Roule ma Poule

Roule ma Poule: The Festival Spirit in the Heart of Avallonnais

Founded in 2001 by the cultural association ZIKAFON, the Roule ma Poule festival is one of the most endearing musical adventures in the Yonne department. Born from a handful of contemporary music enthusiasts united around Malik El Kadaoui, it has established itself over the years as a must-see event of the Avallon summer, bringing together artists from French chanson, rock, reggae, electro, and world music on its stages.

The name itself, Roule ma Poule, says it all about the festival's spirit: friendly, unpretentious, open to all, with a simple and warm energy that puts music at the center without making it an elitist affair. This popular drive has always been the festival's DNA, attracting recognized national names while cultivating a rare closeness between artists and the public.

Strong Roots in the Burgundian Territory

Avallon, perched on a rocky outcrop above the Cousin Valley, offers a unique setting for an open-air festival. A medieval town with cobbled streets, flanked by its 12th-century ramparts and its Saint-Lazare collegiate church with an exceptional Romanesque portal, Avallon is also the gateway to the Regional Natural Park of Morvan, with its deep forests and crystal-clear rivers.

The first editions of Roule ma Poule were held in the Cousin Valley, along the river that winds at the foot of the town. The charms of the site — shaded, natural, a stone's throw from the town center — were undeniable, but the humidity and risk of rain led the organizers to move to a more accessible site, closer to the town's infrastructure, without losing any of the authenticity that made the event special.

An Eclectic and Uncompromising Program

The strength of Roule ma Poule has always been its program: eclectic, generous, without genre boundaries. Over the years, the festival has hosted artists as diverse as Pierpoljak, Jamait, François Hadji-Lazaro, Les Ogres de Barback, Les Wampas, Touré Kunda, Percubaba, High Tone, Blankass, or Kaophonic Tribu, K2R Riddim, and Siméo. A panorama that reflects the richness and diversity of French and international scenes, from African reggae to rock chanson and festive electro.

The festival long offered a two-day format — Friday and Saturday — with several bands per evening, allowing the public to discover a wide range of styles without ever feeling overwhelmed. Bar, catering, and parking were systematically provided so that everyone could enjoy the event in the best conditions. Camping near the site completed the offer for festival-goers coming from afar.

The Renaissance of an Endearing Festival

After several years of interruption, the Roule ma Poule festival has experienced a welcome renaissance, driven by a network of loyal volunteers and renewed support from local authorities. The town of Avallon, the Department of Yonne, and the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté Region have supported this return, aware of the importance of such an event for the cultural and tourist dynamism of the Avallonnais region.

The new format retains the original spirit — accessibility, musical diversity, conviviality — while integrating technical and organizational developments that allow the public to be welcomed in better conditions. The carefully chosen site, for its accessibility and character, reconnects with the festive and warm atmosphere that has made the festival's reputation throughout the department.

Roule ma Poule and the Cultural Ecosystem of the Yonne

Roule ma Poule is part of a rich cultural ecosystem, alongside the Festivallon des Bistrots, the Catalpa Festival in Auxerre, and the Rencontres Musicales de Vézelay. In a department that has developed a quality summer cultural offering, it occupies a unique place: that of the popular and festive festival, unpretentious, that highlights contemporary music in all its diversity and brings together an audience from all walks of life around a stage and live music.