Les Baldifolies

Les Baldifolies: The amateur music celebration in Mayenne

Born in 2005 from the initiative of five musicians from the Bais Municipal Harmony and their conductor Loïc Renault, the Les Baldifolies festival has become, in just a few editions, a must-attend event in the musical life of Mayenne. The first year, 250 musicians responded. Today, over 1,000 musicians take over the streets of Bais every two years for a grand celebration of music.

Over 35 musical groups

The richness of Les Baldifolies lies in the diversity of the groups present. The festival hosts bandas, municipal harmonies, symphony orchestras, choirs, orchestra classes, street bands, steel bands, and brass bands from Mayenne and neighboring departments. This musical mosaic offers a complete panorama of amateur music practice in the region.

Renowned guest artists

Alongside the amateur groups, the festival invites leading professional artists. The 8th edition notably hosted Ego le Cachalot, Lionel Suarez (accordionist), Airelle Besson (jazz trumpeter), and the group Malted Milk (soul-funk). These guests add an extra dimension to the program and allow amateur musicians to rub shoulders with established artists.

A free and eco-responsible festival

Les Baldifolies is an entirely free event, open to all audiences. The festival is committed to an eco-responsible approach, with particular attention paid to waste management and reducing its environmental impact. From 3:30 PM to 1 AM, the public wanders between the various stages spread throughout the village of Bais.

A unifying biennial event

Organized every two years, the festival is a moment of gathering for musicians and the public of the region. The Harmonie de Bais, with about forty musicians, leads this event with the help of numerous volunteers, in a spirit of conviviality and promotion of musical practice for all.