Vieilles Charrues Festival

Giant letters before the beginning of the Vieilles Charrues Festival 2022.

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

History

1990s

The first edition takes place in 1992.[1] In 1994, 3,000 festival-goers attended the concerts.[2]

2000s

Festival-goers as Superheroes in 2012

In 2001, the festival welcomes a new president, Paul Hély, Christian Troadec[1] having been elected mayor of Carhaix. The festival welcomes 200,000 people over three days.[3]

In 2002, the festival attracts 160,000 festival-goers.[4]

In 2003, the festival is threatened by the conflict over the reform of the status of the show’s workers.

In 2009, Bruce Springsteen welcomes festival-goers in a local language, not French but Breton. Springsteen says: "Demat Karaez ! Demat Karaez !"[5] (Hello Carhaix!). He adds: "Mat an traoù ganeoc'h"[6] (How are you?) then "Tri Martolod"[7] (Three sailors), a traditional Breton song.

2010s

In 2012, the theme of the festival is Superheroes.[8]

2020s

In 2023, the festival attracts 346,000 festival-goers.[9]

Frequentation

The festival welcomes 10,000 festivalgoers in 1995, 40,000 in 1997, 100,000 in 1998, 200,000 in 2001, 268,000 festivalgoers for the 20 years in 2011.[10]

Vieilles Charrues Festival 2016 - Panoramic view on stage

In 2023, the participation record reached 346,000.[9] But 2024 has a deficit of €1M[11] with 250,000 festival-goers.[12] In 2025, financial balance is restored with 264,000 festival-goers.[12] The daily rate remains at €52.[12]

Organisation

The festival promotes the Breton language. Part of the association’s work is devoted to the development of the associative and cultural fabric of Central Brittany, in a process of development of the Breton language.[13] In 1999, the festival promoted financially the Breton-medium Diwan school[14] network.

The festival has an impact on the city of Carhaix-Plouguer: its culture center with a capacity of 3,000 people is bigger than the Olympia Hall in Paris.[15] The organisation of Vieilles Charrues festival needs 2,500 employees and 7,400 volunteers.[11]

Lineups

2025

2024

2023

2022

2021

In July 2021, the 29th edition was limited to 5,000 attendees per day.[20] For the first time, the fairground Ferris wheel was replaced with a single stage in front of seating. The main Glemnor and Kerouac stages were designated parking areas for vehicles, with no camping permitted. The festival lasted ten nights[20] and featured Woodkid[21] among other French singers.

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.[22] 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).[23]

2018

2017

2016

In New York City[24] (Central Park), Summer Stage:

In Carhaix:

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

July 15–18:

2009

Third edition of the spring festival "Les Vieilles Charrues remettent le son" (the Old Plows turn the sound back on), on 13 and 14 March:

  • Friday: La Chanson du Dimanche, Zaza Fournier, Guillaume Cantillon
  • Saturday: Les Ramoneurs de Menhirs, Craftmen Club, Mister Alone

In 2009, the summer festival hosted:[28]

2008

Second edition of the spring festival "Les Vieilles Charrues Remettent le Son":

For the 17th Festival (July 17–20) the program was:[28]

2007

For the first time, a spring festival was held in March: Les Vieilles Charrues Remettent le Son:

In 2007 the summer festival lasted 4 days. July 19–22:[28]

2006

Fifteenth year anniversary for the Festival, July 20–23:[28]

2005

July 22–24:[28]

2004

July 23–25:[28]

2003

July 14, 18–20:[28]

2002

July 14, 19–21:[29]

2001

July 14, 20–22:[29]

2000

July 14, 21–23:[29]

1999

July 13–18:[29]

1998

July 17–19:[29]

1997

July 4–6:[29]

1996

July 5–7:[29]

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 Carhaix:[29]

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):[29]

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

1993

Landeleau (Saturday 10):[29]

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.[26] No concert poster nor list available.

Stages of the festival

Glenmor

Glenmor[21] 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[21] stage is the second stage of the festival. It is named after Jack Kerouac, whose ancestors were from Brittany.

Grall

Grall[21] 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,[21] is located under a circus tent. It is named after the Breton-American poet Youenn Gwernig who lived in USA.[21] Concerts on Gwernig stage are traditionally held by Breton music and world music bands.

References

  1. ^ a b "Vieilles Charrues" [Old Plows]. Brittany Tourism. 2025. Retrieved 2025-11-01.
  2. ^ Médioni, Gilles (2000-07-13). "Vieilles Charrues: le sillon breton" [Old Plows: the Breton furrow]. L'Express (in French). Retrieved 2025-11-01.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v Kervella, Morgan (2021-07-18). "RÉCIT. Vieilles Charrues 2001, souvenirs d'une édition d'anthologie" [STORY. Vieilles Charrues 2001, memories of an anthology edition]. Ouest-France (in French). Retrieved 2025-11-02.
  4. ^ Vulser, Nicole (2002-08-31). "En Bretagne, les Vieilles Charrues charrient du monde et des recettes" [In Brittany, the Old Plows attract crowds and revenue]. Le Monde (in French). Retrieved 2025-11-01.
  5. ^ Lesprit, Bruno (2020-08-07). "Bruce Springsteen chez les Bretons" [Bruce Springsteen among the Bretons]. Le Monde (in French). Retrieved 2025-11-02.
  6. ^ Boucher, Christophe (2009-07-19). "Bruce Springsteen apprend le breton" [Bruce Springsteen learns Breton]. YouTube (video) (in French and Breton). Le Télégramme. Retrieved 2025-11-02.
  7. ^ a b Lesprit, Bruno (2009-07-17). "Bruce Springsteen, à la découverte des festivals, dope Les Vieilles Charrues" [Bruce Springsteen, discovering festivals, energizes Les Vieilles Charrues]. Le Monde (in French). Retrieved 2025-11-02.
  8. ^ a b Martinez, Sébastien (2022-01-31). "Vieilles Charrues: 30 years of highlights". Festileaks. Retrieved 2025-11-01.
  9. ^ a b "Festival des Vieilles Charrues : l'événement breton a rassemblé 346 000 personnes, un nouveau record" [Vieilles Charrues Festival: the Breton event brought together 346,000 people, a new record]. Franceinfo (in French). 2023-07-17. Retrieved 2023-07-18.
  10. ^ "Vieilles Charrues. Irrésistible ascension" [Vieilles Charrues. Irresistible rise]. Le Télégramme (in French). 2016-07-12. Retrieved 2025-02-13.
  11. ^ a b Chartier-Le Floch, Erwan (2024-07-14). "Vieilles Charrues : de l'ambiance, mais moins de monde" [Vieilles Charrues: great atmosphere, but fewer people]. Le Poher (in French). Retrieved 2025-11-23.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g Le Strat, Céline (2025-07-21). "Vieilles Charrues 2025 : finalement, plus de peur que de mal" [Vieilles Charrues 2025: ultimately, more fear than harm]. Le Télégramme (in French). Retrieved 2025-11-23.
  13. ^ Potin, Jean-Noël (2022-07-15). "Aux Vieilles Charrues, le breton prend toute sa place" [At the Vieilles Charrues festival, Breton takes center stage]. Le Télégramme (in French). Retrieved 2025-02-12.
  14. ^ Gemie, Sharif (2005-01-10). "Roots, rock, Breizh: music and the politics of nationhood in contemporary Brittany". Nations and Nationalism. 11 (1): 103–120. doi:10.1111/j.1354-5078.2005.00194.x. ISSN 1354-5078. Retrieved 2025-11-04. pp. 112, 114–115: Diwan
  15. ^ Salaun, Vincent (2025-02-27). "The lasting benefits of ephemeral events: The effect of pulsars on logistical legacy in the context of recurrent festivals". Management & Prospective. 41 (2–3): 203–216. doi:10.3917/g2000.412.0203. ISSN 2983-8304. Retrieved 2025-11-02.
  16. ^ a b c d e f g Cloutour, Lola (2025-02-27). "Damiano David, Martin Solveig, Solann… On connaît la programmation complète des Vieilles Charrues 2025" [Damiano David, Martin Solveig, Solann… The full lineup for Vieilles Charrues 2025 is known]. Le Télégramme (in French). Retrieved 2025-11-23.
  17. ^ Audrain, Emmy (2025-07-19). "« Ce son, il transcende » : aux Vieilles Charrues, Adèle Castillon a assuré le spectacle devant un public conquis" ["That sound, it transcends": at the Vieilles Charrues, Adèle Castillon delivered a performance to an enthralled audience]. Le Télégramme (in French). Retrieved 2025-11-23.
  18. ^ Ohier, Fanny (2025-07-20). "« Je retrouve l'énergie et la décadence ! » : les Sex Pistols et Franck Carter décoiffent les Vieilles Charrues" ["I find energy and decadence again!": the Sex Pistols and Franck Carter shake up the Vieilles Charrues]. Le Télégramme (in French). Retrieved 2025-11-23.
  19. ^ a b c d e f g Cloutour, Lola (2023-12-11). "Découvrez la programmation des Vieilles Charrues 2024" [Discover the 2024 Vieilles Charrues lineup]. Le Télégramme (in French). Retrieved 2025-11-20.
  20. ^ a b Martinez, Sébastien (2021-02-19). "French festivals will take place in 2021, but…". Festileaks. Retrieved 2025-11-03.
  21. ^ a b c d e f Martinez, Sébastien (2021-07-11). "Vieilles Charrues: a trip in Brittany's culture". Festileaks. Retrieved 2025-11-03.
  22. ^ Quioc, Nolwenn (2020-04-13). "Coronavirus : "C'est inenvisageable d'organiser les Vieilles Charrues" pour le directeur du festival". France Bleu. 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.
  23. ^ Plant, Jason (2019-10-09). "Celine Dion at Les Vieilles Charrues: All Tickets Sold in Just Nine Minutes". Life in France. Retrieved 2025-11-04.
  24. ^ "Les Vieilles Charrues Festival to Hit New York City in October". Consulate General of France in New York. 2016-09-12. Retrieved 2025-11-01.
  25. ^ a b c d Salliou, Sylvaine; Colin, Emilie (2013-07-19). "M le magnifique !" [M the magnificent!]. France3 (in French). Retrieved 2025-11-02.
  26. ^ a b c d "Festival des Vieilles Charrues 2012 – Line Up". Festivals Europe. 2012-07-19. Retrieved 2025-11-01.
  27. ^ a b c Saxelby, Ruth (2010-09-12). "Vieilles Charrues". Do Music Yourself. Retrieved 2025-11-01.
  28. ^ a b c d e f g Colin 2011.
  29. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Gorgiard 2002.

Sources

  • Gorgiard, Ronan (2002). Les Vieilles Charrues. Le Wood-soc breton : 10 ans de labour [The Old Plows Festival. Breton Wood-soc: A Decade of Hard Labour] (in French). Plougastell-Daoulaz: an Here. ISBN 2-86843-225-5.
  • Colin, Yves (2011). Les Vieilles charrues: An erer kozh [The Old Plows] (in French). Spézet: Coop Breizh. ISBN 978-2-84346-507-9.

48°16′15″N 3°33′30″W / 48.27083°N 3.55833°W / 48.27083; -3.55833

allikas: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vieilles_Charrues