Les Nuits de l'Alligator

Les Nuits de l'Alligator: Traveling Blues in Clermont-Ferrand

Every February, the festival Les Nuits de l'Alligator stops in Clermont-Ferrand, at La Coopérative de Mai, as part of its tour across France. Created in 2006 by Stéphane Deschamps and Xavier Decleire, two passionate programmers, this unique traveling festival roams about fifteen French cities for two weeks every winter.

A Unique Concept: The Traveling Festival

Les Nuits de l'Alligator stands out for its original format: rather than a fixed location, the festival travels from city to city, bringing blues to partner venues across France. From Paris to Marseille, from Rouen to Clermont-Ferrand, each stop on the tour offers an evening of concerts with the same lineup, creating a musical thread that connects the regions.

Blues in All Its Forms

The programming of Les Nuits de l'Alligator explores blues in all its richness and diversity:

• Traditional Blues: a tribute to the roots of Delta blues, Chicago blues, and rural blues
• Blues Rock and Rock: artists pushing the boundaries of the genre
• Soul and Gospel: the spiritual and emotional power of African-American music
• Folk and Country Blues: American acoustic traditions

The festival particularly champions emerging and independent artists, offering a platform for the new generation of international blues.

La Coopérative de Mai, Clermont's Blues Venue

In Clermont-Ferrand, Les Nuits de l'Alligator are hosted at La Coopérative de Mai, an iconic concert and live performance venue in the Clermont metropolitan area. This venue, recognized for the quality of its acoustics and programming, offers an ideal setting to appreciate the power and intimacy of live blues.

Twenty Years of Traveling Blues

Since their creation in 2006, Les Nuits de l'Alligator have hosted major contemporary blues artists, helping to introduce French audiences to the vitality of this music. The 2026 edition marks the festival's 20th anniversary, celebrating two decades of passion for blues and its derivatives.