Othe-Armance Festival

A festival born from the convictions of a rural territory

The Othe-Armance Festival was born on August 16, 1991, in one of the smallest villages in the Aube region. Originally, a handful of young artists—musicians and illustrators—had chosen to set up their studios in the Othe region to continue their creations while sharing them with the inhabitants. From this friendly and militant ambition, a festival was born that would never stop growing, becoming over thirty years one of the most anticipated cultural events in Champagne-Bourgogne.

The cultural association Othe-Armance, based in Auxon (10130), has since ensured the organization and sustainability of the event, supported by local authorities and a community of passionate volunteers. The festival is labeled "contemporary music" and claims a mission of cultural democratization in rural areas, with accessible prices and a deliberately diverse program.

A traveling festival, a unique identity

The Othe-Armance Festival's uniqueness lies in its traveling nature. Each season, the program runs from July to October and extends across about twenty municipalities in the Yonne (89) and Aube (10) departments, in locations as unlikely as a washhouse, a barn, a clearing, an open-air theater, a village square, a cathedral, or a small country church—even a barge on the Burgundy Canal.

This deliberate decentralization allows the festival to reach out to the rural public and build strong links with host communes: Brienon-sur-Armançon, Saint-Florentin, Auxon, Bouilly, Bercenay-en-Othe, Villemoiron-en-Othe, Maraye-en-Othe, Chennegy, and many others. The Festi'coccinelle, a children's program in Saint-Florentin, illustrates this desire to include all ages.

The grand gathering at the Parc des Fontaines

The annual highlight remains the big weekend of concerts at the Parc des Fontaines, in the heart of Aix-en-Othe (Aix-Villemaur-Pâlis, Aube). Every early July, this vast green space transforms into a festival in its own right: large stages, free camping spread across three areas with different atmospheres (including a motorhome area), an associative village, local artisans, food trucks, a 100% artisanal bar, a prevention area, and a chill zone.

In 2022, a record year for the event, the festival welcomed 10,000 spectators over 16 days of concerts. This symbolic figure illustrates the loyalty of a regional and national audience that has flocked every summer from the Paris region (1.5 hours away), Reims, Dijon, or Orléans.

An eclectic and committed program

The festival's artistic line is distinguished by its deliberate and militant eclecticism: reggae, festive songs, rock, ska, pop, blues, punk, world music, and electro follow each other on stage, with a particular attachment to artists carrying social and ecological messages. Artists like Tiken Jah Fakoly, Boulevard des Airs, Cali, Olivia Ruiz, Zoufris Maracas, La Rue Kétanou, Youssoupha, Danakil have joined over the years a program that never forgets regional and emerging artists.

Alongside the major headliners, the open stage allows any local or visiting musician to perform in front of a supportive audience. A showcase, the Tremplin Othe-Armance Festival, reveals new regional talents each year, including the group Ēclipse, a crowd favorite at the 2025 edition.

Values at the heart of the project

The Othe-Armance Festival does more than just program concerts: it upholds values of solidarity, accessibility, and environmental responsibility. The festival raises awareness among its audience about violence, addiction, and the ecological crisis, works with local associations, and prioritizes local sourcing for catering. Festival-goers, volunteers, and residents thus participate in a collective cultural adventure that goes far beyond entertainment.

Thirty-five years of history, intact youth

In 2025, the Othe-Armance Festival celebrated its 35 years of existence, an anniversary celebrated with the same energy and generosity as in its beginnings. Its exceptional longevity in the French rural festival landscape is due to its ability to renew itself without betraying its roots: remaining anchored in its territory, defending vibrant and committed music, and offering everyone, regardless of their means, the opportunity to have an intense and unforgettable musical experience in the heart of the Champagne and Burgundy countryside.