Next Sunday in Manly, Sydney Music Festival will celebrate the Fête de la musique, a worldwide annual tradition celebrating music of all genres and of all levels. 2022 marks the 40th year of the Fête de la musique, which is held annually on 21 June – the day of the Summer Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere – the longest day of the year.
History of the Fête de la musique
In 1981, Maurice Fleuret was appointed Director of Music and Dance by the then Minister of Culture, Jack Lang. Declaring that « music will be everywhere and concert nowhere », he organised the first Fête de la musique in 1982 which sees musicians playing until late in the night in the streets, squares, courtyards, gardens, train stations and more. It brought out people who would wander from one musician to another.
By 1985, the movement had expanded across Europe and within just 10 years there were 85 countries on 5 continents holding their own Fête de la musique. In 2017, the event was held across more than 120 countries!
Australia celebrates the Fête de la musique under the moniker Make Music Day.
Music at Sydney Music Festival
Sydney Music Festival will showcase music performers of various styles and experience with a French flair. Across 5 stages, you can expect to hear everything from French classics, French jazz, Mauritian through to rock, blues, funk soul, and R&B just to name a few. There is also a kids stage where you can hear keyboards, drumming and the Manly Village School Choir among others.
Musicians performing at Sydney Music Festival include:
- Christelle Nativel;
- Phoenix Flame;
- Emma Hamilton;
- The Anna Weaving Collective;
- Hollandaise Nieuw;
- K-Note;
- Jenna & the Breakdown;
- Children of the Universe;
- Bateria;
- The Meldrums;
- The Durham Project;
- La Faya;
- Greg Duke;
- The Whiskey Brothers;
- The Con#Scripts;
- Groove Pilot;
- Will Clift;
- Jonah & the Wailers;
- The 45’s;
- The Blenders;
- Kiltir Tropical;
- Evergree; and
- Taiyo Marchand.
Food & wine
Sydney Music Festival has carefully curated a delicious range of food and wine to cater to the whole family:
- crêpes and coffee from The French Counter
- gnocchi from The Art of Gnocchi
- paella from Ola Lola
- croissants and pastries from Tonton Bread
- cannelés and madeleines from Sacrebleu!
- Mauritian street food and baguette sandwiches from The Baguette Brothers
- multicultural Australian fusion cuisine from Zing Fresh Catering
- French ciders from Fils de Pomme
KEY INFO FOR SYDNEY MUSIC FESTIVAL
WHEN: Sunday 19 June, 9AM to 4PM
WHERE: St Paul’s College, 124 Darley Road MANLY 2095 NSW
HOW MUCH: Entry is free!
How: Register your attendance via https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/fete-de-la-musique-make-music-day-manly-tickets-162948309781
You can also follow Sydney Music Festival on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/MakeMusicDayAUS
For other events with French links happening this month, check out our What’s on in June
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