Ballast'Yeah! Festival
Festival of different and similar music at the Ballastières of Gauchin-Verloingt
About Ballast'Yeah!
Les Ballastières: A Cultural Third Place in Artois
For several years, the Collectif Ballast has been working to revive an old farm in Gauchin-Verloingt, a small village in Ternois in the Pas-de-Calais. Named Les Ballastières, this vast site located at 156 rue du Moulin has become a third place for cultural reception and access, hosting artist residencies and concerts in a wide variety of styles, from oriental music to punk, electronic, or dub-noise.
Ballast'Yeah!: A Festival Born from Creative Effervescence
In 2025, the Collectif Ballast launches the first edition of the Ballast'Yeah! Festival, a multidisciplinary event that crystallizes the artistic energy accumulated at Les Ballastières. The festival presents an ambitious and generous program that blurs the boundaries between disciplines and musical genres.
A Program Without Borders
The Ballast'Yeah! Festival stands out for its radical eclecticism. The program combines:
- Concerts: local and regional groups perform alongside invited artists, in styles ranging from punk to folk, electronic to rock, and world music
- Theatre and puppets: contemporary creations for all audiences
- Stand-up: humor and collective energy
- Participatory workshops: artistic and creative introductions, accessible from a young age
- Screenings, podcasts, and meetings: exchanges with artists and creators
A Spirit of Openness
True to the philosophy of the Collectif Ballast, the festival cultivates a spirit of openness and sharing. Admission is based on a free and conscious pricing policy, allowing everyone to access culture according to their means. This solidarity approach reflects the founding values of the third place and its roots in the local social fabric.
A Rural and Friendly Setting
Les Ballastières offer a natural and bucolic setting for the festival. Shows and concerts take place in the various spaces of the old farm and its outbuildings, creating an intimate and warm atmosphere. A bar and light refreshments are available on site. Camping is possible in the adjacent meadow, and parking is available on the site.
Ballast'Yeah! — edition 2026
2nd edition of the Ballast'Yeah! Festival, on Friday, May 15 and Saturday, May 16, 2026 at Les Ballastières in Gauchin-Verloingt (Pas-de-Calais). Two days of concerts, shows, theater, puppets, stand-up, workshops, screenings, and DJ sets in an open and family-friendly spirit, with free and conscious pricing.
Ballast'Yeah! Festival 2026 — 2nd edition
For its second edition, the Ballast'Yeah! Festival takes place over two days, on Friday, May 15 and Saturday, May 16, 2026, at Les Ballastières, the cultural third place of Collectif Ballast located in an old farm in Gauchin-Verloingt. The event maintains its multidisciplinary spirit and eclecticism: concerts, theater, puppets, stand-up, participatory workshops, short film screenings, and DJ sets follow one another in an open space where the public can move freely.
A program for everyone
The festival pays particular attention to young audiences, with activities accessible from 4 years old on Saturday during the day (nest box making workshops, introduction to hip-hop dance, animated film screenings, animal-themed escape game). Friday and Saturday evenings feature concerts (electro punk, electro rock, rock), theater, puppets, and stand-up.
Admission remains at a free and conscious price, faithful to the values of Collectif Ballast. A bar and light refreshments are available on site, and camping is possible in the adjacent meadow.
Programme Ballast'Yeah! 2026
Friday, May 15, 2026 (from 6 p.m.)
- Diego Stirman — theater and puppets
- Collectif LAMA — musical theater
- BAASTA! — electro punk
- June Bug — electro rock
- DJ Petondji — DJ set
Saturday, May 16, 2026
During the day: participatory and family workshops (nest box making, introduction to hip-hop dance), animated short film screenings, animal-themed escape game (accessible from 4 years old).
In the evening (from 6 p.m.):
- Ruby Piñata — stand-up
- The Tee't Show — rock
- Care Mess — electro punk
- DJ Petondji — DJ set
Highlights Ballast'Yeah! 2026
- Multidisciplinary festival with free and conscious pricing
- Eclectic program: concerts, theater, puppets, stand-up, and DJ sets
- Family activities accessible from 4 years old on Saturday
- Bar, light refreshments, and camping on site
Prices Ballast'Yeah! 2026
Practical information — Ballast'Yeah!
Location
The Ballast'Yeah! Festival takes place at Les Ballastières, 156 rue du Moulin, 62130 Gauchin-Verloingt. This cultural third place is located in a former farm rehabilitated by the Collectif Ballast, offering a rural and atypical setting for performances and concerts. The various spaces of the farm (barn, courtyard, meadow) host the festival's activities.
Access
- By car: From Arras (30 min), take the D939 towards Saint-Pol-sur-Ternoise then follow signs for Gauchin-Verloingt. From Lens (30 min), D943 towards Béthune then D939. From Béthune (20 min), D941 then D939 towards Saint-Pol-sur-Ternoise. From Lille (1h), A26 exit 6 then D941. Free parking on the Ballastières site.
- By train: Saint-Pol-sur-Ternoise station (10 km), served by the TER Arras-Boulogne line. From the station, it is necessary to continue by car, taxi, or carpooling. The Collectif Ballast encourages carpooling among festival-goers via its social networks.
Prices
Admission by donation (free and conscious price). Everyone contributes according to their means. This solidarity approach is at the heart of the values of the Collectif Ballast and the Ballastières third place, which aim to make culture accessible to all.
Camping
Camping is possible in the adjacent meadow to the farm for the entire duration of the festival. You need to bring your own equipment (tent, sleeping bag, mattress). No showers on site, but dry toilets are available. The camping atmosphere is friendly and relaxed, extending the party after the shows.
Catering
A bar and light catering are available on site throughout the festival, with simple dishes prepared from local products whenever possible. Prices are moderate, in line with the spirit of the place.
Practical tips
- Bring suitable footwear for the terrain (grass, dirt)
- Bring a flashlight for nighttime movement
- As the site is in the countryside, bring warm clothes for the evenings
Contact
Collectif Ballast — Tel.: 06 62 08 83 99 — Email: [email protected]
Website: www.lesballastieres.org
Facebook: Les Ballastières
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Where does it take place — Ballast'Yeah!
Les Ballastières
156 rue du Moulin, 62130 Gauchin-Verloingt