Aux Zarbs etc...

A festival born from a passion for contemporary music

The festival Aux Zarbs etc... was born in 2003 on the initiative of Malika Josse and Serge Denombret, two music enthusiasts convinced that Auxerre deserved a major summer event for contemporary music. From its very first edition, the Parc de l'Arbre Sec, a vast green space in the heart of the city, welcomed a few thousand curious people to discover a deliberately eclectic program, blending ska, reggae, and rock. Ska-P, Burning Spear, and Kana were among the first artists to grace the Auxerre stage of the festival.

In February 2005, the creation of the association Aux Zarbs etc... formalized and structured the project, giving it the means to grow. The second edition hosted Babylon Circus and La Ruda Salska, confirming the festival's eclectic and festive orientation, mixing world music, rock, and committed chanson.

The glory years: a popular and demanding festival

The third edition marked a significant increase in scale with the arrival on stage of Le Peuple de l'Herbe, Sinclair, Sinsemilia, Amadou et Mariam, and Gnawa Diffusion — a lineup that mixed electro-rock, French chanson, Malian blues, and world music with rare audacity for a festival of this size. With 14,000 attendees at the fourth edition (2006), featuring Mickey 3D, Les Têtes Raides, Louise Attaque, and Dub Incorporation on stage, the festival established itself as a key player in the Burgundy summer music scene.

The following year, in 2007, the festival reached its peak attendance with 21,000 attendees. The lineup included Tryo, Jacques Higelin, Renaud, Miossec, Les Hurlements de Léo, and La Phaze, among others. National recognition was achieved. In 2008, 18,000 spectators gathered to see Thomas Dutronc, John Butler Trio, Cali, Micky Green, Hocus Pocus, and Hubert-Félix Thiéfaine — a sixth edition of very high caliber, confirming the festival's artistic credibility and its ability to attract top-tier artists at some of the most accessible prices in France: 40 euros for two days.

The Aux Zarbs spirit: a festive and solidarity-based village

Beyond the concerts, Aux Zarbs etc... distinguished itself from its early years with its animation village: cultural, artistic, and social associations from the Yonne region set up stands, street performances punctuated the afternoons, and actions in favor of sustainable development were integrated into the program long before the theme became a staple of major festivals. The campsite, refreshment stands, and food stalls contributed to creating a friendly and family atmosphere that is the festival's trademark. This claimed accessibility — financial, geographical, intergenerational — forged a strong bond with the public from the Yonne and Burgundy regions.

A final major edition and a rebirth

In 2009, the seventh edition brought together Les Ogres de Barback, Tryo, La Rue Kétanou, Les Fatals Picards, Caravan Palace, and Hilight Tribe on the stage of Parc de l'Arbre Sec, from July 17 to 19. The 2010 edition would be the last for the historic association, which faced significant financial difficulties. The judicial liquidation of the association in December 2010 marked the end of a chapter, but not the story: in 2012, the city of Auxerre and Le Silex took up the torch with the Catalpa Festival, the direct heir to the Aux Zarbs spirit.

Years later, founding members and festival regulars began a reflection to revive the Aux Zarbs brand in a renewed, independent form, anchored in the tradition of the original festival: accessible contemporary music for all, eclectic programming, Parc de l'Arbre Sec, and an associative village. This return was made possible by the energy of a new association and the support of the City of Auxerre, convinced of the cultural value of this name inscribed in the musical memory of the Yonne and all of Burgundy.