Zild, Autotelic, Cheats, Leanne & Naara, And More Took Center Stage at 2022 Fête de la Musique

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The 2022 edition of Fête de la Musique, one of the grandest musical events worldwide, once again welcomed Filipinos to a live show after two years of pandemic-prompted virtual celebrations.

The main stage of the much-anticipated event, which was held on June 25, 2022, at the Puerta Real Gardens, Intramuros, was headlined by top OPM acts, including Zild, Autotelic, Cheats, Leanne & Naara, Lola Amour, and syd hartha.

The free musical revelry also shone a spotlight on refreshing French-Filipino co-creations and collaborations between DJ Blutch, Daloy Dance Company, Marc Fichel, Cydel Gabutero, and other homegrown talents, such as indie-alternative duo Dilaw, singer-songwriter Eloisa, musical collective Anima Tierra, and performing group Flow Arts Philippines.

On June 26, French act Marc Fichel performed with talented Palawano musicians in El Nido. Meanwhile, at the final #FetePH2022 stage of Kalye Artisano, Lio Estate, Palawan, France-based dancer and choreographer Maxime Cozic dished out a solo performance and a collaborative piece with local act Dona Tumacder-Esteban and improvisational drum circle Bathala Na on June 28, 2022.

Celebrating sights and sounds

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For the 28th installment of Fête de la Musique in the Philippines,  the festival showcased the supreme sound of our local artists and brought the vibrant sights and rich culture of the country to the fore.

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Now that the Philippines is open to fully vaccinated individuals from all over the world, there’s no better time than now to explore our islands, and immerse in our vibrant arts, music, and culture,” Department of Tourism (DOT) Assistant Secretary for Branding and Marketing Communications Howard Uyking acknowledged the opportune time to highlight the natural beauty of the country through this kind of event.

“We’re excited to bring the Fête de la Musique celebrations back to the beautiful places of the Philippines,” Xavier Leroux, Executive Director of Alliance Francaise de Manille, said in a press conference held on June 9.

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From mounting “Manila-centric” main shows and pocket stages during the previous installments to activating and rediscovering musical spaces outside the metropolis, the goal of this year’s event is to feature the diversity of Filipino music — and to let people experience live music again, in the company of the best local artists.

“The pandemic helped us evolve on how we celebrate music. This time, we’re getting more involved in the island stages,” B-Side Productions President Giselle Tomimbang expressed what sets apart the 2022 edition of the revelry from previous years.

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Adding to the list of surprises that this year’s Fête offers, the organizers partnered with Funkybeat Entertainment, a music production company led by Francis De Veyra, to produce and compose an anthem for “Tara Allez!,” this year’s Fête de la Musique theme.

The multilingual jazzy anthem, which was performed on June 25, 2022, was interpreted by Mandaue Nights, Curtismith, Toni B., Zsaris, Debb Acebu, Faye Yupano, French Manilla, and Kalye Artisano Community, with instrumentation from Brass Pas Pas Pas Pas.

Music and its magic

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With major stages put up in Metro Manila, Palawan, Baguio, Cebu, and Siargao starting June 21, plus the 30 additional independently produced pocket stages in the metro, this annual celebration of music — and its magical essence — intends to cater to all generations, cultures, and tastes.

“Fête is magical; it has blurred the lines between audiences and performers. Our performers are fans as well of their fellow artist-performers,” Tomimbang pointed out how this event gathers people for their common love for music.

Apart from the unifying power of the art form, the people behind Fête believe that this platform can be utilized in bringing attention to one of this year’s select locations, the island of Siargao, which was ravaged by Typhoon Odette in 2021.

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Reliving the humble years of the musical celebration in the Philippines, Noe Fuentes, Cultural Manager of Alliance Francaise de Manille, enthused that they hope for Fête to encourage more “musicians to go on streets with their instruments” and grow bigger in the coming years — from five stages back in 2005 to a number of stages that are “as many as our islands” in the country.

Fête de la Musique in the Philippines 2022 is presented by Alliance Française de Manille, in partnership with the Embassy of France to the Philippines and Micronesia and B-Side Productions, and co-organized by the Department of Tourism – Philippines. This year’s musical event also marks the celebration of the 75th anniversary of Franco-Phil bilateral relations. Read the event reminders and safety protocols here.

(All photos and posters are from Fete de la Musique PH)

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