Chapo Folie's Festival

Chapo Folie's: Ten Years of Popular Celebration in the Heart of the Yonne

Born in 2016 on the initiative of the Association les Chapo voyageurs, the Chapo Folie's festival has established itself over a decade as one of the most endearing cultural events in the Yonne department. Its setting? The Parc du Chapeau, a vast green space in the heart of Joigny, whose old trees provide an ideal natural stage for open-air concerts. Its motto? Diversity, openness, and conviviality, all within a resolutely eco-citizen approach.

For ten years, the festival has brought together families, curious music lovers, fans of live performance, and people from all walks of life on the same lawn, loyal to an event unlike any other. Admission has always been free and open to all, ensuring that culture remains accessible to everyone, without condition.

A Program Open to the World

The artistic direction of Chapo Folie's has always favored discovery and the blending of genres. Each edition was structured around two complementary days: Saturday evening, a lineup of concerts mixing emerging artists and more established acts; Sunday afternoon, a closing performance for all audiences, rooted in the performing arts – magic, theater, poetry, song.

Over the years, Chapo Folie's has hosted groups with very eclectic universes:

• The Buttshakers — the soul-funk combo from Lyon, fronted by the fiery voice of Ciara Thompson, blending old-school soul, garage rock, and driving funk.
• Giufà — the Sicilian rockers with a Mediterranean sound, mixing tarantella, ska, and Balkan music, hailing from Solarino near Syracuse.
• Terrain Vague — a band with eclectic French chanson, blending acoustic and electronic elements in a poetic and festive vein.
• La Peau du Zouk — the hot music collective mixing zouk, funk, and cumbia for irresistibly danceable evenings.
• Les Barbeaux — festive and warm folk rock, perfect for getting a whole crowd jumping.
• Mento Cloub — French Caribbean warmth, between Jamaican mento and roots reggae.
• Les fils de Teuhpu and Lazcar Volcano — acts with burning sounds for memorable evenings.
• Dub Live Experiment — the deep bass of dub live, for a unique sound experience.

Sunday always featured a performance for all audiences: in 2023, magician and mentalist Franck Martial amazed young and old; in 2024, the show « La voleuse des 4 saisons » mixed song, poetry, and humor; in 2025, the company La Loge presented « C'est moi qui raconte ! », an unforgettable poetic journey to close ten years of the festival.

An Eco-Citizen and Solidarity Approach

Long before sustainability became a buzzword in the entertainment world, Chapo Folie's had integrated ecological and social values into the heart of its project. Each edition featured stands from local producers and artisans, offering a showcase for the know-how of the Yonne region and its associative fabric. The refreshment stand was managed responsibly, with a focus on waste reduction and short supply chains.

The association les Chapo voyageurs, chaired by Audrey Korum, mobilized a team of passionate volunteers who brought this festival to life edition after edition, with limited resources but boundless energy. This human and collective dimension is undoubtedly what has most marked festival-goers over the years.

Ten Editions, A Collective Adventure

Launched in 2016, the festival quickly found its audience. From the very first editions, over 2,000 spectators gathered each year at the Parc du Chapeau for these two days of sharing and music. The proximity between artists and the public, the warm atmosphere of the park, and the complete freeness of the event forged a strong, recognizable identity.

It was with emotion that the organizers announced, as the 10th edition in 2025 approached, that it would be the last. « After ten years of laughter, discoveries, encounters, and unforgettable moments, Chapo Folie's is about to blow out its tenth candle and take its bow », they wrote in their press release. The edition of July 5th and 6th, 2025, was intended to be « the most festive, the craziest, and the most moving of all ».

A Cultural Legacy for Joigny and the Yonne

For a decade, Chapo Folie's demonstrated that a free, family-friendly, and artistically demanding festival was not only possible but necessary. It opened ears to world music, introduced talented artists, and created lasting memories for thousands of Joigny residents and visitors from all over the Yonne. Its memory, and the example it represents, continue to inspire the cultural life of the Centre-Yonne.