Fête de la Musique PH Turns 25: A Plethora of Performances, ‘Music Heals’ Show, and More

Fête de la Musique, a worldwide music event, will be staging its 25th edition in the Philippines. And on its silver anniversary, its organizers -- Alliance Française de Manille together with B-Side Productions and the Embassy of France to the Philippines -- are all geared up to hold the occasion’s biggest installment yet.

“2019 is a big year for Fête de la Musique and we wanted to make sure that this year’s event will be a special one,” Jean-Pierre Dumont, executive director of Alliance Française de Manille, said in a statement.

The event will feature a total of nine main stages across Metro Manila and in six other cities in the country including Palawan, Baguio, Bulacan, Pampanga, Batangas, and Laguna.

In a press conference held on June 4, B-Side Productions President Giselle Tomimbang said that this year will have “the most number of stages ever” while continuing the traditions of the annual musical showcase.  

“We will showcase a variety of genres and a mix of more established artists and musicians, as well as up-and-coming ones,” she added.  

A Plethora of Performances

The festivities will kick off with three Pre-Fête de la Musique Parties on June 15. The shows will include the Sunset Collective Stage at the KMC Skydeck in Bonifacio Global City, the Rockeoge Stage at Salon de Ning in The Peninsula Manila, and the SX Manila Stage at the Rizal Open-Air Auditorium, Luneta Park.

The main highlight of the event will feature performances from a wide array of musical acts in Greenbelt and A-Venue in Makati.

The A-Venue Main Stage, happening on June 21, boats a heavy line-up of performers composed of The Itchyworms, Ebe Dancel, Apartel, Dicta License, Unique, Ang Bandang Shirley, and more. Meanwhile, The Greenbelt Main Stage — taking place the day after — will be headlined by Urbandub, Autotelic, Ciudad, The Ransom Collective, She’s Only Sixteen, and Pinkmen, among others.

Apart from these main stages, a total of 52 pocket stages will be simultaneously held on the across the metro on the 22nd to showcase music stars from different genres of music -- from acoustic to alternative, blues to jazz, and house to hip-hop. (See poster below for complete details).

On June 28, the Intramuros Main Stage will be held, with Juan Karlos, Sandwich, Munimuni, Leanne and Naara, and Stickfiggas top-billing the show. The provincial main stages will happen on the 29th. A closing party will also be hosted on the same day.

Admission is free for all the musical performances.

‘Music Heals’ Pop-up Show, More Production Numbers

As Fête de la Musique’s 25th anniversary in the Philippines is considered an important milestone year, the organizers have also introduced a “new annual tradition.”

Music Heals: Fête de la Musique Pop-Up, a show highlighting the healing power of music, was held on June 8 at the Virlanie Foundation in Makati City. R&B-hip-hop artist Quest and nurse-rapper sensation Fatima Palma-Loo serenaded the children of the said charitable organization.  

Another highlight of this year’s revelry is the #GlobeFete Production Number which will be part of the A-Venue Main Stage on the 22nd. The number will be a 25-minute performance paying homage to 25 years of Fête de la Musique in the Philippines. Led by Francis De Veyra, the multi-genre medley will gather some of the finest Filipino performers such as Bituin Escalante, Bayang Barrios, Cooky Chua, Aia De Leon, Zsaris, Jensen Gomez, and Kat Agarrado.

Bridging the Filipino and French cultures, Fête will also dish out an All-Female French-Filipino Medley at the Intramuros Main Stage on the 29th. This number will be a collaboration among different powerhouse performers led by Radha and Vanessa Monot.

Fête de la Musique traces its roots back in June 1982 when French composer and music journalist Maurice Fleuret and France’s then-Minister of Culture Jack Lang mounted its maiden edition.

Nicolas Galey, the Ambassador of the French Republic to the Philippines, remarked how delighted he is that the celebration is now on its 25th edition in the country.

“I think the success of  Fête de la Musique here in the Philippines is also very much related to the great taste for music. I’m very much impressed of how music is part of Filipinos’ everyday lives, a lot of people sing very well in the [country],” he said.  

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

ERRATUM: This article has been updated on June 18 to reflect the change on the date of the A-Venue Main Stage event . The new schedule has been moved from June 22 to June 21

‍