The Fete de la Musique is an annual event that started in Paris and has been adopted in cities around the world. Held on the 21st of June, the first day of summer, it is basically a celebration of music. Everyone, from amateur to professional, is welcomed to play their music in the streets – but on the condition that the concerts are free.
Paris is a city full of buskers, and the standard of street music here is pretty high. The stereotypical images of a wino playing an accordion in the Metro are not a million miles from the truth. On our street corner, a five-piece jazz band plays every weekend – and 30 meters from that, a man plays piano concertos. So my expectations were high.
Too high, it turns out. Fete de la Musique was amateur night. The professional buskers packed up their instruments and enjoyed a quiet night at home, while across town one bad rock band after another took to the streets.
There were a few enjoyable acts, several nice choirs singing in a variety of languages and styles; a flutist playing under the arches at the Louvre; and the odd rock band singing covers and actually holding a tune. But on the whole, the vast majority of performers were pretty dire.
Paris was heaving, though. Good music or bad, this is a city that loves a good party.
This band grabbed a good spot at 2pm — and were still playing ten hours later when we passed them at midnight. Sadly, they only knew three songs, so those standing nearby might have found it a bit repetitive.
Two girls singing covers of French songs
We think this guy was either Canadian or American. And a Pearl Jam fan.
Another performer outside our house
A choir around the corner from our house, singing something foreign. Given that we live just around the corner from the Czech cultural centre, my vote is for Czech.
It’s not every day you see a man walking down the street with a Sousaphone.
An old woman peers out her window at the noise below.
This man was responsible for the noise below the woman’s window. He wasn’t too bad, actually.
Everyone’s a photographer. Not everyone’s a naked photographer, however.
Two Sousaphones in one day. What are the odds?
A trumpeter playing Latin music
Two drummers, caught from above
Crowds on the bridge. It was standing room only — crossing the bridge took us nearly 20 minutes and a lot of pushing and shoving.
More crowds on the bridge. For those of you who are of a technical nature, check out the depth-of-field. Available light photography, low ISO, and F2.4 means a pretty shallow DOF.
Two guys on the bridge singing covers. Not too bad.
A few young fans enjoy a concert outside the Louvre
A nice way to end the evening, with a little classical flute music.
