Les Foins d'Hiver

Les Foins d'Hiver: Au Foin de la Rue's Winter Recipe

Since 2003, the association Au Foin de la Rue, known for its eponymous summer festival in Saint-Denis-de-Gastines, has been organizing a winter event called Les Foins d'Hiver. The goal is simple: to extend the festive and supportive spirit of summer into the heart of winter, in the north of Mayenne. This biennial festival alternates between the territories of Mayenne Communauté and the community of communes of Ernée, thus invigorating the cultural life of the entire northern Mayenne region.

A Three-Part Format

Les Foins d'Hiver traditionally unfolds in three main parts. The first part, the barathon, is a tour of free concerts in the bars and restaurants of the host town: afternoon aperitif concerts, followed by evening concerts in several establishments simultaneously, creating an atmosphere of musical wandering through the streets. The second part is a Peace & Lobe educational concert, offered free of charge to schoolchildren and the general public to raise awareness about the risks of hearing damage from amplified music. Finally, the main evening brings the audience together in a multipurpose hall for one or more paid concerts featuring national and international contemporary music artists.

An Eclectic and Committed Program

True to the DNA of Au Foin de la Rue, Les Foins d'Hiver features a deliberately eclectic program: rock, reggae, electro, hip-hop, world music, punk, folk, and Latin music are featured from one edition to the next. Artists such as Hilight Tribe, Biga Ranx, Zoufris Maracas, Zenzile, and Broussai have marked previous editions. The festival also highlights emerging bands and local artists, in a spirit of discovery and sharing.

Territorial and Solidarity-Based Roots

The association Au Foin de la Rue, created in 2000, carries a cultural vision rooted in rurality and the social and solidarity economy. It acquired a former agricultural garage transformed into La Station, a third place dedicated to the social and solidarity economy and culture. Les Foins d'Hiver is part of this dynamic: organizers encourage eco-responsible practices (reusable cups, soft mobility) and mobilize a large network of volunteers. Each edition is conceived as a moment of social connection and diversity of audiences, combining concerts, family activities, and cultural mediation actions with schools and partner organizations in the region.