Écoute(s) Festival

Écoute(s) Festival: The Art of Sound and Radio in Grenoble

The Écoute(s) Festival is a unique event dedicated to all forms of sound and radio creation in Grenoble. Created in 2021 by the association Le Rhume Du Son, this festival explores sound territories in all their facets: microphone manipulation, sound discovery, documentary listening, electroacoustic pieces, live performances, and live radio broadcasts.

A Festival at the Heart of the Mistral District

Rooted in the Mistral district of Grenoble, the Écoute(s) Festival unfolds in several locations within the district: the Prunier Sauvage, the festival's nerve center, and the Maison des Habitants Anatole France. The volunteers who organize the event guide participants through the neighborhood, creating an immersive sound journey that blends indoor and outdoor spaces.

A Commitment to Popular Education

The Écoute(s) Festival is part of a popular education approach. It is conceived as "a space for sharing experiences between amateurs and professionals," where the programming is "collective and voluntary" and welcomes new participants. This philosophy of openness and transmission is at the heart of the festival's project, which seeks to democratize sound and radio practices.

A Rich and Experimental Program

Each edition of the Écoute(s) Festival offers a dense and experimental program organized around a theme. The fourth edition in 2024 had the theme "Éruption(s)", described as "a moment that is both rare and powerful, where the undefined and incandescent mass of magma reaches the surface." The festival thus explores the boundaries of sound through:

• Sound creations and radio works
• Live performances where sound is central
• Sharing workshops for radio and audio practices
• Artist meetings, conferences, and live radio broadcasts
• Call for sounds to discover emerging sound creators

A Growing Festival

Since its first edition in 2021, the Écoute(s) Festival has continued to grow. The 5th edition planned for October 2026 confirms the vitality of this unique event, which fills a gap in Grenoble's cultural landscape. By offering a space dedicated to sound art and radio, Écoute(s) contributes to making Grenoble a reference point for contemporary sound creation.

A Network of Sound Creators

The festival also functions as a network of sound creators, notably through its annual call for sounds which allows for the discovery of new sound artists. This participatory approach enriches the programming and creates lasting links between the players in sound creation in France and beyond.