Cabaret Vert 2025: A Weekend of Mosh Pits & Maroilles

Once again, Charleville-Mézières turned into a global music hub from 14th to 17th August, with the 19th edition of Cabaret Vert delivering four days of heat, sweat, and surprises to the green heart of the Ardennes, and welcoming over 100,000 festival-goers. 

Known for blending music, arts, and eco-conscious values, this year’s lineup leaned heavily on French headliners, but it was the wave of UK and US acts that gave it a fresh international edge, lending the festival a distinctly transatlantic pulse. And, between pounding subwoofers, emotional crescendos, and the smell of “maroilles” (a local French cheese) drifting through the air, the festival felt both rustic and universal. 

Thursday, 14th August – Punk Chaos and Dancefloor Heat

The festival opened with a taste of the UK and Ireland underground as Dublin’s Sparks and Brighton’s Lambrini Girls set the tone with snarling, chaotic energy before CMAT charmed her audience with her witty country-pop crossover and by dancing in the crowd with fans, blurring the line between artist and the audience. Afterwards, Lambrini Girls demanded a mosh pit, with their singer jumping into the middle of the circle and urging everyone to crouch before launching into chaos — without doubt, one of the weekend’s wildest moments. 

However, the night truly belonged to Jamie XX, who transformed the main stage into a euphoric dancefloor. Minimal beats, swelling crescendos, and tear-jerking drops left the crowd caught between rapture and catharsis – an iconic Cabaret Vert moment.

Friday, 15th August  – From LA Dreampop to NYC Dancehall

On Friday, the contrast couldn’t have been starker. London-born Suki Waterhouse wrapped the crowd in dreamy cinematic pop before Atlanta punks Upchuck ripped it apart with raw, feral energy on the Greenfloor. South London’s Fat Dog added more chaos, cementing the night as one of the most unpredictable. 

Beyond the big names, the Greenfloor also spotlighted DJs, many of them women, who kept bodies moving deep into the night, proving that Cabaret Vert’s commitment to diversity is more than symbolic. Speaking of female icons, Theodora packed the Greenfloor with a crowd dancing to anthems like ‘Fashion Designa’ – leaving no doubt she’s destined for the main stage next year. Later, New York’s Sean Paul (though more global than US-specific) had the main stage bouncing, before French rap giants SDM and Booba closed the night.

Saturday, 16th August – Desert Rock Royalty and Gen Z Riot Grrrls

Saturday belonged to electronic and rock extremes. Viral LA band The Linda Lindas delivered youthful riot grrrl urgency, while Chicago’s HorsegiirL (the masked Berlin-based DJ, not the indie rock trio) sent the crowd into a frenzy with pounding, high-BPM club chaos, one of the breakout sets of the weekend. Then, Queens of the Stone Age closed with towering riffs and desert-rock swagger, proving they remain one of the most commanding live acts on the circuit.

Sunday, 17th August – Indie Meets Punk Intensity

By Sunday, the UK artists had fully taken over. The Last Dinner Party delivered baroque art-rock drama, Wet Leg got the crowd screaming at the top of their lungs with the band, and IDLES turned the pit into a communal purge of mosh pits and crowd surf. Across the Atlantic, Vampire Weekend offered a lighter, sun-dappled counterpoint, their elegant indie melodies floating into the summer night. And then came Will Smith, an unexpected closer who turned nostalgia into a full-blown “show à l’américaine”. 

The final day was also politically charged. The Last Dinner Party, Wet Leg, and Ireland’s Kneecap all used their platform to speak about the ongoing genocide in Palestine, underlining Cabaret Vert’s role as a space for conscience as much as celebration. 

Cabaret Vert has always thrived on contrasts: punk abrasion vs. indie polish, underground grit vs. stadium spectacle – and 2025 was no exception. The French scene anchored the festival, but it was the UK and US names that gave it pulse and unpredictability.

From Jamie XX’s tear-streaked euphoria to HorsegiirL’s chaotic triumph, the Ardennes felt like the heart of the global music scene.

It is evident that its true strength lies in discovery. Alongside the global names, Cabaret Vert gave space to emerging artists, many of them women, making it a haven for those seeking the next wave of voices. It’s a priority that deeply resonates with Sonic Hub: highlighting tomorrow’s musical heroes before they reach greater heights.

Cabaret Vert continues to position itself as one of Europe’s most eclectic stages, where UK post-punk meets US indie-pop, and global stars share the billing with tomorrow’s cult heroes. For fans seeking an international edge and bold discovery, this year’s edition definitely raised the bar.

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WORDS AND PHOTOS LYDIA SEDDA