Live music gigs are an irreplaceable experience–nothing beats the lights, the sights, and the beer-soaked energy driven by a love for music. When the pandemic hit, we had to turn to TikTok, Facebook Live, and Zoom to get a taste of that feeling once again.
But we’ve never let go of that energy, and after two years online, we finally get to reignite that spirit in person through Fête de la Musique 2022.
Fête de la Musique is an annual free music festival held on June 21st across the world. Beginning in France in 1982 as a way to make music accessible to everyone, Fête made its way to the Philippines in 1994 thanks to music enthusiasts who wanted to celebrate the spirit of music with the local music community.
This year, live music stages will be held across the Philippines from June 21 to 28, featuring a mix of French and Filipino artists. With the theme of “Tara! Allez!”—both words translating to “Let’s go!” in Filipino and French—it also hopes to invite people to go out into the streets where the music is.
This year’s festival also promises to have something for every music lover: like past editions of Fête in the Philippines, pocket stages encapsulate the core spirit of the music festival. As an unbridled celebration of music, uplifting local artists is Fête’s key goal, and these intimate venues make space for Filipino artists from all genres, backgrounds, and ages.
Local acts like Cheats, The Itchyworms, and Lola Amour are set to play the Intramuros Main Stage on June 25 at the Puerto Real Gardens. Audiences can also visit any of the 30 Poblacion Pocket Stages on June 24 to try different music genres in one night. Meanwhile the Sofitel Manila Stages will host French artists like Marc Fichel and Blutch on June 23 and 24.
Continuing last year’s #FeteFromMyIsland, organizers have also collaborated with local producers to activate stages across the country. Beyond the metro, the Siargao Stage will kick things off on June 21 in partnership with Lokal Lab. The Cebu Stages will be held on June 25 and 26 with help from Melt Records and Alliance Française de Cebu, while a Baguio Stage will also be set on June 26. The Palawan Stages will close out festivities on June 26 and 28, in collaboration with Kalye Artisano and Lio Estate.
Attendees can also look forward to brand new song and dance performances at this year’s Fête–with French and Filipino artists working together on collaborative stages for the first time in the local festival’s history.
Fête de la Musique 2022 is presented by Alliance Française de Manille, B-Side Productions, and the Embassy of France to the Philippines. Visit their Instagram and Facebook pages for more information.
