Fête de la Musique 2024: A Celebration of 30 Years in the Philippines
Fête de la Musique (a.k.a. World Music Day) is celebrating three decades of music festivities in the Philippines this June. Originating in France in 1982, Fête de la Musique has grown into a global phenomenon celebrated in over 1,000 cities across 120 countries. Musicians of all ages, backgrounds, and genres turn the streets and public spaces into stages.
Fête de la Musique in the Philippines
In the Philippines, what started out as a 40-attendee, single-venue gig in 1994 has evolved into a multi-stage, multi-genre, and multi-day celebration. Established and up-and-coming Filipino artists come together during Fete PH, sharing their music with a growing audience. Artists who have graced the Fête PH stage include Barbie Almalbis, Ben&Ben, Cynthia Alexander, Bituin Escalante, Ena Mori, Joey Ayala, Kjwan, Razorback, Lola Amour, Unique Salonga, Up Dharma Down, Radioactive Sago Project, Sugarfree, The Itchyworms, and many more.
Fête PH first introduced its pocket stages in 2011, encouraging each subculture's movers and shakers to curate their lineups. In 2017, Fête PH expanded its music celebrations outside Metro Manila with the first destination stages. In 2019, Fête PH gathered 79 Filipino artists for a remarkable 25-minute musical production to celebrate its 25th anniversary, attracting the event’s largest number of attendees to date, at 40,000 across various stages. In 2021, the festivities pivoted to a multi-island online musical journey featuring performers from key tourist destinations in the country.
Main Stage and Pocket Events of Fête de la Musique 2024
For its 2024 edition, presented by Alliance Française de Manille in partnership with B-Side Productions, FunkyBeat Entertainment, and the Embassy of France to the Philippines, hundreds of artists will gather on over 100 stages in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, bringing more live music to more Filipinos.
Starting on the right note, #FetePH30 brings back its "Music Heals" advocacy with an immersive Pre-Fete Sunset Gathering: A Medicine Music Circle + Ecstatic Dance + Sound Bath. Hosted by Lee Grane Musiq at Ayala Triangle Gardens from 5-8 PM on Sunday, June 16, this event promotes music as a means to nourish the mind, heart, body, and soul.
The main stage of Fête de la Musique 2024 will be set at Greenbelt 3 in Makati City, promising an electrifying experience on June 21. The full day of music will be coming from Filipino artists SHANNi, Jason Dhakal x Lustbass, Sinosikat x Jose Miguel, Dwata, Jewelmer Jazz Band, Any Name's Okay, Morobeats, Autotelic, and Dilaw. Continuing the tradition of promoting French-Filipino cultural exchange, the event will feature Pfel & Greem of C2C, the biggest French act to grace the Fête PH stage. C2C revolutionized the music scene with their “Victoires de la Musique” French award-winning DJ album. Pfel & Greem are set to perform at Mistral in Raffles Makati on June 20 and the Greenbelt Main Stage on June 21.
On June 28, the #FetePH30 celebrations continue as part of the barangay fiesta celebrations of the vibrant district of Poblacion, Makati City. It will be a musical haven, with over 41 independently produced pocket stages featuring various genres and musical moods from hundreds of Filipino artists, including the Blues, Soul & Funk Stage at H&J, the Acoustic Stage at Coro Hotel, the Rock Stage at Alibi Music Lounge, and the Reggae Stage at Handle Bar. The Medicine Music Stage in Astbury and the Kirtan Stage at Gnostic will also be featured in keeping with this year’s “Music Heals” advocacy.
Beyond Makati, #FetePH30 will extend its reach to other parts of the country. This year will have the largest number of Destination Stages, with almost 70 stages across 20 destinations, all happening between June 21 and 29. Sites will be in Albay, Bacoor, Baguio, Baler, Cagayan de Oro, Camarines Sur, Cavite, Cebu, Davao, El Nido, Laguna, Los Baños, Marikina, Masbate, Naga City, Pampanga, Puerto Galera, Siargao, South Cotabato, and Zambales.
Fête de la Musique Philippines is free and open to the public.
