Qui Sème le Son Festival

Diff'art sows sound in Gâtine

The Qui Sème le Son Festival was born in 2019 from the desire of the team at the Diff'art venue, a venue for broadcasting, teaching, and supporting contemporary music in Parthenay, to create an annual highlight that resonates beyond the venue's walls. The Diff'art association, resulting from the transformation in 2018 of the Trastaroots association — active since 2002 in promoting contemporary music in Gâtine —, carries a cultural project rooted in the rural territory of the Deux-Sèvres.

An open and eclectic program

The hallmark of Qui Sème le Son is its eclecticism. The festival refuses to be confined to a single musical genre and offers a broad panorama of contemporary music: rock, pop, dub, reggae, French chanson, world music, hip-hop, electro, folk, and beyond. Over the years, the festival has hosted artists as varied as Eagle-Eye Cherry, Ko Ko Mo, Mademoiselle K, Zentone (a collaboration between Zenzile and High Tone), Fatbabs Badaam, HPS, and La Charcuterie Musicale.

This diversity is no accident: it reflects Diff'art's philosophy, convinced that contemporary music forms a rich ecosystem and that every spectator deserves to discover sounds they wouldn't have sought out spontaneously.

Much more than a series of concerts

Qui Sème le Son stands out for the variety of its formats. In addition to indoor concerts, there are musical processions through the streets of the medieval town center of Parthenay, blind tests for music culture enthusiasts, cinema nights related to music, silent parties where each participant chooses their soundtrack via headphones, musical naps for contemplative listening, and a program for young audiences to introduce the little ones to sonic discovery.

The festival also takes over the streets of Parthenay with cultural activities, DJ sets, and surprise entertainment, transforming the medieval city into a musical playground for about ten days.

Strong territorial roots

Located in the heart of Gâtine, a rural area in the center of the Deux-Sèvres department, Qui Sème le Son plays an essential role in local cultural animation. The festival creates social connections, attracts audiences from all over the department and beyond, and contributes to the economic vitality of Parthenay. Its accessible All Access pass (50 €, 45 € for members) reflects a desire to make vibrant culture affordable.