Vieilles Charrues Festival


The Vieilles Charrues Festival is held every year in mid-July in the city of Carhaix, France.
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History

1990s

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

2000s

In 2001, the festival welcomes a new president, Paul Hély, Christian Troadec having been elected mayor of Carhaix. The festival welcomes 200,000 people over three days.
In 2002, the festival attracts 160,000 festival-goers.
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 !". He adds: "Mat an traoù ganeoc'h" then "Tri Martolod", a traditional Breton song.

2010s

In 2012, the theme of the festival is Superheroes.

2020s

In 2023, the festival attracts 346,000 festival-goers.

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

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. In 1999, the festival promoted financially the Breton-medium Diwan school 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. The organisation of Vieilles Charrues festival needs 2,500 employees and 7,400 volunteers.

Lineups

2025

2024

2023

2022

2021

In July 2021, the 29th edition was limited to 5,000 attendees per day. 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 and featured Woodkid 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. Celine Dion was to sing on July 16 as part of her Courage World Tour for her only festival date in France.

2018

2017

2016

In New York City, 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", on 13 and 14 March:
In 2009, the summer festival hosted:

2008

Second edition of the spring festival "Les Vieilles Charrues Remettent le Son":
For the 17th Festival the program was:

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:

2006

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

2005

July 22–24:

2004

July 23–25:

2003

July 14, 18–20:

2002

July 14, 19–21:

2001

July 14, 20–22:

2000

July 14, 21–23:

1999

July 13–18:

1998

July 17–19:

1997

July 4–6:

1996

July 5–7:
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:
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 :
Les Satellites, Dolly, Oy Ventilo, Les Raouls j’te Pousse, Scotch Snap, La Folyre.

1993

Landeleau :
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.

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 who lived in USA. Concerts on Gwernig stage are traditionally held by Breton music and world music bands.