PalenQ

since 1982 France has come alive every June 21 in celebration of La Fete de la Musique, with free music performances held in various locations in many cities

any musician - amateur or professional are encourage to take to the streets and do their thing so you have concerts in concert halls - the pros - and amateurs everywhere - in train stations, main squares, castles and even in prisons!

In Paris this year the National Orchestra of France will perform in the Orsay Museum, a grandiose old former train shed.

Launched 25 years ago under the aegis of French Minister of Culture Jack Lang the event has spread all over France and in many parts of Europe.

Indeed it's currently celebrated in 100 countries - on June 21st the average date of the Summer Solstice and longest day of the year.

New York City is joining the fete this year, joining San Francisco - NYCs celebration will involve hundreds of performances on the city's 12,000 miles of sidewalk - included are performances of Met Opera and NY Philharmonic outside of Lincoln Center.

www.makemusicny.org for NYC or www.fetedelmusique.culture.fr for the French stuff

DejaVu

Ah, I have great memories of serendipitiously being in Paris for Fete de la Musique 1996. I roamed around the Quartier Latin looking for free jazz!!

cigalechanta

Pedmar on slowtrav constantly posts what's happening in Paris.

PalenQ

Yes it's a cool time for street performer lovers to be in France.

And it's not just Paris but any French town of size.

Take Orleans for example - one year they had various groups playing at various locals each appealing to a different clientele

By the statue of Jeanne d'Arc there were techno bands - hard core, trance, etc. appealing to French teens and 20s type who love this music.

other places there were classical quartets on streets - single violins and the ubiquitous lone guitarists strumming out I've Got a Ticket to Ride, etc.

So there is usually something for everybody and it's all free - from the most established orchestra types to the lone crooner.

cigalechanta

This from a newsletter sent to me:



Paris is going to be a party town for the next few weeks starting tomorrow night, the longest day of the year. Of course, Paris is ALWAYS a party town every single day, but this time of year is particularly noteworthy.

Summer Solstice hits the high notes every year on June 21st during the Fête de la Musique -- this being the 26th edition. Since it's inception, it's become the world leader to the other 110 countries and 340 cities which have followed suit.

On the cover of this week's publication of "A Nous Paris" (distributed free at Métro kiosks) is a "jeu de mots" (play on words) which read: "21 Juin: Faites de la Musique." How clever! There will be those that "faites" (make music) and those that "fêtes" (enjoy the music)! Since I haven't played a note since oboe days in the high school band, guess I'll be one of the thousands to be breathing it in rather than blowing it out. Pick up your copy fast for a listing of what's on all over town or visit the official site for a detailed listing at http://www.fetedelamusique.culture.fr

Naturally, Le Marais is a magical spot to take in a variety of sounds. The great acoustics under the brick vaulted arcades of the Place des Vosges will host renaissance and classical concerts and choirs in the afternoon and evening. Once you've strolled the square, exit through the small door on the southwest corner to discover a seat on the courtyard of the Hôtel de Sully for "Chut! Genres musicaux multiples" from 6 to 11:30 p.m. It's such particularly beautiful spot that you may not want to budge.

But do!...at the Mairie du 3ème, big band jazz will have everyone swinging from 7:30 p.m. to midnight with New Orleans style jazz starting there at 10 p.m.-- it's the kick off for the annual "Soirs d'Eté" sponsored by the Mairie for the last 10 years. You can bet I'll be there to support my home town and sing along! (Think they'll play "When the Saints Go Marchin' In?&quot

At Place du Marché Sainte-Catherine from 7 p.m. to midnight, in honor of the 3rd Festival des Cultures Juives, the Mairie of the 4ème is sponsoring music of past European Jewry with songs in Yiddish and the use of old-world instruments. For original Mexican music, stop in at the lovely courtyard of the Institut de Mexique at number 119 rue Vieille du Temple from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. Electronic sounds will come from the "Kitchen" at Au Troisième Rue on rue Quincampoix near Le Centre Georges Pompidou and there on the Place, brass bands will make lots of noise in honor of "solidarité" from 6 to 10 p.m.

These are just a few hints. There will be a sound for every music pleasure seeker in every part of Paris, so, put on your comfortable walking shoes, start out early, hope for good weather (often it's really chilly on this particular night!), plan your route carefully, put enough money in your pocket to eat a "merguez" sandwich from one of the hundreds of street vendors and rock till you drop from early afternoon till the sun goes down and the music is still lingering sweetly in the night air.

cocofromdijon

For those who will be in or near Dijon:
Dijon centre
Fête de la musique au Musée Archéologique - Musique Electro
Musée Archéologique - 21000 - Dijon

Fête de la Musique à la Villa Messner - Musique classique et Opéra
Villa Messner - 21000 - Dijon

Fête de la musique au Conservatoire Jean-Philippe Rameau - Musique classique et Opéra
Conservatoire Jean-Philippe Rameau - 21000 - Dijon

Dj Kiko - Soirées
Max Tom Café - 21000 - Dijon

Fête de la musique au Charleston - Musique divers
Le Charleston - 21000 - Dijon

Fête de la musique à la Mairie de Dijon - Musique classique et Opéra
Mairie de Dijon - 21000 - Dijon

Electricpsycho - Musique Rock Pop indé
Marèse - 21000 - Dijon

Fête de la musique Place Darcy - Musique Rock Pop indé
Place Darcy - 21000 - Dijon

Something à la mode - Musique Electro
Place de la Libération - 21000 - Dijon

Fête de la Musique à la Clé de Sol - Musique Rock Pop indé
La Clé de Sol - 21000 - Dijon

Sandrine - Musique Variété Chanson
L'Espiguette - 21000 - Dijon

Fête de la musique à l'Eglise Notre Dame - Musique classique et Opéra
Eglise Notre Dame - 21000 - Dijon

Uncut - Musique Rock Pop indé
Le Charleston - 21000 - Dijon

Aux alentours de Dijon
Fête de la musique à Nuits Saint-Georges - Musique classique et Opéra
En ville à Nuits Saint-Georges - 21700 - Nuits-Saint-Georges

Plus you can add all the groups which are not registred..

PalenQ

Coco cheeeeeeerie:

thanks for illustrating along with cigalechanta's newsletter copy just how all-encompassing this fete is.

Q- is it held on the 21st always or is it held on a Sat closest to 21st - seems during weekday folks could not come or is mostly at night?

Thanks and wishing you well - do the Owls give a hoot during the fete?

cocofromdijon

The owl will be dancing and singing opera all night long with the gargoyles of Notre Dame church ...

PalenQ

coco - will you be hitting the streets with your guitar as well? Maybe with Leo and other son you could do some kind of family act?

cocofromdijon

Oh I'd love to be able to play the guitar.

Unfortunately there is school for the boys on the next day and they have to get up early... Maybe next year.

PalenQ

Accueil paris.fr - Paris.fr- Fête de la musique : grand concert au Trocadéro « 100% Jeunes Talents 100% Purs .... du programme de création de 4 500 places d’accueil du jeune enfant.

Leburta

I was in Paris a couple of years ago on "Music Day". Not only was it light late into the night, but the music on every corner and people everywhere made it very festive. We missed the big concerts at the Hotel de Ville and elsewhere in the city. Maybe next time we'll take in those too. What a great time it was!

kerouac

The Fête de la Musique is ALWAYS on the 21st and too bad if it's not a weekend.

And the metro/RER/buses run all night on the 21st of June. The RATP sells a ticket for 2.50€ valid for unlimited travel on the entire network from 5pm on the 21st to 7am on the 22nd for the entire Ile de France region.

PalenQ

Ah to be in Paris today and tonight - it must be a very very neat thing - always liked street buskers anyway and to see the city full of them!

kerouac

I was in Metz on the 21st, and I have to admit that it seemed much better than recent years in Paris. It was the authentic fête with amateur bands setting up their bargain basement equipment in front of every café in sight, and young people were absolutely flowing from the train station to the center of the city to take advantage of the most exceptional night of the year.

Paris has turned into a professional deal, with each site trying to outdo the next.

PalenQ

this, the Metz type experience is exactly what my son described in his home town, Orleans a few years ago - amateur musicians, bands everywhere with some concert stages with his favorite Techo - trance, etc.

So maybe a regional town is the better venue to savor this fun day