An American wind will blow through Béziers this weekend. The Charm’s Country New association is organizing the Country Fest from June 6 to 7 at the Sauclières stadium in Béziers and is offering a western family weekend.
This weekend of June 6 to 7, the Sauclières stadium will resonate with the sound of cowboy boots on a wooden floor. The Charm’s Country New association organizes Country Fest, an event dedicated to North American folk music and dance. During these two days, there will be concerts, notably with Les Backwest, Didier Beaumont and Les Mother Folklers, as well as introductory workshops, with choreographer Marie-Claude Gil and the Fort Worth Wranglers, a group coming directly from Texas.
Country, family passion
A dance floor will be open and many activities are planned for children. “We wanted it to be open to all audiences, so that they can discover, appreciate the groups, take their first dance steps”explains Eric Camman, the president of the association.
It has been fifteen years since this festival was organized. The previous editions took place between 2009 and 2011. “From that time on, country was in competition with zumba and other dances, it aroused less enthusiasm. Afterwards, unfortunately, there was covid which slowed us down for a few years.”, details the president. “But here, we see that this genre is becoming attractive again, there are contemporary singers who are getting into it. Hence the idea of doing a festival again in 2026. We have been on the subject for a year and a half, we have blocked the dates and places thanks to the help of the town hall and the sports department”.
Eric Camman manages the association with his wife and his sister-in-law. It is the latter, Bernadette Marino, or Miss Dakota by her stage name, dance teacher and singer, who is at the origin of the club. At Charm’s Country New, country is a family affair. “We were five children, with our father we were immersed in western films, in music… Even when we were little, we dressed as cowboys”smiled Bernadette. It laid the foundations in 1998 in Frontignan, then moved to Béziers in 2003, where the current headquarters are located. From there, the cowgirl goes to the surrounding towns to give her lessons. They take place on Monday and Wednesday in Béziers at Maison Cordier, Tuesday in Puisserguier, Thursday at Ranch El Paso in Murviel-lèsBéziers, and Friday in Maureilhan.
Far from caricatures
“We do line dancing, and partner dances, as well as counter dances which are done a lot in Texas. Even if nowadays, in Texas they do more two-steps, a partner dance. There are all the rhythms in country, it’s very varied”, explains Bernadette.
The association has around a hundred members. Among them, some are part of the demo group which produces animations on request, during events, in institutions or, most regularly, at the El Paso Ranch. “As soon as you put on your boots and put on your hat, you get into character.”smiled Eric. He dances with the others while Miss Dakota sings her favorite tunes, like Friends in Low Places by Garth Brooks. “It’s important for us that people can have fun, disconnect and escape a little”underlines the latter. “We try to have a vision of the United States that is not too caricatured. We had the chance to go to Texas, it’s true that it’s a country where everything is excessive but the people have a richness of heart which is surprising for a Frenchman from France.”s’amuse Eric.
Prices: €15 on Saturday, €10 on Sunday and €20 for both days. Online and on-site ticketing: https://www.helloasso.com/associations/charm-s-country-new/evenements/festival-country-beziers-les-6-et-7-juin-2026
