Music for all ears at the Aucard festival in Tours

After a “phew” winter edition, the Aucard de Tours festival is back in action and returns with its “almost” summer version. A carefully balanced alternative program that gives pride of place to emergence and discoveries, all surrounded by sure values. Let’s take a non-exhaustive tour of the proposals available to our ears, from June 9 to 13, on the Plaine de la Gloriette.

By Olivier Joriot.

Jour 1

This year, the organizers are offering 32 concerts with artists from 10 nationalities and four different continents. The 2026 edition will be placed under the theme “Stop your circus” and will offer a resolutely Freakshow* aesthetic.

Before Médine closing the first evening, our big ears will have already benefited from several discoveries. The Occitan polyphonies of Cocanahthe Finn’s experimental accordion Antti Paalanen or even the Swedish twin brothers of Say World who do not hesitate to confront rap, drum’n’bass, pop and breakbeat in their compositions.

Jour 2

On Wednesday, the festival heads to Brooklyn and the abrasive post-punk of Model/Actress. The band made a splash in the press with their debut album, Dogsbody, released in 2023. Incidentally, drummer Ruben Radlauer and guitarist Jack Wetmore not only grew up together, but their respective fathers had played together decades before.

Earlier in the evening, the Lyon group Not Scientists will have raised the temperature a notch. A sure bet, between The Cure, Buzzcocks and Killing Joke which has evolved since its debut in 2012.

It’s the rap of Lujipeka (ex Columbine) which will end the hostilities.

Not Scientists, sure value of French rock (photo by Aucard de Tours)

Jour 3

An improbable Nantes-Brighton-Kinshasa triangle will be proposed on this third day.

The people of NantesOrange Blossom, whose music unites Arab and Western influences, rock, world music and electro, will close the ban. We remember, around ten years ago, their hit Ya Sidi, which was played by millions and used in several series.

Previously, Brighton’s explosive noise-rock quintet, saywill certainly have amazed festival-goers as this group ticks all the boxes. Frenzy of guitars, incisive bass, charismatic frontman for compositions that are at once intense, captivating and melodious.

The curiosity of the evening could be Fulu Music (translate “the sound of garbage cans”) from the Republic of Congo. Describing themselves as an Eco-Friendly-Afro-Futuristic-Punk outfit, they play music they call Twerkanda with instruments, masks and costumes made from materials they have recycled and assembled.

Fulu Miziki et son Afrodisco-house made in Kinshasa (photo Cedrick Not)

Jour 4

Resolutely dancing and feel good atmosphere with MAO Cormontreuil. MAO not only in reference to the Computer Assisted Music they use, but also for the initials of the first names of each member of the group (Marianne, Antonin and Odilon). As for Cormontreuil, it is the town next to Reims where the group composes. MAO Cormontreuil is a trio made to play live and stir up the sauce.

Change of scenery with Cold lovea Berlin duo who manage to fuse influences ranging from post-punk to dark wave and even techno. Powerful performance in perspective.

The evening will end with a non-conformist duo who are difficult to define musically as they blur the lines by mixing genres. It nevertheless remains that H09909composed of the OGM and Yeti Bones, is an explosive and diabolical cocktail that will not leave anyone indifferent.

MAO Cormontreuil: pop, danceable, and a good dose of DIY (photo com’ Aucard de Tours)

Jour 5

For the last day, the Aucard de Tours festival shows that it knows how to vary genres with Marina P & the Radiator. The Italian, now Parisian, creates patchwork music that moves between reggae, rocksteady and ska accompanied by committed lyrics denouncing the suffering of those she encountered.

To finish this overview, head back to Brighton, in folk/rock mode with The New Eves. No roaring guitars or crashing drums here, but rather bowed or plucked strings, flutes, unstoppable vocal harmonies and obvious poetry. The singularity of this group lies in the punk approach to their music, in the way of composing and handling their instruments. You just have to watch the video of their performance of “Mother” at the Green Man festival to feel all the osmosis and creative energy of the quartet. Power and thrills guaranteed.

The New Eves, one of the many jewels of the Brighton scene (photo Katie Silvester)

Far from having covered the artists of this extremely eclectic 2026 edition, find the complete program below. Without forgetting that the Offs d’Aucard will allow you to extend the festival with free concerts in the Touraine area and in the department.

*Un freak show is the exhibition of human beings qualified as “human monsters” with unusual characteristics and/or physical malformations for the purposes of lucrative entertainment. These exhibitions enjoy considerable popular success across the freak shows in the United States between the mid-19th century and the mid-20th century.

Nowadays, the world of freak shows is experiencing a revival through contemporary arts, the alternative scene and queer culture.