Qui Sème le Son Festival

Diff'art brings the sound to Gâtine

The Qui Sème le Son festival was born in 2019, driven by the team at Diff'art—a venue in Parthenay dedicated to broadcasting, teaching, and supporting contemporary music—who wanted to create an annual highlight that would reach far beyond their own walls. The Diff'art association, which evolved in 2018 from the Trastaroots association (active since 2002 in promoting contemporary music in Gâtine), carries a cultural project deeply rooted in the rural landscape of the Deux-Sèvres region.

An open and eclectic lineup

The hallmark of Qui Sème le Son is its eclecticism. The festival refuses to be pigeonholed into a single genre, offering 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 a diverse range of artists such 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 the philosophy of Diff'art, which believes that contemporary music is a rich ecosystem and that every audience member deserves to discover sounds they might not have sought out on their own.

Much more than just a series of concerts

Qui Sème le Son stands out for the variety of its formats. In addition to indoor concerts, the festival features musical processions through the streets of Parthenay's medieval town center, blind tests for music culture enthusiasts, film screenings related to music, silent parties where participants choose their own soundtrack via headphones, musical siestas for contemplative listening, and youth-oriented programming to introduce the little ones to sound discovery.

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

Strong local roots

Based in Gâtine, a rural area in the heart of the Deux-Sèvres, Qui Sème le Son plays an essential role in local cultural life. The festival builds social bonds, attracts audiences from across the department and beyond, and contributes to the economic vitality of Parthenay. Its pricing structure—offering member rates, reduced advance rates, and standard door prices, with a €10 membership fee—reflects a commitment to making live culture accessible to all.