BRANDED as the “most popular free music event celebrated in 130 countries around the world,” Fête de la Musique marks its first in-person celebrations in the Philippines this month since the pandemic began.
The annual showcase features some of the country’s most diverse acts in the local music scene through a series of live events across Metro Manila, Palawan, Baguio, Cebu, and Siargao. This year’s edition presents new collaborations between artists from the Philippines and France, in commemoration of the 75th anniversary of Franco-Phil bilateral relations.
“We’re excited to bring the Fête de la Musique celebrations back to the beautiful places of the Philippines,” said Xavier Leroux, executive director of Alliance Française de Manille. “This year’s festivities will find us rediscovering the joys of live and in-person music once again.”
Titled “Tara Allez!”—or “let’s go!” in colloquial Filipino (“tara”) and French (“allez”)—Fête PH 2022 celebrates the artists and music from various parts of the country, alongside the Philippines’s most popular tourist destinations as part of the event’s continued partnership with the Department of Tourism.
“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,” said Howard Uyking, Tourism assistant secretary for branding and marketing communications.
The main stage for Fête de la Musique 2022 will be at the Puerta Real Gardens, Intramuros on June 25 with performances from Cheats, The Itchyworms, Lola Amour, and Anima Tierra. There will be a special number as well by Brass Pas Pas Pas Pas featuring Curtismith, Toni B., Faye Yupano and Zsaris, with more surprises and performers to be announced soon.
Picking up from 2021’s virtual #FeteFromMyIsland theme, Fête PH 2022 also teams up with various partners across the Philippines to support their own physical “Fete-stivities.” Partners include Lokal Lab for the Siargao Stage on June 21 in Santa Fe Beachfront Playground; Kalye Artisano x Lio Estate for the El Nido Stages on June 26 and 28, both in Kalye Artisano; and Melt Records x Alliance Française de Cebu for the Cebu Stages on June 25 in Draft Punk and June 26 in La Vie.
Meanwhile, French artists Marc Fichel, DJ Blutch and Maxime Cozic will be flying in from Paris to perform around the country.
Singer-songwriter and pianist Marc Fichel will perform in Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila on June 23; at the main stage in Intramuros on June 25 in a collaboration with The Voice Teens grand winner Cydel Gabutero; and alongside Palawan-based musicians in El Nido on June 26. DJ Blutch, known for his abstract hip-hop and house mixes with video mapping, will also perform in Sofitel on June 24 and at the main stage in Intramuros on June 25 in a collaboration with a surprise Filipino movement act. He will be also joining Cebu-based musicians in the City of Smiles on June 26.
Dancer and choreographer Maxime Cozic will perform both his 18-minute solo piece and in collaboration with embodiment artist Dona Tumacder-Esteban and improvisational drum circle Bathala Na at the final Fête PH 2022 stage in Kalye Artisano in Lio Estate on June 28.
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 B-Side Productions, and co-organized by the Department of Tourism.