Jazz dans le Bocage
Crossed jazz in the heart of the Bourbonnais bocage since 1998
About Jazz dans le Bocage
Jazz in the heart of the Bourbonnais countryside
Born in 1998 from a rather crazy bet – to bring jazz to the heart of the Bourbonnais countryside – the festival Jazz dans le Bocage has become, in over twenty-five years, an essential cultural event in the Allier. Every year, during Ascension week, this traveling festival takes over the communes of the Bourbonnais bocage to offer a rich and eclectic program, open to all forms of contemporary jazz.
A traveling and unifying festival
What makes Jazz dans le Bocage unique is its deep territorial roots. The festival is not confined to a single location: it spreads throughout the territory, from Tronget to Rocles, via Buxières-les-Mines, Noyant-d'Allier, Châtel-de-Neuvre, Commentry, Yzeure, and even Vichy. Village halls, churches, and squares become stages for concerts that attract a loyal and curious audience.
An open and demanding program
The artistic direction of the festival opts for a program that dares to mix and discover. While jazz remains the common thread, it is infused here with world music, improvised music, folk, and contemporary creations. Emerging artists share the stages of the bocage with established musicians, in a spirit of openness and sharing. Artistic residencies, practical music workshops for amateurs, and school concerts complete this generous offering.
Civic and associative commitment
Jazz dans le Bocage is driven by an association of passionate volunteers who work year-round to prepare the festival. Around 80 volunteers mobilize during the event, in a spirit of conviviality and solidarity that characterizes the Bourbonnais bocage. The festival benefits from the support of local authorities, the department of Allier, and the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region.
The cultural actions carried out throughout the year – concerts in schools, artist residencies, practical music workshops – demonstrate the festival's commitment to making jazz accessible to all audiences and actively participating in the cultural life of the territory.
Jazz dans le Bocage — edition 2026
25th anniversary edition of Jazz dans le Bocage, from May 8 to 16, 2026. Nine days of itinerant jazz in the Bourbonnais bocage with eighteen concerts in Saint-Menoux, Deux-Chaises, Bourbon-l'Archambault, Noyant-d'Allier, and Tronget. Headliners: Aaron Parks, Renaud Garcia-Fons + Tingvall Trio, Clélya Abraham, Nora Kamm, Big Daddy Wilson, and pianist Lorenzo Naccarato in residence.
25th Edition: An Anniversary in Music
Jazz dans le Bocage celebrated its 25th anniversary with an anniversary edition from May 8 to 16, 2026. For this quarter-century of jazz in the Bourbonnais bocage, the festival presented a program befitting the event: 18 concerts spread over 9 days in 5 communes (Saint-Menoux, Deux-Chaises, Bourbon-l'Archambault, Noyant-d'Allier, and Tronget), artistic residencies, workshops, and the Grand Charivari.
Headliners and Discoveries
New York pianist Aaron Parks, double bassist Renaud Garcia-Fons accompanied by the Tingvall Trio, Antillean pianist Clélya Abraham (with flutist Guillaume Barraud), saxophonist Nora Kamm, bluesman Big Daddy Wilson, the world quintet L'Hijâz'Car, and Garden of Silences with dancer Sharon Mansur made up the lineup for this edition.
Lorenzo Naccarato Residency
At the heart of the 2026 artistic project, the residency of pianist Lorenzo Naccarato unfolded between Bourbon-l'Archambault (in partnership with Le Mazier and its fablab), Hôpital François Mercier, and Noyant-d'Allier (Puit des Arts and Côtes Matras for a dawn concert). A work at the crossroads of piano, electronics, and bird listening, punctuated by encounters with residents and schoolchildren.
Grand Charivari: 100 Amateur Musicians on Stage
The participatory project Grand Charivari, led by the Impérial Quartet, brought together over 100 amateur musicians from the region for 5 concerts (in Commentry, Vichy, and Bourbon-l'Archambault in particular) and several workshops, in a spirit of transmission characteristic of the festival.
Cultural Activities
The edition also offered 10 school concerts in educational and medico-social establishments in 5 communes of the department, as well as exhibitions in Tronget from May 13 to 16 and a nebulophone workshop.
Programme Jazz dans le Bocage 2026
Friday, May 8, 2026 — Saint-Menoux
- 8:30 PM — Nora Kamm · Saint-Menoux · French saxophonist and composer, contemporary jazz
Saturday, May 9, 2026 — Deux-Chaises
- 8:30 PM — L'Hijâz'Car · Deux-Chaises · quintet with oriental and Balkan influences, blending jazz and world music
Sunday, May 10, 2026 — Bourbon-l'Archambault
- 6:00 PM — Impérial Quartet & le Grand Charivari · Bourbon-l'Archambault · participatory concert with over 100 amateur musicians from the region
Tuesday, May 12, 2026 — Noyant-d'Allier
- 8:30 PM — L'Oiseau Ravage · Noyant-d'Allier
Wednesday, May 13, 2026 — Tronget
- 6:00 PM — Big Band · Tronget · free
- 8:15 PM — Clélya Abraham + Guillaume Barraud · Tronget · Antillean pianist and Indian flutist, a meeting between jazz, Creole, and Carnatic music
Thursday, May 14, 2026 (Ascension Day) — Tronget
- 5:45 PM — Baby Vortex · Tronget · free
- 8:15 PM — Renaud Garcia-Fons + Tingvall Trio · Tronget · virtuoso double bassist and Nordic jazz trio
Friday, May 15, 2026 — Tronget
- 5:45 PM — Lorenzo Naccarato · Tronget · free · piano and machines, residency presentation
- 8:15 PM — Garden of Silences + Sharon Mansur · Tronget · music and dance creation
Saturday, May 16, 2026 — Tronget
- 5:45 PM — Duo Brady · Tronget · free
- 8:15 PM — Aaron Parks + Lagon Nwar · Tronget · the New York pianist closing the festival
Related Events (outside the festival)
- March 7, 2026, 8:15 PM — Presentation evening + Béesau · Rocles
- March 13, 2026, 8:00 PM — YOM × Ceccaldi · Vichy
- April 25, May 9, May 10 — Grand Charivari (Agora de Commentry, Opéra de Vichy, Bourbon-l'Archambault)
- May 13 to 16 — Exhibitions · Tronget
- May 15 — Nebulophone workshop · Tronget · full
Highlights Jazz dans le Bocage 2026
- 25th anniversary edition — 18 concerts in 5 communes of the Bourbonnais bocage
- Headliners: Aaron Parks, Renaud Garcia-Fons + Tingvall Trio, Clélya Abraham, Nora Kamm, Big Daddy Wilson
- Residency of pianist Lorenzo Naccarato (piano, electronics, bird listening)
- Grand Charivari led by the Impérial Quartet with 100 amateur musicians
- 10 school and medico-social concerts in 5 communes
- Itinerant festival from May 8 to 16, 2026 (Ascension week)
Prices Jazz dans le Bocage 2026
Practical information — Jazz dans le Bocage
Practical Information
Access
The festival takes place in several communes of the Bourbonnais bocage (Allier). The association's headquarters are located at the Mairie, 7 chemin des Chandelles, 03240 Rocles.
- By car: Tronget and Rocles are accessible from Moulins (approx. 40 min) and Montluçon (approx. 45 min) via departmental roads. From Clermont-Ferrand, allow about 1h30.
- By train: Nearest SNCF station in Moulins-sur-Allier. Carpooling offered via Covievent.
Concert Venues
Concerts are held in various communes: Tronget, Rocles, Buxières-les-Mines, Noyant-d'Allier, Châtel-de-Neuvre, and others. Each concert is preceded by a precise venue indication in the program.
Ticketing
Tickets are on sale online at www.jazzdanslebocage.com (secure payment via Vostickets.fr) and by phone at 07 52 02 88 14 (Monday-Friday, 10 am-1 pm and 6 pm-8 pm). Reservations can also be made by mail to: Jazz dans le Bocage, Mairie, 03240 Rocles.
Prices
Prices vary depending on the concerts. Some late afternoon concerts are free. Evening concerts are ticketed with prices ranging from 6 to 30 euros depending on the venues and artists. Reduced rates and youth rates are available.
Contact
- Phone: 07 52 02 88 14
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.jazzdanslebocage.com
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Where does it take place — Jazz dans le Bocage
Communes du bocage bourbonnais
Mairie, 7 chemin des Chandelles, 03240 Tronget