Strange Festival

Over twenty years of alternative music by the Loire

Since 2003, the Strange Festival has transformed the small village of Châtillon-sur-Loire into a hub for alternative music in the Loiret region every summer. Driven by a team of passionate volunteers from the association l'Artscène, this human-sized festival has forged a strong identity over more than two decades, attracting a loyal audience each year from across the Centre-Val de Loire region and beyond.

Maison Gitton: An unusual setting

The festival takes place in a unique setting: the courtyard of an old farmhouse called the Maison Gitton, near the Champ de Foire square. This open-air space, transformed into a concert venue for a weekend, gives the Strange Festival an intimate and warm atmosphere, far from impersonal large gatherings. The Espace Gitton welcomes festival-goers from 7 PM, with concerts starting at 8 PM and continuing until 1 AM.

Two evenings, two atmospheres

The hallmark of the Strange Festival lies in its deliberately eclectic programming. Each edition offers two musically different but equally intense evenings, exploring a wide spectrum of alternative music: punk, punk rock, punk hardcore, ska, reggae, trance, world music, and alternative rock. Over the years, the festival has hosted bands like Hilight Tribe (natural trance), Broussaï (reggae), Banane Métalik (punk), Los Tres Puntos (ska, over 900 concerts in Europe and Mexico), Brigitte Bop (French punk rock with a 24-year career), and Lemon Furia.

Inter-stage entertainment, often provided by companies like La Charcuterie musicale, punctuates the stage changes and maintains the festive energy throughout the evening.

A friendly and accessible spirit

The Strange Festival cultivates a resolutely friendly and popular spirit. The food stalls feature quality local products, accompanied by cold beers and non-alcoholic cocktails. An artist market allows visitors to discover local creations. Admission is free for children under 12, and free camping with sanitary facilities is available for ticket holders, supplemented by a partnership with the municipal campsite by the Loire river at only 6 euros per person per night.

With early bird ticket prices ranging from 18 to 28 euros for the weekend pass, the Strange Festival remains one of the most accessible music events in the Loiret department, proving that a quality festival can thrive on the energy of motivated volunteers in a small village.