Le
festival
ABOUT
Francofolies Esch/Alzette is the newest addition to the global Francofolies family, bringing good vibes and big dreams to Luxembourg!
Our goal? To celebrate Luxembourg’s rich multicultural identity, where French influences blend seamlessly with others. Through music and language, we’re celebrating a connection that’s deeply rooted in the country’s history.
We’re proud to be pioneers in Luxembourg, offering a modern music festival that’s also eco-friendly. From the lineup to the stage designs and all the logistics, every detail of Francofolies Esch/Alzette is crafted to reflect our commitment to sustainability—while keeping things fun, creative, and visually stunning.
La Fabrik
des francofolies
La Fabrik des Francofolies is at the heart of our mission to support and grow the next wave of musical talent in Luxembourg. For the past three years, we’ve been selecting two emerging artists and offering them a customized program with three key elements:
1/ CREATIVE SUPPORT
- A residency at Kulturfabrik to help artists get stage-ready.
- Workshops and coaching sessions with industry pros in stage direction, vocals, movement, sound, and lighting.
2/ PERSONALIZED GUIDANCE
- Insights into the music industry with themed workshops connected to Francofolies de La Rochelle.
- Helping artists understand how to structure their careers and navigate the music market.
3/ PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES
- A spot on one of the Francofolies Esch/Alzette stages.
- Chances to connect with industry professionals, as well as venues and festivals in the network.
Previous editions :
Who can apply ?
This project is designed for emerging artists who are ready to take the next step in their careers. The program adapts to each artist’s needs, offering personalized support to help them grow.
SELECTION CRITERIA
- Artists with a connection to Luxembourg (either by origin or residence).
- Artists with some live performance experience.
- We’re looking for artists who are serious about going professional.
- Availability is required on January 13th and from March 24th to 28th, 2025.
Méthodologie
Les deux artistes sélectionnés rencontreront les différents professionnels et intervenants pour un premier moment d’échange afin de faire connaissance et d’identifier leurs besoins.
Nous organiserons le dispositif afin de garantir que l’ensemble des acteurs puisse créer les conditions d’un accueil sympathique et créatif.
Un reportage sera réalisé afin de suivre les artistes tout au long de ce processus, des premières rencontres jusqu’à la représentation au festival des Francofolies Esch/Alzette.
Le projet pourra, par l’intermédiaire de ses partenaires, offrir des prestations d’accueil et d’accompagnement de grande qualité. Les salles, les studios d’enregistrement, les structures d’accompagnement, les liens bilatéraux entre Francofolies permettront aux musiciens d’avoir un terrain de travail complet et agréable
Imagining the Festival of Tomorrow!
Picture this: a festival with zero waste, where people arrive without cars, enjoy local and organic food in reusable dishes, and learn about the event’s eco-friendly initiatives. LED lights illuminate the festival, all powered by renewable energy.
Francofolies Esch/Alzette – A Green Events Festival
Our festival is officially recognized as a Green Event, a label awarded in Luxembourg to events that actively work to minimize their environmental impact. This certification reflects our commitment to sustainability, from eco-friendly logistics to responsible consumption on-site. This involves ongoing communication and collaboration with all the stakeholders involved. Green Events is about reducing the ecological footprint of events in Luxembourg. We’re here to support eco-friendly event planning by providing information, raising awareness, and guiding other organizers.
Agenda 21 for Culture: A Pilot Project
Since 2017, Esch-sur-Alzette has been a Pilot City for Agenda 21 for Culture, and Francofolies Esch/Alzette is fully on board with this initiative.
Approved on May 8, 2004, by cities and local governments worldwide, Agenda 21 for Culture focuses on human rights, cultural diversity, sustainable development, and peace.
By participating in local working groups and following the “Connexions” strategy, Francofolies Esch/Alzette is helping to build a stronger cultural future for the community.
NOTRE CHARTE ENVIRONNEMENTALE
Cette charte environnementale reprend les engagements écoresponsables menés en collaboration avec les bénévoles, les artistes, les partenaires et visant à sensibiliser le public ainsi qu’à ancrer la responsabilité environnementale dans les pratiques de tous.
Since the festival takes place in the heart of Esch-sur-Alzette, we encourage using ecofriendly ways to get here. We’re doing everything we can to help festival-goers choose sustainable transport options:
- Shuttle buses from nearby cities: Arlon, Metz, Nancy, and Thionville
- Extended train schedules in Luxembourg
- Carpooling promotion
- Bike parking, Vélo’k stations, and group bike rides from nearby towns in collaboration with Vélorution
- Our team participates in a Mobility Workshop
We select our food vendors through an application process based on a carefully defined set of guidelines:
- Seasonal ingredients only
- At least 50% of the menu made with organic and locally sourced products (from Luxembourg or within 150 km of Esch-sur-Alzette)
- Fair trade products whenever possible • If meat is served, it’s locally sourced, organic, or certified sustainable •
- If fish is served, it’s local, organic, or certified sustainable
- Vegetarian/vegan dishes or at least one veggie/vegan option on every menu
- Catering for the team is vegetarian/vegan every other day
- Food vendors collaborate with Food Sharing to donate unsold foodThe festival is completely free of disposable containers, including for food, which is served using reusable dishes.
- Only compostable paper napkins are used
- No single-use sauce packets, sugar sachets, milk pods, or straws
- Returnable bottles for sodas and juices at the bar
- Local drinks available
- All team members, including artists, use refillable water bottles
Everyone involved in the festival is encouraged to sort waste responsibly, and we focus on recycling wherever possible:
- Recycling bins are available throughout the festival site and backstage, with clear signage above each bin
- Collected waste is managed according to Luxembourg’s waste management guidelines
- Toilet paper is eco-labeled, made from recycled and biodegradable paper
- Pocket ashtrays are distributed to festival-goers, and cigarette butts are collected by Shime for pollution treatment A “Green Team” is present throughout the festival to:
- Help people use the composting toilets correctly by handing out cups of wood chips
- Collect and encourage proper waste sorting (and re-sort if needed)
- Keep the festival site clean
- Host a booth about waste reduction in the associative village
COMMUNICATION AND SIGNAGE:
- Our website is designed to be low-tech, and we prioritize digital communication to reduce paper usage
- When printing is necessary, we carefully calculate the quantities to avoid waste, distributing any extras to local businesses
- We use “My Climate FSC – Recycled” labeled paper for printing
- Signage is mostly PVC-free • Non-reusable signage is handed over to MESA for upcycling
- We ask all our partners in the community village to create their stands using reusable signage
- Single-use gadgets and promotional items are not allowed at the event
- All festival merchandise is eco-friendly
- Team uniforms and merchandise are made from recycled or organic cotton and RPET polyester
SCENOGRAPHY AND MATERIALS:
- Most of the festival’s scenography is made from upcycled materials, created either with CIGL, in workshops with Facilitec and volunteers, or by our team
CIGL is a nonprofit local development association promoting a fair and solidarity-driven economy. They work on sustainable local development in various fields, including community services, digital inclusion, cultural creativity, sustainable growth, and tourism heritage enhancement, collaborating closely with employment and training organizations.
- Event furniture is mostly second-hand, supplemented with rental equipment
- Decorations are made from natural elements like bamboo or reclaimed wood
- All stages and site lighting use LED technology
- Food vendors are asked not to use gas stoves
- Cooking oils are collected and recycled
- Wastewater is managed by a professional company
- Dry toilets are available across the site and backstage
- Hand soap and cleaning products are eco-labeled
- Fireworks are banned
- Free drinking water is available to the public and backstage through connections to the city’s water system
In collaboration with Fondation EME, we strive to make the festival experience welcoming for everyone. This year, we’re offering:
- A dedicated entrance with an elevator for easy access to the park
- Drop-off zone at the entrance and a P+R parking with reserved spots, just 5 minutes by train
- Reserved viewing platforms at every stage
- Specific information sent out to registered guests in advance
- Easy-to-read “Practical Info” page on our website
- Tickets available at Kultur Pass prices
- Detailed accessibility maps online and on-site
- Reservation of vibrating vests for enhanced sound experiences
- Hearing loops available
- All teams are trained to welcome guests with specific needs
- Info about Adapto taxi services on our website
- All bars have lowered counters
- A priority bar in a calm area with a large-print menu and staff trained in sign language
- Priority access to food trucks
FIGHT AGAINST GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE AND HARASSMENT (GBVH):
- Trained volunteer teams are on patrol to ensure safety and support
- GBVH and anti-discrimination signs are displayed in strategic areas
- Reporting and support protocol for victims and offenders, shared with staff and public-facing teams
- Presence of Pipapo in the community village for support and resources HEARING RISK PREVENTION:
- Free disposable earplugs are available at the Info/Prevention Point and bars, and children’s ear protection can be borrowed at the Info Point
The community village is a place for discussion and learning about various sustainability topics. These associations will be present:
- SARABADIA MAKEUP: Eco-friendly glitter by Sisi La Paillette
- GRANDS REVEURS: Ambassadors of Esch’s lifestyle and cultural life
- PIPAPO and SAFER: Risk prevention related to drugs, sexuality, and party-related violence
- ENVIRONMENTAL AND SUSTAINABILITY EDUCATION: Fun and scientific ways to understand our environment within an engaged community
- PICK IT UP x Clean Something For Nothing x Shime: Organizers of educational collective litter-picking events
- APGS (Stress Prevention and Management Association): Tips on managing stress daily and at work
- FOODSHARING: Raising awareness about food waste
- PADEM: Fighting racial discrimination
- PASSERELL x RYSE ASBL: Promoting inclusivity and socio-professional integration
