La Corde Raide Festival
The guitar festival of Pontchâteau
About La Corde Raide
La Corde Raide is a music festival centered on guitar and string instruments, organized by the association Pont d'Zic in Pontchâteau, Loire-Atlantique. Since 2018, this human-sized event has offered several days of concerts each year, mixing rock, folk, blues, punk, and Celtic music at the Carré d'Argent. The festival combines national headliners and local discoveries through the "Les Cordes Émergentes" competition, and complements its programming with a lutherie fair and free outdoor concerts.
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La Corde Raide: Guitar at the Heart of Music in Pontchâteau
Born in 2018 from a "crazy idea" by four friends passionate about music, the La Corde Raide festival is the flagship event of the Pont d'Zic association, founded on December 26, 2013, in Pontchâteau. Its credo: "Guitar at the Heart of Music". The association, which also organizes the Fête de la Musique of Pontchâteau (16 bands on 5 stages, 5,000 spectators) and the Vintage Muzic event, noticed the growing quality of bands performing in the town and wanted to offer them a stage worthy of their talent.
A Human-Sized Festival in Full Growth
Since its first edition in February 2018, La Corde Raide has not stopped growing. From three bands during the opening night at the Carré d'Argent, the festival has expanded to over 30 artists and bands spread across three stages in 2026, including two new outdoor stages transforming the event into a semi-open-air format. With 4,500 festival-goers welcomed over about ten days in recent editions, La Corde Raide has established itself as a must-attend musical event between Nantes and Saint-Nazaire.
An Eclectic Program Centered on Strings
True to its name, the festival places string instruments, especially the guitar, at the center of its programming. Thematic evenings follow one another — rock, folk, blues, punk rock, Celtic rock, French chanson — offering a rich and varied musical panorama. Over the years, La Corde Raide has hosted renowned artists such as Elmer Food Beat, Cali, Sanseverino, Orange Blossom, Tagada Jones, Ko Ko Mo, Laura Cox, Les Hurlements d'Léo, Lofofora, Celkilt, Red Cardell, Klone, Les 3 Fromages, Déportivo, and Sidilarsen.
The "Les Cordes Émergentes" Competition
Because discovery is at the heart of the festival's DNA, Les Cordes Émergentes is a musical competition organized before each edition to find tomorrow's talents. The selected bands then perform on the festival stage, benefiting from valuable visibility to a passionate and curious audience.
The Lutherie Fair
Since 2025, the festival has hosted a Lutherie Fair, a unique event dedicated to the craft of instrument making. Luthiers, bow makers, and instrument makers showcase their expertise for three days, offering festival-goers the opportunity to discover the making and restoration of string instruments.
Iconic Venues in Pontchâteau
The festival unfolds in several locations in the town: the Carré d'Argent for paid evening concerts, the Salle de la Boule d'Or for free daytime concerts, as well as the outdoor stages of the Dôme des Cordes and the Taverne des Ombrières. The médiathèque (library) of Pontchâteau also hosts workshops and retrospective exhibitions.
La Corde Raide — edition 2026
Eighth edition of the La Corde Raide festival from April 30 to May 3, 2026, in Pontchâteau. The festival becomes semi-open-air with three stages and over 30 artists. Headliners: Orange Blossom, Cali, Sanseverino, Tagada Jones, Lofofora, Les Hurlements d'Léo, Klone. Lutherie Fair and free Sunday.
8th Edition — April 30 to May 3, 2026
The La Corde Raide festival reaches a new milestone for its 8th edition by becoming a semi-open-air event, with two new outdoor stages bringing the total to three stages to host over 30 artists and bands. The festival takes place from April 30 to May 3, 2026, between the Carré d'Argent, the Dôme des Cordes, the Taverne des Ombrières, and the Boule d'Or.
Thursday, April 30
Cali opens the festival with his burning words, accompanied by Les Hurlements d'Léo for collective momentum and Lofofora for frontal charge. Red Cardell, Monty Picon, Ivy Bush, Resto Basket, and Triskill complete the lineup.
Friday, May 1
Sanseverino and Tagada Jones lead the dance, joined by The Last Internationale, The Rumpled, Opium du Peuple, and Parpaing Papier.
Saturday, May 2
Orange Blossom, Pogo Car Crash Control, Klone, Cachemire, Celkilt, and Les P'tits Fils de Jeanine ensure an eclectic evening mixing world music, progressive metal, and festive rock.
Sunday, May 3 — Free Day
The festival concludes in style with a free day around the Boule d'Or and the Mine d'Or stage, featuring First Draft, Oliver Light, and Vincent Bloyet.
Lutherie Fair
The Lutherie Fair returns for its second edition from Friday, May 1 to Sunday, May 3, from 10 AM to 7 PM.
Programme La Corde Raide 2026
2026 Lineup
Thursday, April 30
- Cali, Les Hurlements d'Léo, Lofofora, Red Cardell, Monty Picon, Ivy Bush, Resto Basket, Triskill
Friday, May 1
- Sanseverino, Tagada Jones, The Last Internationale, The Rumpled, Opium du Peuple, Parpaing Papier
Saturday, May 2
- Orange Blossom, Pogo Car Crash Control, Klone, Cachemire, Celkilt, Les P'tits Fils de Jeanine
Sunday, May 3 (free)
- First Draft, Oliver Light, Vincent Bloyet
Lutherie Fair
- From Friday, May 1 to Sunday, May 3, 10 AM-7 PM
Highlights La Corde Raide 2026
- Transition to semi-open-air with three stages and over 30 artists
- Orange Blossom, Cali, Sanseverino, and Tagada Jones as headliners
- Lofofora, Les Hurlements d'Léo, Klone, and Celkilt
- Free Sunday with outdoor concerts
- Lutherie Fair (2nd edition) from May 1 to 3
Prices La Corde Raide 2026
Practical information — La Corde Raide
Practical Information
Venues
- Carré d'Argent — 70 rue du Port du Four, 44160 Pontchâteau (paid evening concerts)
- Salle de la Boule d'Or — 25 rue Maurice Sambron, 44160 Pontchâteau (free concerts)
- Dôme des Cordes and Taverne des Ombrières — Allée du Brivet (outdoor stages)
Access
By car: Pontchâteau is located 20 minutes from Saint-Nazaire, 30 minutes from Redon, 40 minutes from Nantes, and 60 minutes from Rennes.
By train: Pontchâteau station is a 5-minute walk from the festival site.
Hours
Doors open: 6:00 PM on Thursday, 5:00 PM on Friday and Saturday. Sunday: free afternoon concerts.
Prices 2026
- 1-day pass: €39
- 2-day pass: €69
- 3-day pass: €99
- Sunday: free
Food & Drink
Croques, sandwiches, galettes, crêpes, craft beers, soft drinks, and wine available on site. Reusable cup deposit: €1. Cashless payment.
Camping
Camping is available a 20-minute walk from the site, bookable when purchasing a ticket. Campervan area at Allée du Brivet.
Accessibility
The Carré d'Argent is accessible to people with reduced mobility. A balcony is reserved for the disabled seating area.
Contact
- Website: www.festival-lacorderaide.fr
- Facebook: Festival - La Corde Raide
- Instagram: @festival_lcr
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Travel to this festival
Book your train or bus to reach La Corde Raide at the best price.
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Where does it take place — La Corde Raide
Carré d'Argent
70 rue du Port du Four, 44160 Pontchâteau