Festival Awaranda — Traditional and World Music in Iguerande

A Quarter Century of World Music in Brionnais

It was in 1999 that the association Plaisir en Brionnais gave birth to the Festival Awaranda in Iguerande, a small village in southern Saône-et-Loire nestled between an 11th-century Romanesque church and the banks of the Loire. The objective was simple and ambitious: to bring music from all over the world to this corner of the Burgundian countryside, creating a space for meeting and sharing around musical diversity. More than twenty-five years later, having become the Association Awaranda and based at the Fabrique du Nouveau Monde in Iguerande, the adventure continues.

A Musical Journey Between Tradition and Modernity

Festival Awaranda is a true invitation to travel rooted in the traditions of many countries. Each edition offers an eclectic program where African, Celtic, Oriental, Latin American, roots reggae, and contemporary folk music intersect. The 2024 edition notably hosted Zamaka (traditional folk), Les Crogs (fusion Celtic rock), and David Cairol (roots reggae), perfectly illustrating the diversity that defines the festival's identity.

Iguerande: An Exceptional Natural and Heritage Setting

The festival unfolds on the esplanade de la Gare in Iguerande and in the village's green spaces, offering a bucolic setting facing the Monts du Charolais and the Loire Valley. The proximity of the Iguerande Romanesque church, a jewel of Romanesque art in Brionnais, adds a heritage dimension to the event. The atmosphere is resolutely friendly and family-oriented, with catering areas offering local products and activities for all ages.

A Collective Committed to Rural Culture

The Association Awaranda operates under a collective governance model, with elected active members who share organizational responsibility. Beyond the festival, the association carries out cultural activities throughout the year from the Fabrique du Nouveau Monde, a cultural third place in Iguerande. The festival embodies a vision of accessible, popular culture that is open to the world, at the heart of a rural territory.