Fête de la Musique calls artists
FOR THE last decade Fête de la Musique has been entertaining music lovers in South Africa. Last year, the event could not take place due to the coronavirus.
The event, which started in Melville, moved to Newtown Junction allowing more people to access their favourite artists. It takes place in France and South Africa to mark World Music Day.
“It’s a very special time in the year in France and something that we have brought here in 2010,” said Selen Daver, cultural attaché of the French Embassy.
“It’s more a music festival that takes place at Newtown Junction. Throughout the years we have had interesting artists who have emerged and found success through the events.
Acts like Urban Village, BCUC and Msaki have added to the success of the event. A lot of well known artists and musicians take part. It’s important to us that the festival is serving the artist community and music industry.”
Daver said that while they had tried to turn to online for the event last year, it just did not have the spirit of fête.
“The festival is all about people being able to see live music. We really gave thought around what we could do that is both safe and enjoyable for this year’s event, because the safety aspect is extremely important.
“We want to make sure the protocols are respected, so we came up with the idea of having different stages in different venues around the city, from Parkview to Soweto, and that links to the spirit of the festival as it happens in France,” she said.
Daver said the relationship between culture and the public space was an interesting topic in South Africa.
“This day is enormous in France and it is a time in the year where you can see concerts in the streets from amateurs to professionals walking from one place to another hearing different music genres. This year the festival will take place on June 19 with musicians and DJs mixing all the genres so there is no distinction – everybody is welcome.”
The festival is calling for musicians, DJs and bands from all music genres, amateur and professional, to apply to perform in this year’s festival and join in the spirit of the Fête de la Musique.
The Joburg event is in association with the French Institute of South Africa (IFAS) and the Alliance Française of Johannesburg in partnership with Bassline Live, Newtown Junction and Total South Africa.
“We launched the call to apply last week with the deadline on May 12 and people can access the call to apply on social media. The successful applicants will receive a fee – R3 000 for DJs and R5 500 for music bands. That is to support the music team,” said Daver.
“We don’t see this as an event to attend in full, especially in the context we are in. People can watch, pass by and enjoy. It’s something lively.”
This type of setting will allow more intimate concerts, with smaller crowds, while continuing to celebrate free music for all to enjoy.
“After the applications have been seen, there will be a jury, as each year, with music professionals and representatives from Bassline and the IFAS. The final selection will be announced later this month, then it will be all about the programme and where the performances can be enjoyed.”
Daver said she was excited about the upcoming event.
‘“It will be an interesting experiment. Human interaction is at the core of what we do and what arts and culture is about.”
The application form can be found on the website www.fetedelamusiquejhb.co.za