Les Bruits de la Tête Festival

A musical festival perched on the high plateaus of Cézallier

Initiated in 2019 by trumpeter and composer Timothée Quost, the Les Bruits de la Tête Festival is a unique musical adventure nestled on the high plateaus of Cézallier, in Marcenat, Cantal. At over 1,000 meters above sea level, between sky and earth, the festival invites the public to experience the natural and wild poetry of this preserved territory through a resolutely eclectic and audacious musical program.

A "coq à l'âne" program

The festival's signature lies in its deliberately heterogeneous programming, described as "coq à l'âne" (hodgepodge). Classical and baroque music, jazz, improvisation, world music, Occitan pop, experimental sound creations, festive fanfares: genres follow one another and respond to each other in a joyful artistic disorder. Among the artists who have marked previous editions are Cocanha (Occitan polyphonic songs for dancing), the trio Les Dryades (baroque music), Tom Jacques (motorized sound installations), Mitsaitsaiky (Malagasy tsapiky), Albert Marcœur, Nadia Okrusko (classical piano), Axel Dörner, Jean-Luc Guionnet, and the ensemble Arlequinte.

Unusual concert venues

One of the festival's unique features is the choice of its performance venues. Concerts take place in the church of Marcenat, whose exceptional acoustics enhance classical and baroque repertoires, but also in the middle of the forest for site-specific creations by the ensemble Liken, or in open-air settings on the windswept plateaus of Cézallier. The church of Pradiers also hosts some concerts. These natural and heritage spaces offer a unique listening experience, directly connected to the landscape.

A festival rooted in its territory

The Les Bruits de la Tête Festival doesn't just program internationally renowned artists. It is deeply rooted in its territory by associating the local fanfare Circuit-Court, by offering creations bringing together young musicians from the Hautes Terres music school and the IME of Saint-Flour, and by highlighting the natural and architectural heritage of Cézallier. The festival is also supported by the Voltbass label and benefits from the support of local authorities.

Timothée Quost, founder and soul of the festival

Timothée Quost is a trumpeter and composer based in Cantal. A multifaceted artist, he pursues a career between improvisation, contemporary composition, and collaborative projects. It is his attachment to Cézallier and his desire to bring music to rural areas that led him to create this festival, which has become, in a few editions, an anticipated musical event of the Cantal summer.