Les Heures Vagabondes

Les Heures Vagabondes: Culture Closer to Rural Territories

Born in 2004 from the initiative of Alain Fouché, departmental councilor in charge of culture, the festival was initially named "L'Été Couleur Vienne". Its founding ambition: to leave the big cities to bring live music to the heart of the rural communes of Vienne, where cultural offerings are often limited. Renamed Les Heures Vagabondes in 2010, the festival has become an unmissable summer event in the department, supported by the Conseil départemental de la Vienne.

A Touring and Unifying Festival

Each summer, seven to eight free concerts are organized in the open air in different communes: Chauvigny, Mirebeau, Moncontour, Loudun, Ligugé, Vivonne, Lathus-Saint-Rémy, Usseau, Quinçay, and many other towns have hosted the festival over the years. The concerts take place in stadiums, sports complexes, campsites, or village squares, creating a unique and warm atmosphere each time.

An Eclectic and High-Quality Program

In twenty editions, Les Heures Vagabondes has hosted over a thousand artists from all musical backgrounds: Stephan Eicher, Raphaël, Bénabar, Barbara Pravi, Tiken Jah Fakoly, Kimberose, Jean-Baptiste Guégan, Ycare, Groundation, and Marc Lavoine have graced the festival's ephemeral stages. The program blends French chanson, rock, soul, jazz, reggae, and world music, reflecting the diversity of tastes and generations.

Over 1,000 Volunteers for a Convivial Experience

One of the festival's strengths lies in the exceptional mobilization of over 1,000 volunteers from the host communes. These teams manage on-site catering, public reception, and logistics, making each evening a moment of intergenerational sharing. Since its second consecutive year in 2024, the festival also offers vibrating immersive vests allowing deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals to feel the music, accompanied by sign language interpretation.

Strong Territorial Roots

Supported by Sorégies, SACEM, France Bleu Poitou, France 3 Nouvelle-Aquitaine, and numerous local partners, Les Heures Vagabondes is the only departmental festival in France to offer such a completely free touring format in rural areas. With 210 concerts and thousands of spectators gathered each summer, it embodies an ambitious and supportive cultural policy for all residents of Vienne.