Slowfest

What Slowfest does

Slowfest (Association Slowfest) is a French non-profit association (association loi 1901) founded in September 2015 in Bordeaux during COP 21, with a stated mission of experimenting with low-carbon and low-energy modes of music creation and diffusion. Its core activity is decarbonated concerts — live music performances delivered either without amplification or via proprietary solar-powered mobile sound systems whose trailers are towed by bicycle, eliminating grid electricity and reducing transport emissions. The organization also runs a touring cyclo-festival ('Les Furtives') and regular participatory events (Full Moon Sessions, Carnaval des 2 Rives, Slow Parades) across the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region and other French cities including La Rochelle, Angoulême, and Paris.

The collective consists of roughly 20 permanent members (artists, live performance technicians, and renewable energy specialists) plus about 30 intermittent volunteers, supported by an internal collegiate of co-presidents. Knowledge transmission forms the second pillar of activity: Soundpainting workshops (a real-time compositional sign-language with over 1500 gestures), wild lutherie (Lutherie Sauvage) workshops converting waste into instruments, and — newly in March 2026 — Qualiopi-certified professional training programmes co-developed with Confer (Bègles) and APMAC (Saintes), eligible for AFDAS, OPCO, and France Travail financing. Slow Lab For Kids, co-financed by the European ERASMUS+ programme, extends the methodology to children with an 11-initiative collection across France, Italy, and Belgium.

Slowfest's revenue model combines minimal membership fees (5€/year via HelloAsso), public subsidies (Bordeaux Métropole, Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, ERASMUS+), conscious-pricing event tickets (5–12€ per attendee), and fee-based professional training. Distribution is direct and community-led — events in public spaces, festival programming partnerships with venues like Krakatoa and Le Phare de Bègles, and cyclo-touring formats — with no paid advertising, no traditional retail, and no consumer app.

Name

Slowfest

Legal name

Association Slowfest

Website

https://slowfest.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Eco-Responsible Live Music & Cultural Production Services

NAICS

Musical Groups and Artists (71113), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events without Facilities (711320)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Arts & Culture Community Festivals (Multidisciplinary Arts Weeks) (MPAGAEAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Local Community & Multi-Category Fairs (MPAGAFAO), Educational & Youth Community Events (School/Youth Festivals) (MPAGAEAM), Civic & Municipal Festivals (City Days, Public Celebrations) (MPAGAEAA)

Keywords

• Eco-responsible concerts
• Solar-powered sound systems
• Low-tech workshops
• Cultural training programs
• Cyclo-festivals

Headquarters

HQ city

Artigues-près-bordeaux

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees collected via HelloAsso platform. Members pay 5€ per year to join the association, participate in governance, and attend member-exclusive events.
2. Public Funding & Grants: Slowfest receives public funding as a cultural association, including support from regional bodies such as Bordeaux Métropole and Nouvelle-Aquitaine region.
3. Training & Formation Services: Eco-responsible live performance training workshops delivered in partnership with organizations such as Confer Culture and APMAC. Some workshops are Qualiopi-certified and eligible for AFDAS or OPCO financing.
4. Event Ticket Sales & Entry Fees: Various events use a 'prix libre et conscient' (conscious pricing) model — e.g., Cabaret Mystique at 10€ suggested entry — and/or require membership purchase. Some events are free.
5. European Project Funding (ERASMUS+): The Slow Lab For Kids project is co-financed by the ERASMUS+ Youth and Sport programme of the European Union.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Slowfest is a non-profit cultural association that produces eco-responsible live music events — including decarbonated concerts with solar-powered or amplification-free sound systems, bicycle touring festivals, and community carnivals and parades — primarily in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region. It also delivers participatory music and instrument-making workshops (wild lutherie, Soundpainting) and Qualiopi-certified professional training programs for cultural industry professionals, plus the European Slow Lab For Kids educational project on ecological transition in culture.

Product overview

Slowfest is a cultural association founded in 2015 in Bordeaux that experiments with eco-friendly modes of creating and performing contemporary music. The organization operates as a collective of approximately 20 members including artists, performing arts technicians, and renewable energy specialists. Its core offerings center on decarbonated concerts (with or without amplification, using solar sound systems), touring programs with artists traveling by bicycle, and cycling festivals. The service portfolio includes the Slowfest Orchestra (the house ensemble), Low-Tech Workshops (wild luthier workshops transforming waste into instruments, and Soundpainting workshops for real-time composition), Professional Training Programs (eco-responsible show design and sustainable logistics), and the European Slow Lab For Kids project (with collection, residency, and practical tools). Seasonal offerings include Full Moon Sessions, Carnival events, and Slow Parades featuring solar-powered sound systems. All activities are designed to minimize environmental impact through low-tech solutions, renewable energy autonomy, and soft mobility.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Slowfest Orchestra: The collective's house orchestra that performs at events and represents the association's sound.
• Orchestre des Poubelles

Products and services

• Decarbonated Concerts (Concerts décarbonés) Live music performances delivered without amplification or with solar-powered mobile sound systems, representing Slowfest's foundational eco-designed concert offering for public audiences.
• Slowfest Orchestra The collective's resident orchestra that performs at Slowfest events, conducting Soundpainting-based live compositions with amateur musicians of all ages and instruments.
• Wild Luthier Workshops (Ateliers de lutherie sauvage) Workshops teaching participants of all ages and skill levels to transform waste materials into string, wind, and percussion instruments, inspired by low-tech movements and artists such as Staff Benda Bilili, Konono N°1, and Kokoko.
• Soundpainting Workshops (Ateliers de Soundpainting) Workshops teaching Soundpainting, a sign language of more than 1,500 gestures for real-time musical composition, animated by Slowfest Orchestra members and open to amateur musicians of all ages and instruments.
• Eco-Responsible Training Programs (Formations éco-responsables) Qualiopi-certified professional training for performing arts technicians, producers, artists, and event organizers on eco-designed show production and sustainable logistics, drawing on 10 years of field experience. Eligible for AFDAS, OPCO, and France Travail financing.
• Les Furtives (The Cyclo-Festival) A cycling festival where performers, technicians, and volunteers travel by bicycle covering approximately 35 km per day, delivering outdoor concerts in energy autonomy. Co-organized with Rock & Chanson and L'Accordeur.
• Slow Lab For Kids Educational program on eco-designed performances and ecological transition in culture for children, co-financed by the ERASMUS+ programme, encompassing the Collection (11 artistic initiatives in France, Italy, and Belgium), the Residency, and Slowlab Tools (10 practical sheets available in multiple languages).
• Full Moon Sessions Outdoor musical events held during full moons featuring solar-powered sound systems and low-tech performances, open to the public.
• Slow Parade Musical parades featuring solar-powered sound systems, often staged as bicycle convoys, as part of Slowfest's participatory public programming.
• Carnaval Annual carnival events organized by Slowfest in Bordeaux and Bègles featuring parades, musical performances, and the Orchestre des Poubelles (wild luthier orchestra).

Quantifiable outcome

• 12-day cycling festival generating zero waste and zero carbon emissions from transportation (Les Furtives 2023, ~35 km/day, 20-30 people)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

24 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• RIM (Réseau des Indépendants de la Musique)coreOthersSlowfest is a member of RIM, the Network of Independent Music Professionals, which provides representation, resources, and networking for independent musicians and music collectives in France.
• MNE (Maison de la Nature et de l'Environnement)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSlowfest is a member of the MNE in Bordeaux-Aquitaine. Co-organized the Festival Ô mon fleuve at the MNE's premises. The MNE hosts Slowfest's eco-responsible training workshops.
• Les Vivres de l'ArtminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCollaborative partner in artistic and cultural projects in the Bordeaux region.
• KrakatoaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSMAC (Scène de Musiques Actuelles) venue in Saint-Médard-en-Jalles near Bordeaux. Slowfest has worked with Krakatoa on events and programming.
• Cycles et ManivellesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBicycle cooperative in Bègles. Co-hosts Slowfest events including slow parades and bicycle-centric activities.
• DarwinminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDarwin campus in Bordeaux (eco-district) is a partner location for Slowfest events and activities.
• Climax FestivalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEnvironmental festival in Bordeaux. Slowfest has collaborated with Climax on events.
• Bordeaux MétropolecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerBordeaux Métropole is a key institutional partner, co-organizing major events such as Festival Traverse and providing venue and logistical support for Slowfest programming.
• Confer (Confer Culture)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConfer is a cultural training organization in Bègles. Co-develops and co-delivers Qualiopi-certified training workshops on eco-responsible spectacle design with Slowfest (March 2026 programme).
• APMAC (Association de Soutien Technique au Spectacle Vivant)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAPMAC is a technical support association for live performance across Nouvelle-Aquitaine. Co-develops and delivers low-tech awareness workshops with Slowfest in Saintes (March 2026). Slowfest shares its technical know-how with APMAC's network.
• Rock & ChansoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organizer of Les Furtives cyclo-festival (2023), a 12-day cycling event across Charente and Charente-Maritime from La Rochelle to Angoulême.
• L'AccordeurcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organizer of Les Furtives cyclo-festival (2023) alongside Rock & Chanson and Slowfest.
• La Sirène (La Rochelle)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerConcert venue in La Rochelle that hosted a Les Furtives cyclo-festival event.
• Le Clos (Rochefort)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerVenue in Rochefort that hosted a Les Furtives cyclo-festival event.
• Les Abattoirs (Cognac)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerConcert venue in Cognac that hosted a Les Furtives cyclo-festival event.
• La Nef (Saintes)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerConcert venue in Saintes that was a partner for Les Furtives cyclo-festival.
• Techno CircusminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCollective co-organizing the Full Moon Session #14 open-air event with Slowfest at Parc des Berges, Bordeaux.
• Brasserie PIPminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal craft brewery in Bègles that provides beverages at Slowfest events. Slowfest provides DJ sets and entertainment at Brasserie PIP events.
• LimouzartminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCultural organization in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region that Slowfest has worked with.
• Recup'RminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWaste recovery and recycling organization in the region. Partner for Slowfest's waste reduction and creative recycling activities.
• E-turecupminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional organization focused on cup and waste reduction at events. Partner for Slowfest's zero-waste event initiatives.
• Le Jardin l'ÉphémèreminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGarden and community space in Bègles that co-organized the 10th anniversary event 'Le printemps des Poulpes' with Slowfest.
• Le Phare de BèglesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVenue in Bègles that served as the base for Festival Traverse events co-organized with Slowfest.
• ARVIVA – Arts vivants, Arts durablesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization promoting sustainable performing arts. Virginie Seguinaud, Slowfest's coordinator, participated in ARVIVA's presentation on cooperation as a lever for ecological transformation in the cultural sector (November 2023).

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Le Chant du Gros: Long-running French/Swiss independent music and counter-culture festival with strong environmental and low-tech DNA. Comparable to Slowfest in its independent, community-led governance and its focus on alternative modes of music production and consumption.
• We Love Green: Paris-based music festival with a strong eco-responsible positioning, combining live music with environmental commitments. Like Slowfest, it is one of the few French festivals explicitly built around ecological transition, making it a close comparator in audience, format, and mission.
• Festival Climax: Bordeaux-based eco-responsible festival addressing environmental and societal transition through live music and arts programming. Operates in the same regional ecosystem as Slowfest and has collaborated on past events, sharing the eco-responsible-festival positioning in Nouvelle-Aquitaine.

Regional players

• Krakatoa: SMAC (Scène de Musiques Actuelles) venue in Saint-Médard-en-Jalles near Bordeaux that has co-programmed events with Slowfest. Comparable as a regional live-music operator with sustainability-engaged programming in the same Bordeaux ecosystem.
• Rock & Chanson: La Rochelle-based music association active in current music production and festival organization, co-organizer of Slowfest's Les Furtives cyclo-festival. Comparable as a Nouvelle-Aquitaine-rooted cultural association delivering live music programming and partnership-based events.
• L'Accordeur: Concert venue and music organization in Saintes (Nouvelle-Aquitaine) that co-produced Les Furtives. Comparable to Slowfest as a regional live-music programmer with similar touring cyclo-festival ambitions in the same geographic footprint.

Others

• Julie's Bicycle: UK-based non-profit supporting the cultural sector to act on climate change and sustainability, recognized as a global benchmark. Comparable to Slowfest as an enabling/thematic peer in the eco-responsible cultural-sector space, with complementary methodology and training offerings.
• COAL — Coalition des arts et de l'écologie: French coalition dedicated to ecological transition through contemporary art and culture, including ARVIVA (Arts vivants, Arts durables) in which Slowfest coordinator Virginie Seguinaud has participated. Directly comparable as a thematic peer working at the intersection of live performance and ecological transformation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/slowfest
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC
• Facebookfacebook.com/slowfest
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/slowfest
• Instagraminstagram.com/slow_fest

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 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 Slowfest