Au Foin de la Rue

Au Foin de la Rue: a festival rooted in its territory

The story of Au Foin de la Rue began in the 1990s when a handful of residents of Saint-Denis-de-Gastines decided to organize concerts in the village streets. In 2000, the association was officially created, and the festival took off, driven by the collective energy of a rural area that refused to resign itself to cultural desertification. Since then, every early July, this village in Mayenne has transformed into a place for celebration, encounters, and musical discoveries.

An eclectic and bold program

Au Foin de la Rue offers a deliberately eclectic program, mixing world music, folk, French chanson, rap, reggae, electro, and pop. Over the years, the festival has hosted artists as diverse as Fatboy Slim, Philippe Katerine, Ben Mazué, Les Ogres de Barback, La Rue Kétanou, and Hugo TSR. Several stages—outdoor, under a tent, and at the guinguette—offer a variety of atmospheres and formats. On Saturday afternoons, a free program of street arts around the pond complements the musical offerings, making the festival a multidisciplinary event open to all audiences.

A pioneering ecological commitment

Au Foin de la Rue is recognized as a pioneering festival in terms of ecology. Since 2009, the organization has strived to move away from fossil fuels by using a hybrid system between a generator and solar energy. The site operates exclusively with dry toilets and reusable cups, and prioritizes short supply chains for catering. In 2010, the festival experimented with a solar mast to light the campsite. These efforts have reduced the carbon footprint by 40% since 2016, making Au Foin de la Rue a model of eco-responsibility in the French festival landscape.

More than a festival: a territorial project

Founded on the principles of popular education, Au Foin de la Rue involves the local residents from the conception to the organization of each edition. More than 1,200 volunteers participate each year in the success of the event. The association also carries out cultural activities throughout the year: concerts, workshops, artist residencies, and participatory projects. The festival defends values of accessibility, social diversity, and solidarity, with a deliberately moderate pricing policy and special attention to welcoming people with disabilities.