Cohue Festival

Cohue!: When Culture Takes Over the Heart of Tonnerre

The word "cohue" refers to both a lively crowd and the hall where it gathers. It is with this double meaning in mind that the association Stoncca Live, founded in 2023 in Tonnerre by Lucas Ippolito-Schwager, chose this name for its contemporary music festival. The ambition is clear: to transform the Marché Couvert de Tonnerre into an exceptional concert venue, and to bring back to Burgundy an audience eager for great musical encounters.

Even before the official launch of the festival, Stoncca Live had inaugurated its project in July 2024 with a concert by Barbara Pravi — the singer who represented France at Eurovision 2021 with "Voilà". This pilot concert, met with enthusiasm, confirmed the venue's potential and the project's relevance. The first official edition of Cohue! followed in 2025, with four events from May to October.

An Exceptional Venue: The Marché Couvert de Tonnerre

The Marché Couvert de Tonnerre is much more than just a concert hall. Inaugurated in 1904, this wrought-iron and brick building, listed as 20th-century heritage, offers a striking acoustic and visual setting. Stoncca Live has installed a professional stage, a quality sound and lighting system, while preserving the building's industrial and historical soul. The hall is accessible via Rue du Grenier à Sel.

The choice of this venue is not accidental. Tonnerre, a Burgundian town in the Yonne region, boasts remarkable heritage — the Fosse Dionne, the Hôtel-Dieu Notre-Dame des Fontenilles — and Cohue! contributes to its cultural influence by attracting several hundred spectators from across the department and beyond on each concert night.

A Curated Program, Between French Chanson and International Scene

The philosophy of Cohue! is based on a discerning selection of artists recognized for their talent and uniqueness. Each edition features four exclusive concerts, designed to create an intimate and memorable musical experience in this heritage setting. The programming explores a wide spectrum of contemporary creation: French chanson, folk, pop, soul, rock.

• May 2025: Danyl + Stony Stone (rai pop and rap, with opening act Emma Politi, local artist)
• June 2025: Ycare (characterful French chanson, a singer-songwriter with numerous collaborations)
• September 2025: Alain Chamfort (a legend of French pop, a collaborator of Gainsbourg)
• October 2025: "Come as you are", a tribute to Kurt Cobain with Béatrice Dalle, Youv Dee, and Bastien Burger, in partnership with Le Silex d'Auxerre

The second edition, in 2026, confirms this ambition with the announced presence of Charlie Winston (May 6) and Jeanne Cherhal (October 1), two essential artists of the current scene.

A Festival Rooted in its Territory

Cohue! benefits from the support of the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté Region, the Departmental Council of the Yonne, and the City of Tonnerre. It is part of a local cultural dynamic that also includes Musiques en Tonnerrois, Les Millésimes de Tonnerre, and other events that make the Tonnerre district a hub of artistic effervescence.

Doors open one hour before each concert, with a pop-up bar and on-site catering fostering a friendly and festive atmosphere. Tickets are available on-site and through partner networks (FNAC Spectacles, passCulture, local tourist offices), with reduced prices for those under 26 and association members.

A Cultural Project to Follow

In just two editions, Cohue! has established itself as a benchmark cultural event in the Yonne region. The Stoncca Live association, driven by a passionate team and a coherent artistic vision, continues to develop this project with the ambition of making Tonnerre a full-fledged musical destination in Burgundy. Future programming promises new surprises and the confirmation of a festival that has found its identity and its audience.