À Travers Chants
French chanson festival in Cossé-le-Vivien
About À Travers Chants
À Travers Chants is a French chanson festival held every spring in Cossé-le-Vivien, Mayenne. Created in 2001 by passionate parents of schoolchildren, this human-sized event celebrates the French language through concerts, artist encounters, and workshops in schools. Managed since 2020 by the association Festival de l'Humour (Les Embuscades), the festival has built a solid reputation among lovers of Francophone chanson. Each edition culminates with the children's book fair L'Embusca'Livres.
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A festival born from a passion for chanson
Over twenty-five years ago, parents passionate about French chanson had the idea to create a cultural event to energize Cossé-le-Vivien, a small town in southern Mayenne already known as the capital of rural humor thanks to the Les Embuscades festival. Thus was born À Travers Chants, a spring gathering dedicated to French-language chanson in all its forms: lyrical chanson, Francophone pop, folk, gypsy jazz, rap, and world music.
A demanding and friendly program
The festival is distinguished by a program that is both demanding and committed, championing quality chanson far from commercial formats. Each edition features a discovery evening bringing together several emerging artists with diverse universes, as well as a grand closing evening with a recognized headliner from the Francophone scene. Over the years, the festival has hosted renowned artists such as Christian Olivier (founder of Les Têtes Raides), Les Hurlements d'Léo, La Gâpette, Dirty Dance Swing, and P'tits Fils de Jeanine, in genres ranging from festive rock to gypsy jazz and folk pop.
Strong educational and territorial roots
True to its popular education mission, À Travers Chants dedicates the first part of its week to school interventions. Illustrators, authors, and musicians meet hundreds of schoolchildren from the Pays de Cossé, introducing them to the world of French chanson and literary creation. These participatory workshops form the foundation of the festival and foster the link between artists and young audiences.
L'Embusca'Livres: the book fair that extends the celebration
Each edition concludes on Sunday with L'Embusca'Livres, a free children's book fair open to all. Families, children, and the curious come to meet illustrators and authors through activities, readings, performances, and signing sessions. This festive and friendly highlight, organized in a spirit of sharing and discovery, beautifully concludes the week and anchors the festival in a literary dimension complementary to music.
A human-sized event driven by volunteers
Managed since 2020 by the association Festival de l'Humour (which also organizes Les Embuscades), À Travers Chants remains a human-sized event, far from the megalomania affecting many festivals. This deliberate choice to stay close to the audience and artists, in a spirit of cultural resistance, is the unique charm of this Mayenne rendezvous with French chanson.
À Travers Chants — edition 2026
The 26th edition of the À Travers Chants festival takes place from March 16 to 22, 2026, in Cossé-le-Vivien and Cosmes. The program includes an homage to Barbara by Léonor, a discovery evening with Matjé, Ad'line, Vincent Prémel, and Martin Boyer, followed by Mariluce and Les Hurlements d'Léo, a flagship group of French festive rock, to close the festival.
26th Edition – March 2026
The À Travers Chants festival returns for its 26th edition from March 16 to 22, 2026, with a week rich in artistic encounters and music.
Concert Program
- Thursday, March 19 – Salle Pierre-Jack, Cosmes: Léonor offers an intimate homage to Barbara in solo piano, revisiting the repertoire of the great lady of French chanson.
- Friday, March 20 at 8:30 PM – Salle du FCC, Cossé-le-Vivien: Discovery evening bringing together four artists with different universes around French chanson — Matjé (world music), Ad'line (folk pop), Vincent Prémel, and Martin Boyer (French chanson).
- Saturday, March 21 – Salle du FCC, Cossé-le-Vivien: Mariluce, a duo of singer-musicians who won the Audience Award in 2023, as the opening act, followed by Les Hurlements d'Léo, a flagship group of French festive rock, to close the festival. Crêpes and cider evening!
L'Embusca'Livres Book Fair
The festival concludes on Sunday, March 22 from 10 AM to 6 PM with the L'Embusca'Livres children's book fair, with free admission. Families and children can meet illustrators and authors, participate in activities, readings, and performances.
Educational Actions
Throughout the week, illustrators, authors, and musicians conduct workshops in schools and colleges in the region to introduce children to French chanson and literary creation.
Highlights À Travers Chants 2026
- Les Hurlements d'Léo, flagship group of French festive rock, as headliner
- Mariluce, duo winner of the Audience Award 2023
- Homage to Barbara by Léonor in solo piano
- Discovery evening with Matjé, Ad'line, Vincent Prémel, and Martin Boyer
- L'Embusca'Livres children's book fair on Sunday (free admission)
- Artistic workshops in schools of the Pays de Cossé
Prices À Travers Chants 2026
Practical information — À Travers Chants
Access
By car: Cossé-le-Vivien is located about 30 km south of Laval and 20 km north of Craon. From the A81 motorway (Rennes–Le Mans), take the Laval exit and follow the D4 towards Cossé-le-Vivien. From Angers, take the D771 via Château-Gontier. Free parking is available near the Salle du FCC and in the town center.
By train: The nearest station is Laval, served by TGV from Paris-Montparnasse (approx. 1h30) and by TER from Rennes and Le Mans. From Laval station, it takes about 30 minutes by car to reach Cossé-le-Vivien. Carpooling is encouraged by the organizers.
Performance venues
Concerts and shows mainly take place at the Salle du FCC (Foyer Culturel et Communal), located at 11 rue de la Libération in Cossé-le-Vivien. This multi-purpose hall can accommodate 500 seated spectators in the stands and up to 1,200 standing spectators in concert configuration. Some events may also take place at the Salle Pierre-Jack in Cosmes, a neighboring town.
Prices and ticketing
Prices vary depending on the evenings and shows. Reduced rates are available for job seekers, students, and those under 18. The L'Embusca'Livres book fair on Sunday is free admission. Tickets are available:
- Online at atc.lesembuscades.fr via the VosTickets platform
- By mail to: Festival À Travers Chants, 58 place Tussenhausen, 53230 Cossé-le-Vivien
- By phone at 07 66 54 68 60
Catering
Friendly catering is offered during concert evenings, including crêpes and cider on the closing night. Shops and restaurants in Cossé-le-Vivien are also accessible near the venues.
Contact
Association Festival de l'Humour – Les Embuscades
58 place Tussenhausen, 53230 Cossé-le-Vivien
Phone: 07 66 54 68 60
Website: atc.lesembuscades.fr
Facebook: facebook.com/festivalatraverschants
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Travel to this festival
Book your train or bus to reach À Travers Chants at the best price.
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Where does it take place — À Travers Chants
Salle du FCC
11 rue de la Libération, 53230 Cossé-le-Vivien