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From July 15th to 19th, Cabaret Frappé returns for five free evenings where families, students, concert regulars, and after-work crowds come together to groove to local sounds while enjoying local food.
A famous and socially conscious festival
Located in the Jardin de Ville, a popular spot for Grenoble residents to relax in the evenings, Cabaret Frappé has become a summer must-see event. Initiated by the City of Grenoble, the festival has been free since 2016 and attracts several thousand people each night, up to 10,000 in total, all united by a shared desire: to enjoy a moment together in a unique setting, accessible to everyone and catering to all musical tastes.
The atmosphere is festive but also very committed. Waste sorting, composting, dry toilets, reusable dishes, free water points, no plastic bottles and catering made up of 90% organic, local or short supply chain products… Everything is designed to avoid putting pressure on the park due to the influx of visitors.
“Promoting local products and minimizing the festival’s impact is part of its DNA, and we make a point of it: no freebies, low-energy lighting, and local food!” emphasizes Tigi Golfier, from the Grenoble city events department. Additional bike racks will also be installed around the site.
Emphasis has also been placed from the beginning on gender parity in programming, which is rare enough in the industry to be commendable.
An urban open-air café atmosphere
From 6 p.m. onwards, the Jardin de Ville comes alive. People settle in the shade of the trees, a drink in hand, while children get their faces painted with glitter or try out the wooden games offered by the Maison des Jeux. Work colleagues toast each other, and groups of students picnic.
On the food side, several local food trucks will be present: bo buns, falafels, empanadas, pulled pork, organic and local wraps with vegetarian options, and artisanal sorbets.
The refreshment stand, run by the Retour de Scène association, is under our favorite bandstand, and perfectly complements this ephemeral village atmosphere where people come as much to eat, chat and meet up as to attend concerts.
An eclectic and local program
For several years, the City has entrusted the Retour de Scène association with programming the festival, with a clear objective: to blend styles and showcase emerging local talent. Each evening, a Grenoble-based artist opens the festivities before handing the stage over to the headliners. This approach encourages the audience to venture off the beaten path and discover musical worlds that are sometimes more niche. Among the local artists not to be missed is Naphasso, whose creations blend soul sounds with British influences. His sensitive lyrics are interwoven with ethereal melodies carried by a groovy rhythm. Another discovery is Fav, a young artist with polished electronic productions, who will set the tone for Thursday evening with his infectious energy.
The program continues: world music will kick things off on Wednesday, notably with Grenoble’s Los Burritos Santos, whose boundless energy promises a concert that’s both festive and unifying. Thursday will showcase pop and rap. Friday will feature rock in a more family-friendly atmosphere, including Mélissa Laveaux, whose folk melodies, both delicate and catchy, invite you on a journey. Finally, Saturday will be dedicated to electronic music to get the dance floor pumping. A particular highlight is Ditter, an explosive trio that blends rock and electro and invites the audience to sing along in a decidedly festive atmosphere (at 7:50 pm).
The only exception this year is Sunday. To allow everyone to watch the World Cup final, the concerts will exceptionally start at 3:30 pm and end at 8:20 pm.