Festival Guitare en Scène

What Festival Guitare en Scène does

Festival Guitare en Scène is a French non-profit association (loi 1901) operating an annual five-day guitar-centric music festival in Saint-Julien-en-Genevois, Haute-Savoie, capped at 5,000 attendees per evening. Founded in 2007 by a group of music enthusiasts with Jacques Falda as President and Artistic Director, the festival is now in its 19th edition (July 14–18, 2026) and has hosted internationally established artists including Santana, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Dream Theater, Deep Purple, and Scorpions. The 2026 lineup extends beyond rock into jazz, soul, and alternative (Gregory Porter, Ben Harper, Pixies, Airbourne, Steel Panther, Kool & The Gang, John Butler).

The core product comprises three stages — a covered Scène Chapiteau, a Village stage, and a Quartier Libre stage — with a signature "Jams" format enabling spontaneous on-stage collaborations between headline artists, made feasible by a purpose-built shared backstage layout. Revenue is generated through daily and multi-day ticket passes (€63–€90/day with progressive discounts for 2–4 day bundles), an Espace Privilège VIP/hospitality offering (ten private 25m² loges plus a 200m² terrace for corporate clients), separately ticketed 2-hour masterclasses with named guitarists, on-site bars and food-truck revenue processed through the IZYPAY cashless system, and approximately 170 private partners contributing around 40% of an estimated ~€5.5M annual budget (5% from public subsidies). The product portfolio has expanded to include the Tremplin GES competition (250 applicants, 3 finalists), the ECO GES environmental program, Accessibilité GES disability services, and a Médiations Culturelles school outreach program.

Operational execution is delivered by roughly ten paid staff (including a General Coordinator, Communication Manager, and Service Civique assistant) supported by a large volunteer base organized across 20+ operational poles (Billetterie, Bars, Logistique, Village, etc.). Distribution runs primarily direct-to-consumer via the website (Weezevent widget), with on-site box-office sales carrying a €10 surcharge, official resale through Ticketswap, and cancellation insurance through Refundable.me. Marketing is multi-channel: organic social (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, TikTok), email, partner media (RTL2, Rolling Stone collector edition, Tribune de Genève, Léman Bleu TV), and the Tremplin competition itself. The organization holds no patents, has no subsidiaries, and operates as an independent association without external equity investment.

Name

Festival Guitare en Scène

Legal name

Festival Guitare en Scène

Website

https://guitare-en-scene.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Festival Guitare en Scène is a French non-profit that runs an annual five-day, 5,000-capacity guitar-centric music festival in Saint-Julien-en-Genevois, serving music enthusiasts, emerging artists, masterclass students, and corporate hospitality clients through tickets, VIP loges, workshops, and a partner-sponsor ecosystem.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Live Music Festival Events

NAICS

Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (711310), Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries (711)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Music Festival Organizers & Promoters (MPAGAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Festival & Event Producers/Organizers (MPAIAFAC), VIP, Hospitality & Premium Experiences (Packages, Clubs, Suites) (MPAIAFAK)

Keywords

• Music festival events
• Live concert entertainment
• Guitar masterclass workshops
• Corporate hospitality experiences
• Talent competition programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint-Julien-en-Genevois

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Primary revenue stream from festival passes ranging from €63-€90 per day for general admission. Multi-day discounts available. Cancellation insurance sold as optional add-on through Refundable.me partner.
2. Corporate VIP Experiences: Espace Privilège offers 10 private loges (25m² each) with 200m² terrace for corporate entertaining. Includes reserved parking, private entrance, seated gradins, welcome champagne, and catering with local products.
3. Masterclass Sessions: Separate ticketed masterclass sessions (€0 fee mentioned, booking via Weezevent) held July 14-17 from 14h-16h (Robben Ford session 14h-15h30). Not included with festival admission.
4. On-site Food, Beverage & Merchandise: Festival grounds include multiple bars, food trucks, and merchandise stands. Cashless payment system (IZYPAY) facilitates all on-site transactions.
5. Sponsorship & Partnership: 40% of total budget (approximately €5.5M estimated total based on 55% self-funded) comes from 170 private partners. 5% from public subsidies. Partnership tiers include Club Partenaires with annual events and dedicated festival access.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Festival Guitare en Scène produces and operates an annual five-day outdoor music festival in Saint-Julien-en-Genevois, France (July 14-18, 2026), featuring guitar-centric rock, blues, jazz, and fusion artists across three stages (Scène Chapiteau, Village, Quartier Libre) with a capped 5,000-attendee-per-evening capacity. Revenue is generated through tiered ticketing (1-4 day passes), corporate VIP hospitality (Espace Privilège), separately ticketed masterclass workshops, on-site food/beverage/merchandise via cashless payment, and private partnerships.

Product overview

Festival Guitare en Scène is an annual five-day outdoor music festival held July 14–18, 2026, in Saint-Julien-en-Genevois, Haute-Savoie, France. The core offering is the Festival itself — a guitar-centric rock, blues, jazz, and fusion music festival limited to 5,000 attendees per evening with a covered Chapiteau main stage, Village stage, and Quartier Libre stage. The ticketing system (Billetterie) offers 1-to-4-day passes with progressive discounts. The product portfolio also includes the Tremplin GES competition (a talent competition with 250 applicant bands), Masterclass workshops with renowned guitarists, Espace Privilège VIP hospitality packages, the signature Jams (spontaneous artist improvisation sessions), the ECO GES environmental initiative, Médiations Culturelles cultural outreach, and a cashless payment card (IZYPAY). All offerings center on providing intimate proximity between festival-goers and world-class guitarists in a human-scale setting.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Tremplin GES: An annual competition for emerging guitar bands and artists. The competition selects 250 applications, narrows to 12 semi-finalists who perform at partner venues, and selects 3 finalists who open festival evenings. Previous winners include Rosaly (2025), Damantra (2023), and 58 SHOTS (2018).
• Masterclass GES
• ECO GES
• Accessibilité GES

Products and services

• Festival Guitare en Scène (Annual Music Festival) Annual five-day outdoor music festival held in Saint-Julien-en-Genevois, Haute-Savoie, France, featuring guitar-centric rock, blues, jazz, and fusion artists. Limited to 5,000 attendees per evening with a covered main stage (Scène Chapiteau), Village stage, and Quartier Libre stage for an intimate, crowd-free experience.
• Billetterie (Festival Ticketing) Festival ticketing system offering 1-to-4-day passes via the Weezevent widget, with daily prices ranging from €63 to €90 and progressive multi-day discounts (2 days −€5, 3 days −€15, 4 days −€20). Optional cancellation insurance available through Refundable.me.
• Tremplin GES (Emerging Artist Competition) Annual music competition open to guitar-based bands and solo artists. Receives 250 applications, selects 12 for live selection rounds at partner venues (MJC Chamonix, Château Rouge Annemasse, Brin de Zinc Chambéry, Le Brise Glace Annecy), and chooses 3 finalists who open festival evenings.
• Masterclass GES (Guitar Workshops) Two-hour workshops with renowned guitarists held July 14-17, 2026 from 14h to 16h in small groups. 2026 instructors include Mattias Eklundh, Alex Hutchings, Pat O'May, and Robben Ford. Sold separately via Weezevent; does not grant festival admission.
• Espace Privilège (Corporate VIP Hospitality) VIP hospitality package featuring 10 private loges (25m² each, 15-20 persons), a 200m² shared terrace, catered apéro-dînatoire with local products, reserved parking, private entrance, welcome champagne, and dedicated grandstand seating. Targeted at corporate clients.
• Jams (Spontaneous Artist Sessions) Spontaneous improvisation sessions between headline artists held at the Village and Chapiteau stages, a signature festival feature made possible by the unique backstage layout where artists share a common green room. Historical jams include Steve Vai & Joe Satriani, Santana & Orianthi, and Nile Rodgers & Marcus Miller.
• Carte Cashless IZYPAY Free rechargeable cashless payment card accepted at all on-site points of sale (bars, food trucks, merchandise stands). Three recharge points on site, with balance refund capability available July 14-31, 2026.

Quantifiable outcome

• 5,000 maximum attendees per evening ensures intimate experience
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Casino de Saint JulienminorOthersCasino operator listed as institutional/official partner of the festival, appearing in partner logo section.
• Haute-Savoie DepartmentcoreOthersDepartmental council as institutional partner supporting regional cultural events.
• Région Auvergne-Rhône-AlpescoreOthersRegional council as institutional partner; contributes to 5% of total budget through subsidies.
• Ville de Saint-Julien-en-GenevoiscoreOthersHost municipality as institutional partner, providing local support and infrastructure.
• RTL2minorGTM or Marketing PartnerRadio partner providing media coverage and promotion of the festival to listeners.
• Rolling StoneminorGTM or Marketing Partner2025 special collector edition featuring interviews with festival artists including Joe Satriani, Dream Theater, and Orianthi.
• Montreux Jazz FestivalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrestigious Swiss jazz festival partnership, reflecting shared musical heritage and potential artist collaboration.
• IZYPAYcoreTechnology or IntegrationCashless payment system provider for on-site transactions including bars, food trucks, and merchandise. Provides card distribution, recharge points, and balance refund processing.
• WeezeventcoreTechnology or IntegrationTicketing platform provider for online ticket sales and masterclass bookings via widget integration.
• TicketswapcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOfficial ticket resale partner directing festival-goers with unsellable tickets to verified secondary market.
• Guitar ProminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMusic software and notation company as partner supporting guitar-focused festival.
• TicTacTripminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTransportation platform partner promoting sustainable travel options (train, carpooling) to reduce festival carbon footprint.
• Centre VitamminorOthersNearby leisure center offering parking and aquatic facilities for festival-goers; linked to sustainable mobility strategy.
• UCPA VitamminorOthersSports and aquatics center near festival offering relaxation options for attendees between concert days.
• Scouts et Guides de FranceminorOthersScouting organization partnership under ECO GES initiative for environmental cleanup and festival setup volunteers.
• ATMB (Autoroutes et Tunnel du Mont Blanc)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerHighway operator as mobility partner supporting sustainable transportation access to the festival.
• YamahaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMusical instrument manufacturer as festival partner, relevant to guitar-focused programming.
• GDP J.F GOBERTIERminorOthersLocal construction company listed in partner section.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Festival Interceltique de Lorient: Major French cultural festival focused on Celtic music and culture. Comparable as a long-running French summer festival with thematic music programming, sponsorship-driven revenue, and similar nonprofit governance and community engagement model.
• Solidays: Paris-based music festival organized by a non-profit (Solidarité SIDA). Comparable as a French non-profit music festival with similar governance, volunteer-driven operations, multi-revenue sponsorship model, and reliance on premium corporate and institutional partnerships.
• Le Printemps de Bourges: Long-established French spring music festival showcasing established and emerging artists. Comparable as a French festival with multi-day programming, mix of headliners and emerging artists, and similar tiered ticketing and partnership model.
• Les Vieilles Charrues: Major French summer music festival in Brittany operating as a non-profit association. Comparable organizational structure (non-profit, volunteer-driven, multi-day), revenue model (sponsorships, ticket sales, on-site F&B), and summer positioning on the French festival circuit.
• Paléo Festival de Nyon: Major Swiss open-air music festival held in Nyon near Geneva. Comparable in geographic catchment (Franco-Swiss axis), multi-day format, and high-profile artist programming that overlaps with Guitare en Scène's audience.
• Hellfest Open Air Festival: France's largest rock and metal festival, also operating as a non-profit association. Comparable as a French summer music festival organized by a non-profit with strong volunteer base, multi-revenue streams, and similar regulatory and operational complexity, though at vastly larger scale.
• Nuits de Fourvière: Annual music and performing arts festival in Lyon, France, geographically close to Saint-Julien-en-Genevois. Comparable as a French summer music festival with multi-genre programming, premium ticketing, and corporate hospitality offerings targeting regional and international audiences.
• Montreux Jazz Festival: Swiss music festival and explicitly named strategic partner of Guitare en Scène. Comparable as a long-running, prestige European music festival built on legendary artist heritage and intimate format; both target a connoisseur audience willing to pay premium prices for proximity to artists.
• Jazz in Marciac: Long-running French jazz and music festival in rural Marciac. Comparable as an intimate-format French festival focused on a specific musical niche (jazz/blues adjacent to GES's guitar focus) with multi-day programming, masterclasses, and emerging artist showcases.

Broad incumbents

• North Sea Jazz Festival: Major international jazz festival held in Rotterdam. Comparable as a long-running European jazz/blues-adjacent festival with multi-day format, multiple stages, masterclass programming, and similar mix of legendary headliners and emerging artists, though at substantially larger scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCBiRemAiayHQRmTaeI4HP4A
• Facebookfacebook.com/festivalguitareenscene
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/guitare-en-scene
• Instagraminstagram.com/festivalguitareenscene
• TikToktiktok.com/@festivalguitareenscene?_t=ZN-8zOHbKHjdlm&_r=1

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Festival Guitare en Scène