Rock d'Ici — Saint-Martin-les-Eaux Rock Festival

A festival born from a passion for the local scene

In 2010, the association La Boîte à Musique, chaired by Nicolas Bieber, launched an ambitious project: to create a rural rock festival in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, in Saint-Martin-les-Eaux, a small village perched ten minutes from Manosque. The idea is simple but powerful: to offer amateur and emerging bands from the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region a showcase in quasi-professional conditions, in an exceptional natural setting. The name Rock d'Ici — abbreviated as Rock DC — alone summarizes the project's philosophy: to highlight local talents, those who play in garages, community centers, and small venues in the region.

The green amphitheater, a natural setting for Provencal rock

The festival takes place every year in September in the green amphitheater of Saint-Martin-les-Eaux, an open-air site nestled in the Provencal countryside of the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence. Two stages are set up: a main outdoor stage in the natural amphitheater and a second under a tent, allowing concerts to continue in case of bad weather. This setup offers bands high-quality technical conditions — professional sound provided notably by Jérôme Rouquette — while preserving the intimate and warm atmosphere of a human-sized festival.

An eclectic program with a rock focus

Since its creation, Rock d'Ici has showcased dozens of amateur and emerging bands from the departments 04, 06, 13, and 84. The programming mixes rock, pop rock, punk, progressive rock, acoustic songs, psychedelic, hip-hop fusion, and funk with an open musical spirit. Each edition features between 8 and 11 bands over one day, from 5 PM to 1 AM. Over the years, the festival has hosted bands such as Blast, Azyd Azylum, Blind Pie, Yuna Project, SP95, The Dirty Dash Brothers, Lord of Noise, Digital Nova, Mad€ in France, Spëculons, and Beat Cheese.

A unique community and family spirit

The uniqueness of Rock d'Ici lies in its participatory and community-based operation. All scheduled musicians get involved at some point in the festival's organization — setup, bar service, audience reception — creating what regulars call a “happy fest family”. This collaborative philosophy, driven by the association La Boîte à Musique and its volunteers, makes each edition more than just a concert: a moment of sharing and conviviality in a rural setting.

Beyond the concerts, the festival offers an artisanal market starting at 2 PM (crafts, painting, vinyl records, photos), street entertainment, and shows for all audiences. In 2016, the company Monobass Cie presented the “Giant Trottinette Orchestra” while the Cie Feufolie entertained the site throughout the day.

With its 5 euro entry fee, on-site catering, free camping, and deep roots in the local associative fabric, Rock d'Ici embodies a model of a rural, independent, and supportive festival, proving that live music doesn't need big cities to thrill a passionate audience.