Fête de la Musique 2012: The street party to end all street parties
The special thing about this year’s Fête de la Musique is that it’s a street party on Makati Avenue,” reveals organizer Anna Sobrepeña-Ong. An annual music fest with over 100 musical acts, the Fête does outshine every local concert we have, true, but a street party for Fête? Talk about firsts.
“Last year, it was old versus new,” recalls Sobrepeña-Ong, who pitted more established acts like father of Pinoy reggae Papa Dom against newer groups like Nyco Maca & Gafieiria. “This year, it’s a street party tribute to the 50th anniversary of the first Beatles EP release,” says Sobrepena-Ong. “Bands will perform their own renditions of Beatles songs.”?
Brought to life by Alliance Francaise de Manille and the French embassy, in partnership with Rustan’s, Red Horse Beer, the city of Makati, and organizers Anna Sobrepeña-Ong of B-Side Productions and Giselle Tomimbang, this year’s Fête de la Musique will literally be a little bit of everything, as expected. Its main stage, located on Makati Ave. corner Kalayaan Ave., will present local legends Pepe Smith and Cynthia Alexander alongside newer acts like Hijo and Flippin Soul Stompers and several more, all of whom will lead up to a guest performance by French DJ collective Chinese Man.
The Fête is, of course, celebrated in more than 100 countries and 300 cities worldwide on June 21. But for convenience, our Fête will be held on June 23, Saturday, 4 p.m. Entrance is free, so bring your friends and your friends’ titas and titos.
As logistically crazy as a 100-performer lineup sounds, it is and has been doable and definitely something to mark your calendars for. To be held on Makati Avenue — from the streets of Kalayaan to B. Valdez — this year’s Fête pools together the best local bands and situates them in pocket venues according to genre. Aside from the main, you’ll get to enjoy stages for electronica (at Time), jazz (at St. Giles Hotel), Latin (at Chihuahua), blues and soul (at Heckle and Jeckle), world/reggae/ska (at Society Lounge), and hip-hop (at Kyss), headlined by beatboxer Picoy Cruz.
“I personally think that the organizers from Renegade Collective and B-Side did a great job of coming up with a lineup that best approximates and represents the hip-hop culture,” says Picoy. “From downright raw lyricism by Anygma and Nothingelse to head-bobbing tunes served up by People’s Future and Miscellaneous, there’s definitely an act that will hit a spot that will make you want more.” This is Picoy’s second time to occupy Fête’s hip-hop stage and he says he feels honored. “I’ll definitely do some new stuff but definitely with the crowd favorites. The rest of the guys from Beatbox Philippines will also be with me for a 100-percent natural, raw, all-vocal set.”
There’s also a stage for indie/rock (at B-Side), lest you forget, and despite it being a bit far from every other stage, it features every modern band you’ve ever dug — even, ironically, as the case may be for Korn-bred, nu-metal outfit Slapshock. Other bands include Hilera, Imago, Radioactive Sago Project, Ciudad, and a dozen more.
“It’s always a pleasure playing at Fête, since it may be the closest we can have to a local version of Coachella,” relates Mikey Amistoso of geek-pop trio Ciudad, whose new album is set for release this July. “Expect us to play our new single from that album. Expect that we’ll be expecting you to dance and sway around also.” And sway we just might.
Fête 2012 Lineup
Main Stage
Venue: Makati Ave, near Kalayaan Ave. (Enter via Valdez St., near Barrio Fiesta)
Performers: Chinese Man (DJ collective from France), Brigada, Paul Zialcita & Bakunawa, Julien Drolon, Cynthia Alexander, Johnny Alegre + Affinity feat. Alvin Cornista, Blue Rats feat. Cooky Chua, Jonan Aguilar & Anak feat. Tondo Tribe, Hijo, Flippin Soul Stompers, Indio I, and Pepe Smith
Movement by: Planet Zips and HoopNation
Electronica Stage
Venue: Time (7840 Makati Ave.)
Organizer: Nomad Massive
Performers for the main room: Morse, Ann Barcelona, Erwin Edralin, Tom Turner, Liquid A x Tino Valentino, ConRank (UK), Mulan, Salamangkero, Alpha Shiva, and Marts Ballesca
Performers for the roof deck: Helen, Similar Objects, Feen, Firefly Logic, Flipperbaby x Bauhaus Cloud, Pasta Groove, Pixie, Massive Jam
Blues/Soul Stage
Venue: Heckle & Jeckle Sports Bar and Restaurant (G/F Villa Building, Jupiter St. corner Makati Ave.)
Organizers: Manila Soul Club x MamboRat productions
Performers: Chillitees, JR Oca Experience, Bleu Rascals, Conscious & The Goodness, Cheeba, The Go Signals, Ian Lofamia Blues Band, and CisNikki Power Band
Hip-Hop Stage
Venue: Kyss (5345 Gen. Luna St., Makati Ave.)
Organizer: Renegade Collective
Performers: Picoy, Jazze N Maria, D-Coy and Wika Artists, Jolo, Kush (UK), Miscellaneous, People’s Future, Hukbalahap, Bradezz Zon, Tempes, Red-I, Nothingelse, Rye, D’Tech, Arbiewon, MDK, and Angelo Mendez
Jazz Stage
Venue: St. Giles Hotel (Makati Ave. corner Kalayaan Ave.)
Organizer: Philippine International Jazz Festival Foundation
Performers: Rated A, Christian Herve, Batu Yilmaz (Turkey), J’Co Razon, Zen, Tonet Lipana, Christine Carlos, Luisa Sta Maria, Fuseboxx, Tricia Garcia, Paolo Blaquera Trio, JFK with Johnny Alegre, Carlos Castano, Humanfolk, Lunastra, Absolute Zero, and Musica ni Cadio
Latin Stage
VENUE: Chihuahua (7838 Makati Ave., across A-Venue)
Performers: The Salsa Fanatics
Reggae/World/Ska Stage
Venue: Society Lounge (G/F Atrium Building, Makati Ave. corner Paseo De Roxas)
Organizers: Rebel Lion x Ava Prime
Performers: Tropical Depression, Milagros Dancehall Collective, Neighbors, Manila Royale, Superkendi, Robert Green, Hegalong Project, and Kadangyan
Indie/Rock Stage
Venue: B-Side at The Collective (7274 Malugay St.)
Organizers: Dope MNL x Dear Prudence x Manila Bike Festival
Performers: Slapshock, Radioactive Sago Project, Ciudad, The Strangeness, Bee Eyes, Imago, The Discoball, RH Xanders, People’s Future, Stick Figgaz, Wilabaliw, Cosmic Love, The Butchercons, Earthmover, Nyctinasty, Paranoid City, Curbside, Hilera, Flying Ipis, Wilderness, Nityalila, Mike Pepito, and Jeepney Joyride
* * *
Check out our Fête lineups for more information and which bands and DJs are playing on which stage.
