Grésiblues
Traveling blues festival in the Grésivaudan valley
About Grésiblues
Created in 1999 by a group of blues enthusiasts in Le Touvet, Grésiblues is a unique traveling festival in Isère. Every summer, for a week, six free evenings unfold in six towns in the Grésivaudan valley, between Grenoble and Chambéry. Two concerts per evening mix blues, blues-rock, soul, and funk, featuring international and regional artists. The festival also offers music workshops open to all, led by professional musicians. Entirely run by some 70 volunteers, Grésiblues has become a benchmark for French blues festivals.
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Grésiblues: over twenty-five years of blues in the heart of Grésivaudan
Born in 1999 from the passion of a group of friends — Roland, Jean-Luc, Philippe, Sébastien, and others — the association Grésivaudan Blues Festival set out to share the love of blues with as many people as possible. The first concert took place outdoors at the café Les Trois Marches, in Le Touvet, in the Grésivaudan valley, between Grenoble and Chambéry. Since then, the festival has continued to grow, fueled by word-of-mouth and the unwavering commitment of its volunteers.
A traveling and free festival
Grésiblues' originality rests on two founding pillars: the itinerant nature of the concert venues and the holding of music workshops throughout the week. Every evening, the festival sets up in a different town in the valley — Le Touvet, Barraux, Le Cheylas, Bernin, Montbonnot-Saint-Martin, Crolles — along a route of about 30 kilometers. Two free concerts are offered each evening outdoors, with a contingency plan in case of bad weather.
This traveling format allows us to reach audiences in the heart of the villages, far from large venues and conventional festivals. Admission is completely free for all concert evenings, making Grésiblues a deeply popular and accessible event for everyone.
An eclectic and demanding program
While blues remains the festival's DNA, the program embraces a wide spectrum of musical styles: traditional blues, blues-rock, soul, funk, R&B, and sometimes excursions into African blues or rock. Each edition mixes internationally renowned artists with emerging talents from the regional scene, with opening slots often given to promising young musicians.
Over the years, Grésiblues has hosted artists from the United States, Canada, Germany, Cameroon, and of course France, confirming its influence far beyond the borders of Isère.
Music workshops: learning and performing on stage
In parallel with the concerts, the festival organizes a week of intensive music workshops at the Collège La Pierre Aiguille in Le Touvet. Led by professional musicians under the artistic direction of Ian Giddey (Barefoot Iano), these workshops welcome 50 to 70 participants of all levels and ages each year. The instruments offered are guitar, bass, drums, harmonica, and vocals.
The culmination of this week of work is the students' performance on stage before the evening concerts — a unique and often unforgettable experience for amateur musicians who might never have dared to perform in front of an audience.
A festival driven by volunteers
Grésiblues is entirely managed by volunteers, around 70 people who handle organization, logistics, and welcoming the public and artists. Presided over by Brigitte Nakachdjian, the Grésivaudan Blues Festival association has built solid partnerships with the valley's municipalities and local economic players, ensuring the sustainability of this unique event.
In over twenty-five years of existence, the festival has helped change the image of blues in France, attracting an increasingly young and diverse audience, and establishing itself as an unmissable summer event in Isère.
Grésiblues — edition 2026
The 26th edition of Grésiblues will take place from June 28 to July 3, 2026, in the Grésivaudan valley. The festival will continue its iconic format of six evenings of free traveling concerts in six towns in the valley, accompanied by music workshops at the Collège La Pierre Aiguille in Le Touvet. Workshop registrations are open, with courses in guitar, bass, drums, harmonica, and vocals led by professional musicians.
26th Edition — Grésiblues 2026
Grésiblues returns for its 26th edition from June 28 to July 3, 2026, continuing its traveling adventure in the Grésivaudan valley. Following the success of the 25th anniversary edition, the festival promises another week of blues, soul, rock, and funk in the heart of the Isère villages.
Format and Venues
The festival maintains its proven formula: six evenings, six towns, two free concerts per evening. Concerts will be held outdoors in the towns of Grésivaudan, with a contingency plan in case of bad weather. Each evening, students will kick off the festivities at 7:30 PM, followed by two professional bands.
Music Workshops 2026
The workshops will take place from Monday, June 29 to Friday, July 3, 2026, at the Collège La Pierre Aiguille in Le Touvet (38660), in the beautiful Grésivaudan valley. Under the artistic direction of Ian Giddey, students will be able to improve their skills in drums, bass, vocals, guitar, and harmonica, both in individual technique and within a blues or rock band.
The workshop program includes performances by harmonica players on June 29, two ensemble bands on June 30, and all bands performing on stage on July 3 during the closing night.
Artistic Program
The full concert lineup will be announced later on the festival's official website and social media. True to its philosophy, Grésiblues will offer a mix of established international artists and emerging regional talents, covering the entire spectrum of blues: from traditional blues to blues-rock, including soul, funk, and R&B.
Workshop registrations are open
Musicians of all levels wishing to participate in the workshops can register now on the official website gresiblues.com. As places are limited, early registration is recommended.
Prices Grésiblues 2026
Practical information — Grésiblues
Practical Information — Grésiblues
Dates and times
The festival takes place every year late June - early July, for a week. Concerts start at 7:30 PM with the students' performances, followed by the first band at 8:30 PM and the second band (headliner) at 10:00 PM. The opening night does not feature student performances.
Concert Venues
The festival is itinerant and moves each evening to a different town in the Grésivaudan valley:
- Le Touvet — opening night (near Salle du Bresson)
- Barraux
- Le Cheylas
- Bernin
- Montbonnot-Saint-Martin
- Crolles — closing night
All concerts are held outdoors. In case of bad weather, a contingency plan is in place in each town, with signage and information on the festival's official website and social media.
Prices
All concerts are free and open to everyone, blues fans and newcomers alike. Music workshops are subject to a fee (prices available on the official website).
Access
By car: Le Touvet is located 25 km northeast of Grenoble and 45 km south of Chambéry, in the Grésivaudan valley. From the A41 highway (Grenoble-Chambéry), take the Le Touvet / Chartreuse exit. Parking is available near each concert venue.
By train: Grenoble TER station (25 min by car) or Chambéry station (45 min by car).
By bus: Lines from the Grésivaudan intercity transport network (TransIsère).
Music Workshops
The workshops take place at the Collège La Pierre Aiguille, in Le Touvet (38660). They are open to all levels and offer courses in guitar, bass, drums, harmonica, and vocals, as well as group work. Registration is done on the festival's official website. Workshop participants perform as opening acts for the evening concerts.
Contact
Grésivaudan Blues Festival Association
Maison des Associations — 52, avenue Montfillon, box n°27
38660 Le Touvet
Tel: 06 07 27 21 02
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.gresiblues.com
Follow the festival
Find all the latest Grésiblues news on social media:
- Facebook: facebook.com/gresiblues
- Instagram: instagram.com/gresiblues
- X (Twitter): x.com/gresiblues
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Travel to this festival
Book your train or bus to reach Grésiblues at the best price.
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Where does it take place — Grésiblues
Plein air — sites itinérants dans le Grésivaudan
Maison des Associations, 52 avenue Montfillon, 38660 Le Touvet