After two online editions in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Fete de la Musique, the most-anticipated free music event, returns to live stage with some of the country’s best, freshest, and most diverse acts on the local music scene this June.
Marketed as “Tara Allez!,” (which means “let’s go!” in both colloquial Filipino and French), Fête de la Musique PH 2022 hopes to provide generous French-Filipino cross-cultural exchange while harnessing the healing power of music, forging new friendships, and building and supporting communities. This is also 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. This year’s festivities will find us rediscovering the joys of live and in-person music once again,” said Alliance Francaise de Manille executive director Xavier Leroux.
Fête PH 2022 features new and exciting collaborations between artists from the Philippines and France in live music concerts to be staged in various locations in the country, including Palawan, Baguio, Cebu, Siargao, and across Metro Manila.
In partnership with the Department of Tourism, the music festival aims to showcase the natural beauty and rich culture of some of the Philippines’ most popular tourist destinations.
“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,” enthused DOT Assistant Secretary for Branding and Marketing Communications Howard Uyking.
Pushing the #FeteFromMyIsland theme, here are the places you can catch the music across the Philippine archipelago: 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 Francaise de Cebu for the Cebu Stages on June 25 in Draft Punk and June 26 in La Vie.
The main stage for Fête PH 2022 will be at the Puerta Real Gardens, Intramuros on June 25, featuring performances from Cheats, The Itchyworms, Lola Amour, Anima Tierra, and a special number by Brass Pas Pas Pas Pas featuring Curtismith, Toni B., Faye Yupano, and Zsaris. More surprises and performers will be announced soon.
In addition, Fête PH partnered with over 30 independently produced pocket stages in Metro Manila to simultaneously feature various genres and musical moods on June 24. The participating venues include Alchemy Bistro Bar, Archipelago Makati, Boogie, Braiser’s The Village Cafe in Paranaque, Commune, Craven’s Bar and Restaurant, Dear Adam Sweet Lucy, Elements Boutique Hotel, Futur:st, H&J Restaurant, Kampai, La Collina, Leisure HQ, OTO, Pardon My French, Pura Vida Manila, Saguaro Bar & Cafe, Skinny Mike’s Sports Bar in BGC, The Apartment, The Green Door, The Astbury, The Social on Ebro, The Spirits Library, Topic, Thumbayan Grill, White Banana, WYP, Z Hostel. Some performers include Basically Saturday Night, Johnny Alegre, Ean Mayor of UDD, Coffeebreak Island with Bing Austria & Tuesday Vargas, Tropical Depression Apartel, Mulan, and Samantha Nicole.
Fete PH is also bringing in three amazing French artists Marc Fichel, DJ Blutch, and Maxime Cozic, who will be flying all the way from Paris to perform around the country.
Singer-songwriter and pianist Marc Fichel will perform in Sofitel on June 23; in Intramuros on June 25 with The Voice Teens grand winner Cydel Gabutero; and in El Nido on June 26.
DJ Blutch, known for his abstract hip hop and house mixes with video mapping, will perform in Sofitel on June 24; in Intramuros on June 25 in a surprise Filipino movement act, and in Cebu on June 26.
Dancer and choreographer Maxime Cozic will perform his 18-minute solo piece and will collaborate 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 PH and Funkybeat Entertainment partnered to compose and produce “Tara Allez!,” a song that perfectly captures how music brings people together, giving a sense of community and belongingness through good vibrations and camaraderie. The song is performed by various artists from Manila, Cebu, and Palawan, among others.
Fete de la Musique in the Philippines 2022 is organized by Alliance Française de Manille, in partnership with the Embassy of France to the Philippines and B Side Productions.