In the tradition ofWaulking songs, theWords Don’t Come Easy Festivalseeks to create spaces for encounter and reflection on the forms of knowledge transmission and circulation. “Words […] Don’t Come Easy to me” – the opening lyrics ofF.R. David’s song– resonate with other contexts. Sometimes, words don’t come easily to me; they can take time to reach me, when they are carried on the wind, or by the voices of queer people, of minority groups. Work songs, blending voices, synchronized gestures, and words of resistance, have long been used in working-class communities to bolster courage or pass on skills. This is how we discover the Waulking songs that accompany the practice of fulling. Within this cozy space, two days of exploration and exchange will unfold thanks to a selection of books to consult and files to exchange, a lively writing workshop, a sprawling show & tell, an epic concert, an enveloping conference, a woven reading and a crispy cooking workshop. An event organized byAlice Laurichessein collaboration withLucie Bouchet,Antinéa Chaponand Marcus Malinvaud. The typography usesGarabosse Mignon·neandPerle, with initials fromCordier Script.
This typography system radiates intimate scholarly warmth with a distinctly artisanal, counter-cultural edge. The combination of classical serif forms with script initials creates an atmosphere of grassroots intellectualism—like a zine-publishing collective that takes its literary heritage seriously. The brown color palette and reversed type treatment amplify this feeling of cozy rebellion against mainstream cultural programming.
Garabosse Mignon·ne's humanist characteristics and moderate contrast provide excellent readability while maintaining scholarly gravitas, essential for a literature festival dealing with complex themes of knowledge transmission. The Perle pairing likely adds contemporary clarity for hierarchical information, while Cordier Script initials inject personal, handcrafted warmth that mirrors the festival's focus on intimate, voice-driven traditions like Waulking songs. The non-lining numerals reinforce the editorial, book-focused context.
The three-font system creates sophisticated textural layering—classical serif authority (Garabosse) balanced by contemporary sans-serif utility (Perle), punctuated with expressive script flourishes (Cordier). This mirrors the festival's blend of traditional folk knowledge and contemporary queer discourse. The script initials function as gentle wayfinding moments, creating intimacy without sacrificing the overall system's intellectual credibility.