Les Escales

Les Escales: The World Music Festival of Saint-Nazaire

The Les Escales festival was born in 1992 on the île du Petit Maroc, in the heart of the port of Saint-Nazaire. Founded by Patrice Bulting, this world music festival has established itself as one of the major cultural events in Loire-Atlantique and the Pays de la Loire region. After two years of preparation, the first edition took place in mid-summer 1992, between the Loire estuary and the Atlantic Ocean.

An Exceptional Site Between the Loire and the Ocean

The festival takes place on the unique site of the île du Petit Maroc, a ten-minute walk from the city center of Saint-Nazaire. This historically significant port location offers a spectacular setting with views of the Loire estuary. Several stages are spread across the site: the Scène du Port – Crédit Mutuel (main stage), the Scène Estuaire, the Théâtre de Verdure, the Club 360, La Plage, and the Cinéville area. Together, they create a true city within a city, where festival-goers move freely between concerts.

A Program Open to the World

Originally dedicated to world music, the festival evolved under the leadership of Gérald Chabaud, director since February 2015. While retaining its international identity, Les Escales has expanded its programming to include contemporary music: pop, rock, electro, rap, French chanson. The festival makes it a point of honor to foster dialogue between musical cultures from around the world, inviting artists from Africa, Latin America, Asia, and Europe alongside French and international headliners.

Exceptional Artists Throughout the Editions

Over its more than thirty editions, Les Escales has hosted world-renowned artists: Salif Keita, Air, Philippe Katerine, Thomas Dutronc, Feu! Chatterton, Róisín Murphy, Benjamin Biolay, Fatoumata Diawara, Gaël Faye, Manu Chao, Angélique Kidjo, Oumou Sangaré, and many others. Each edition features about fifteen artists per day, offering exceptional musical diversity.

An Accessible and Friendly Festival

Les Escales stands out for its accessible pricing policy: reasonably priced day tickets, free entry for children under 12. The festival also offers catering areas, a dedicated family zone (Safe Zone), and cultural initiatives throughout the year, such as the Globe-Trotter project which raises young people's awareness of world music. The association Les Escales, based at 23 rue d'Anjou in Saint-Nazaire, works year-round to promote musical diversity in the region.