In the past, people celebrated the earth’s bounty through drawings, statues and, no doubt, song and prayer. Cave paintings depict bulls, does, flowers and the sun as divine wonders. The gods of Mesopotamia, too, are linked to nature. The god of the wind, the god of the sun, the god of the moon, and the gods of the earth, the sky and the underworld.
Stories, poems and epics were interwoven with elements of nature. The desert, the flood, the rain, birds and storms as divine expressions. Speech, poetry and epics were finally put into writing. Then came battles, cities and characters, complicating our relationship with the world. Romantic narrative replaced nature with human nature.
A late form of naturalism perpetuated a certain imagination. Jean-Jacques ROUSSEAU and Jean de La FONTAINE enriched literature with their bucolic vision. Pastoral poems, odes to nature, songs and refrains were largely confined to folk music.
All that remains are a few roses and a few starry nights to enrich artistic expression devoted to the soul and to melancholy. Literary works have shed little light on nature since then. Les Amis du Verbe are rebuilding social bonds and our connection with nature.
Here is an update on the programme for the Festival du Verbe Vert on 19 & 20 September 2026.
The ‘Amis du Verbe’ association is organising a new edition of the Festival du Verbe, which will take place on 19 and 20 September 2026 on the peninsula situated between the Garonne and the village of Martres-Tolosane. This year, the festival’s theme will be nature.
The Festival du Verbe Vert will be opened by Natacha BROUAT, accompanied by a harpsichordist, performing pastoral pieces. The artist will also be appearing on 5 July in the garden of the Grand Presbytère in Martres-Tolosane to present ‘La Légende de Pyrène’.
The Festival will also welcome three singers: Emily LOIZEAU, Donia BERRIRI and LONNY, who will come together for an original production dedicated to nature. They will be in residence at the ‘Comme à la Maison’-certified third place, run by Les Amis du Verbe.
A production by CharlÉlie COUTURE will also be presented: the musical project ‘Vert-Bleu’, inspired by his album of duets in support of environmental protection. In particular, a poem by Paul WATSON, specially set to music by the artist, will be performed.
Mathieu BOOGÆRTS will present a poetic programme of songs about nature. A dialogue in the form of a joint interview and a stage production on the Festival du Verbe’s main stage will enable pupils from schools across the canton to gain a better understanding of the artists’ lives.
NOSFELL, an unconventional and poetic artist, presents another eco-themed creation, specially designed for the Festival. He has created his own language: Klokobletz.
Singer and accordionist Anibal GALLANT revisits well-known French songs as well as his own nature-inspired repertoire to liven up Saturday evening’s twilight. To bring the Festival to a close on Sunday, HYL, a young artist from the south-west’s hip-hop scene, will perform with his band.
Two children’s choirs, bringing together pupils from the schools in Martres-Tolosane and Le Fousseret, will also take part in the festival. The children will be invited to take part in round-table interviews with the artists
Numerous stalls will be set up at Le Moulin Campsite: organic ice cream, natural remedies, second-hand bookshops, food trucks and social areas will all help to bring to life an event renowned for its friendliness, creativity and cross-generational spirit.
Dick Annegarn
