive and friendly moments.
Since 2016, the association Tous pour Tous proposes the " Officielles " FrancOff to accompany in Off the music in the heart of La Rochelle. With the support of French-speaking artists from various backgrounds and volunteers, the association organizes many free concerts from 45 minutes to 3 hours in multiple formats: all audiences, young audiences, master classes, professional meetings ... a complete program to discover each year on the website francoff.org !
