Eldorado Americana Festival
The festival that resonates American music in the heart of Sarthe
About Eldorado Americana
Eldorado Americana Festival: American Roots in Sarthe Country
Born in 2024 from Michel Pampelune's passion for Americana music, the Eldorado Americana Festival is a gem in the Sarthe festival landscape. Located in the village of Vancé, between the hills of Perche Sarthois and the Loir valley, this festival celebrates the contemporary reinterpretation of traditional American music: country, folk, blues, soul, rock, and all their hybrids.
A Rural Setting Between Sawmill and Castle
The festival unfolds across two exceptional venues. On Friday evening, an intimate opening night welcomes festival-goers to the Renaissance Château de Poncé, a few kilometers from Vancé, for acoustic concerts in a remarkable architectural setting. On Saturday, the festival takes up residence at the site of the former Vancé Sawmill, transformed for the occasion into a partially covered festive village, with a deliberately limited capacity of 1,500 people.
International Artists in the Heart of the Countryside
The Eldorado Americana Festival's program gives pride of place to songwriters and musicians who draw from the roots of American music. The first edition in 2024 welcomed Dylan LeBlanc, a songwriter from Louisiana, Emily Nenni, a rising star of the new country scene, Alberta Cross, and the Lowland Brothers. The second edition, on June 26 and 27, 2026, confirms this ambition with Alela Diane (celebrating twenty years of The Pirate's Gospel), Jesse Sykes & The Sweet Hereafter, the Bostonian bluesmen GA-20, Luke Winslow-King, the blues-rock trio Charb-On, and the Canadians HORSEBATH.
Vintage Market and Americana Atmosphere
Beyond the music, the Eldorado Americana Festival offers an Americana market with vintage thrift stores, vinyl records, tattoo artists, and local artisans. The catering highlights local Sarthe products and barbecue, in a relaxed atmosphere that blends country spirit with French art de vivre. The village of Vancé, nestled between vineyards and castles, offers an idyllic setting two hours from Paris and forty-five minutes from Le Mans.
Eldorado Americana — edition 2026
Second edition of the Eldorado Americana Festival on June 26 and 27, 2026 in Vancé and Poncé, Sarthe. On Friday evening, an intimate acoustic night at the Renaissance Château de Poncé with Dylan LeBlanc (celebrating 10 years of his album Cautionary Tale) and Barbara Forstner as the opening act. On Saturday, a full festival at the Scierie de Vancé from 12 PM to 2 AM with Alela Diane, Jesse Sykes & The Sweet Hereafter, Boston bluesmen GA-20, Luke Winslow-King, the blues-rock trio Charb-On, and the Canadians HORSEBATH. An Americana market, vintage thrift store, vinyls, tattoo artists, local products, and barbecue complete the experience.
Eldorado Americana Festival – 2026 Edition
The second edition of the Eldorado Americana Festival takes place on June 26 and 27, 2026, in an expanded two-day format, between the village of Vancé and the Château de Poncé, in Sarthe.
Friday, June 26 — Acoustic Evening at Château de Poncé
On Friday evening, an intimate acoustic night welcomes festival-goers to the Renaissance Château de Poncé, a 16th-century building. Dylan LeBlanc will perform a solo acoustic concert, celebrating ten years of his album Cautionary Tale, preceded as the opening act by Franco-American artist Barbara Forstner. The capacity for the evening is intentionally very limited (approximately 150 seats).
Saturday, June 27 — The Main Day at Scierie de Vancé
On Saturday, the festival takes over the Scierie de Vancé from 12 PM to 2 AM with a top-tier Americana lineup:
- Alela Diane with her full band, celebrating twenty years of her cult album The Pirate's Gospel (gold record in France, Fargo label) and presenting her new songs.
- Jesse Sykes & The Sweet Hereafter, American psychedelic folk-rock.
- GA-20, electric blues-rock trio from Boston.
- Luke Winslow-King, blues and folk songwriter from Louisiana.
- Charb-On, French blues-rock trio.
- HORSEBATH, Canadian band.
Beyond the concerts, the day offers an Americana market (vintage thrift store, vinyl and CD record store, tattoo artists, artisans), catering based on local Sarthe products and barbecue, in a relaxed country atmosphere. The capacity remains intentionally limited to 1,500 people.
Programme Eldorado Americana 2026
Friday, June 26, 2026 — Château de Poncé
- 7:00 PM — Barbara Forstner · Opening Act — Franco-American artist.
- 7:00 PM — Dylan LeBlanc · Solo Acoustic Concert — Louisiana songwriter, celebrating 10 years of his album Cautionary Tale. Intimate evening (capacity limited to approximately 150 seats).
Saturday, June 27, 2026 — Scierie de Vancé (from 12 PM to 2 AM)
- Alela Diane — Full band, celebrating 20 years of the album The Pirate's Gospel and presenting her new album.
- Jesse Sykes & The Sweet Hereafter — Psychedelic folk-rock (US).
- Luke Winslow-King (around 3 PM) — Blues and folk songwriter (US).
- Charb-On — Blues-rock trio (FR).
- HORSEBATH — Canadian band (CAN).
- GA-20 (around 10 PM) — Electric blues-rock trio from Boston (US).
Americana market, vintage thrift store, record store, tattoo artists, local food and barbecue throughout the day. Other artists and activities may be announced by the organization.
Highlights Eldorado Americana 2026
- 2nd edition on June 26 and 27, 2026, expanded two-day format
- Acoustic evening at the Renaissance Château de Poncé (Friday)
- Dylan LeBlanc in solo acoustic celebrates 10 years of Cautionary Tale
- Alela Diane celebrates 20 years of The Pirate's Gospel
- Jesse Sykes & The Sweet Hereafter, GA-20 (Boston) and Luke Winslow-King
- Americana market: vintage thrift store, vinyls, tattoo artists, local products and barbecue
- Human-scale festival — capacity limited to 1,500 people
Prices Eldorado Americana 2026
Practical information — Eldorado Americana
Practical Information
Access
By car: Vancé (72310) is located between Le Mans (45 min), Tours (45 min), and Vendôme (30 min). Access via D305 from Le Mans or N10 from Tours.
By train: Nearest TGV stations: Le Mans (45 min), Tours (45 min), Vendôme-Villiers (30 min). Shuttles possible from the stations.
Prices
Online ticketing. Prices vary depending on the edition. Capacity limited to 1,500 people.
Location
Former Vancé Sawmill (Saturday) and Château Renaissance de Poncé (Friday).
Contact
Eldorado Americana Festival Association
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Where does it take place — Eldorado Americana
Scierie de Vancé
Le Champ du Moulin, 72310 Vancé