June 23, 29 & 30, 2018
Fête de la Musique also known as Music Day, Make Music Day or World Music Day is an annual music festivity that is celebrated on the 21st of June, which started in France in 1982 and is now celebrated in over 700 cities and 120 countries. On this day, everyone is encouraged to play music in various public spaces, the main condition being that these concerts – however big or small – are completely free and open to the public.
In the Philippines, Fête is considered to be the most recognized French event as well as the biggest musical celebration with the most number of simultaneous stages, all absolutely free. It is usually held on the Saturday closest to the 21st of June and is co-produced by the Embassy of France, Alliance Francaise de Manille and B-Side Productions Inc.
The tradition started in Manila in 1994 with one stage and less than a hundred people in the audience. One of Fête’s defining features in Manila as we know it today – its multi-stage, multi-genre format – was introduced in 2000 by Len G. Francisco, who envisioned a music, arts and cultural feast that would primarily bring together in one place the finest Filipino musical acts (which were then at the forefront of the local music scene), supported by artists representing the visual arts, film, street theater, dance and crafts. This initial collective offering of diverse acts was staged as a tribute to
Filipino artistry, and was made accessible to all. Most significantly, it presented a strong opportunity for a Philippine-French collaboration. And so Manila’s Fête became a yearly showcase of Filipino artistry in celebration of a French tradition.
Succeeding years saw the Fête focus on musical acts, the diversity of which eventually became its trademark.
With its wide array of artistic expressions and various locations; it is an event that promotes camaraderie, collaboration and shared experiences. From pop to hip-hop, reggae to classical, electronic to jazz, the magic of Fête de la Musique transcends all musical tastes, blurs lines between entertainer & spectator, and brings people from all walks of life together as one.
