Festival du Monastier - The Place to Cuivres

Over 36 years of brass music in the heart of Velay

Founded in 1988 by passionate local musicians, the Festival du Monastier was born from an audacious idea: to make this village in Haute-Loire, nestled at the foot of the Massif du Mézenc, a major center for brass music. For over 36 years, the association La Musique des Cuivres and its volunteers have championed the founding values of this unique event: musical commitment, discovery, and sharing. The pretext of brass instruments—trumpets, trombones, horns, saxophones, tubas, sousaphones—allows for all kinds of programming audacity, from jazz to soul, funk to electro, French chanson to baroque music, as well as Balkan brass bands and New Orleans swing.

Multiple stages in a heritage setting

The festival unfolds its program across several emblematic locations in Le Monastier-sur-Gazeille, offering festival-goers a rich and varied musical experience:

• The Cour du Château abbatial: The festival's main stage (IN stage), this historic venue—the castle celebrates its 500th anniversary in 2025—hosts evening concerts starting at 9 PM, blending headliners and discoveries in a unique atmosphere.
• The Place du Vallat: The heart of the festival village, this square hosts free OFF concerts daily at 11 AM and 6 PM, in a friendly atmosphere amidst food and craft stalls.
• The Abbatiale Saint-Chaffre: This gem of Romanesque heritage, with its historic 1518 organ, is the privileged setting for concerts of early, baroque, and contemporary music, offering exceptional acoustics for moments of musical grace.
• Le RéBémol: This bar in the town center transforms into a Brass Room to host jam sessions starting at 11:30 PM, extending the evenings in an intimate and improvised atmosphere for jazz lovers.

A daring program

The brass theme allows the Festival du Monastier to break free from the tyranny of headliners and offer a bold and eclectic program. The organizers primarily aim to introduce a wider diversity of music: from Anglo-American rock'n'soul to prohibition swing, from romantic brass bands to jazz explorations, from sacred Italian Renaissance music to musical journeys between London and Paris. Each edition is built around original themes that contribute to the festival's richness and identity.

Music workshops for all levels

Alongside the concerts, the festival offers music workshops led by top instructors, providing individual and group sessions in various disciplines: romantic brass band, early and baroque music, Afro-American jazz, and Balkan gypsy music. These participatory workshops allow amateur and experienced musicians to improve their skills and share their passion in a supportive environment, culminating in a performance concert at the end of the festival.

A festival driven by volunteer passion

The Festival du Monastier is, above all, a human adventure. Each year, over 150 volunteers mobilize to organize, welcome, and bring this event to life. For over 36 years, new volunteers have joined the adventure, adding to the circle of "veterans," the core group primarily revolving around music. This collective involvement is the very foundation of the festival, ensuring the authenticity and warmth that have earned it its reputation among the approximately 10,000 festival-goers welcomed each year.