Fête de la Musique Returns to French Living

We are proud to invite you to the second edition of Fête de la Musique at French Living! A very special day celebrating music, summer and community. A moment to come together, sing, dance and laugh!

Fête de la Musique is a festival celebrated across France every year on 21st June. All day and night, music and people fill the streets, squares, bars and restaurants, transforming cities into open-air concert halls.

In 1982, the Minister of Culture, Jack Lang, and the director of music and dance, Maurice Fleuret, launched the first Fête de la Musique. The idea was to make music accessible to everyone and to encourage artists to perform in a simple and informal setting.

Jack Lang on the piano in front of the Ministry of Culture in Paris during the first Fête de la Musique. (Paul Vauthey, Sygma via Getty Images)

Under President François Mitterrand’s socialist government, Lang became known for his progressive cultural policies. Behind this joyful celebration lies a thoughtful cultural project, an initiative shaped by change, idealism and the belief that music should belong to everyone.

Young French people singing and playing music in the streets of Paris. (Photo d’archives ER)

After reviewing a national survey, Fleuret made the striking observation that millions of French people played musical instruments but very few had the opportunity to perform publicly. “La musique est partout et le peuple n’y a pas accès,”he lamented, “Music is everywhere, but the people do not have access to it.” He then imagined a festival where “La musique sera partout et les concerts nulle part”, “music will be everywhere and concerts nowhere.” This philosophy of democratising music emphasised inclusivity and accessibility, allowing anyone to take part, regardless of background. This idea led to a bold vision: what if, for one day each year, everyone was invited to make music freely and publicly? No stages, no ticket sales, no barriers, just a spontaneous celebration of sound in the streets.

After a few rehearsals, these children from the Lyon Conservatory showcase their skills to passersby, 1983. (Archives Le Progrès)

Lang and Fleuret chose 21st June, the summer solstice, symbolising light, renewal, and life. At one point, Fleuret considered the name Saturnales musicales, inspired by the ancient Roman festival of Saturnalia, known for its joyful chaos. But Fête de la Musique proved catchier and delightfully playful in French: “Faites de la musique!”, “Make music!”.

1982 – First Fête de la Musique poster (© Ministère de la Culture)

The event is based on a few core principles that remain unchanged:

It takes place every year on 21st June
It is completely free, with no tickets or entrance fees
It is open to everyone, professionals, amateurs, choirs, schoolchildren, DJs, street musicians, etc.
There are no genre limits: jazz, rock, techno, folk, hip-hop, anything
Performances can happen anywhere, streets, cafés, balconies, parks, courtyards and even public transport

Musicians play their instruments on June 21, 1994, at the back of a bus on a street in Paris. (AFP – GERARD FOUET)

The first edition was organised in just 20 days and the Paris police were initially opposed to it. Lang later admitted it was “the greatest stage fright of his life.” With limited time and resources, thousands of posters were printed, restrictions were eased and musicians were encouraged to take to the streets for half an hour. At first, the public was hesitant, but soon, nearly a million people joined in, playing, singing, and dancing late into the night. The energy was so powerful that the tradition repeated year after year after that.

The first edition of Fête de la Musique in 1982 was experimental. (Photo d’archives ER)

Even in difficult times, the festival endured. In 1986, a new government considered abolishing it, but Fleuret rallied support from artists and cultural figures to ensure its continuation. Weather has often been a challenge too. Despite morning rain showers that dampened the streets of Paris on some years, the festival proceeded as planned. Many performances were held in subway stations, providing shelter from the weather and ensuring that the music continued uninterrupted. During the European heatwave in 2003, musicians adapted by performing at night or in shaded spaces. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Fête de la Musique went largely virtual, with performances streamed from balconies and homes. Though unconventional, it reflected the human need to share music, even in isolation. Each challenge has only reinforced it’s cultural significance, resilience and adaptability.

A couple dancing at Fête de la Musique. (Maxime Jegat / MAXPPP)

The festival has also welcomed many internationally renowned artists over the years. For example, The Cure performed in Paris in 1990, marking guitarist Perry Bamonte’s first appearance with the band. Johnny Hallyday delivered a memorable performance in 1991, while INXS performed during their 1993 tour. Other notable appearances include James Brown, Zucchero alongside Tears for Fears, Oasis, Scorpions, and Stromae.

By the mid-1980s, the festival had spread across France, embraced by cities, institutions and communities. Soon, it expanded internationally, first to Belgium, then across Europe and eventually worldwide. Today, known as “World Music Day,” it is celebrated in over 120 countries, including the United States, Japan and Australia, making it a global symbol of cultural democracy. In 2010, even researchers at the Concordia Station in Antarctica marked the occasion by performing and streaming live music, perhaps the coldest concert ever held !

The UK has its own connection to the event. In June 1992, the inaugural National Music Day (the UK’s version of Fête de la Musique) took place across England, featuring over 1,500 events nationwide, including BBC Radio 1’s National Music Day Roadshow in Glasgow. Mick Jagger played a key role in bringing the concept to the UK, collaborating with Tim Renton, then Conservative Minister of State for the Arts, to help launch the initiative. National Music Day carried on annually until 1997, before eventually coming to an end. However, its spirit lived on with the creation of Music Day UK in 2012, which later became Make Music Day UK in 2022, continuing to celebrate music each year on 21st June.

Rolling Stones singer Mick Jagger was received in Paris by the Minister of Culture, Jack Lang, on June 21, 1990. (AFP – GILLES LEIMDORFER)

So, from a ministerial office in Paris to millions of people around the world, Fête de la Musique proves that one day can change the way we listen, play and connect and that sometimes, all it takes is a little music in the streets !

In 1984, many amateur groups performed in front of passersby, here in the Latin Quarter in Paris. (PIERRE VERDY)

We love this tradition and everything it represents so much that we wanted to bring it to Nottingham. We first introduced it at French Living last year and, after its success, we’re delighted to bring it back again, hoping it will continue into a much-loved annual tradition here, just as it is in France, and perhaps even spread to other venues and streets across the city.

The team – First Fête de la Musique at French Living, 2025.

It is a very special day to expect at French Living, quite different from our usual dinner service. Instead, it is a standing event with continuous music, where you are all invited to sing, dance and simply enjoy the moment. There will be no table seating or table service and no set menu, just the bar open to accompany the live performances. Entry is free and doors will open from 3pm, with live music starting from 4pm and continuing until late. You are welcome to come as you are, at any time and stay for as long as you like. This year, expect a vibrant mix of live music, from gypsy jazz and French songs, to folk guitar and experimental jazz, creating a rich and lively atmosphere from day into night. And if you feel inspired, bring your instrument along ! Our open mic stage upstairs will be open to anyone who would like to play or sing a little something. Just ask us!