Make Music in Sacramento Annually on June 21st

Tell your friends to come down the streets of Sacramento and participate by playing, dancing or just listening to music. Edit the grids at the bottom of the page and put your name down. Join the Facebook group

What is Fête de la Musique?

The 2009 International Poster The Fête de la Musique, also known as World Music Day, is a world wide music festival that takes place on June 21, which is usually the summer solstice. On this day, sidewalks, parks, community gardens, stores and more become impromptu musical stages for both amateur and professional musicians to showcase their talents. All concerts and performances are free and open to the public.

The Fête de la Musique began in France and has since spread to Belgium, Britain, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Costa Rica, Israel (in Tel-Aviv), China, India, Lebanon, Malaysia, Morocco, Pakistan, Philippines, Romania, Colombia and other countries. The Alliance Francaise de Sacramento has held staged performances to celebrate Fête de la Musique since 2006. New York City held its first festival in 2007. Saturday June 21st, 2008 was the first city wide celebration of the event in Sacramento.

The idea was conceived by French Music and Dance director Maurice Fleuret for Minister of Culture Jack Lang in 1981 and first took place in 1982.

Its purpose is to promote music in two ways:

• Amateur musicians are encouraged to perform in the streets. The slogan Faites de la musique (Make music), a homophone of Fête de la Musique, is used to promote this goal.
• Many free concerts are organized, making all genres of music accessible to the public.

In Sacramento, local musicians and performers can lawfully participate by playing in the streets of Sacramento thanks to Chapter 5.108 of the City Code which encourages the development of arts and culture in Sacramento and exempts street performers, incidental musicians, and the establishments that host them from requiring an Entertainment Permit. The Fête de la Musique is one of the only nights of the year where, under French law, there is no noise restriction. The musicians can play all night without fear of neighbors calling the police.

The people of Sacramento are encouraged to participate by playing music or performing in Downtown and Midtown Sacramento, offering a venue for performers, organizing a concert, promoting the festival in the local press, and most importantly by encouraging everyone to take to the streets, meet your neighbors, participate in your community, and make music!

Like a Second Saturday event but with all your neighbors playing music all over town on sidewalks and in parks.

More Information

This is not a band A video trailer announcing the Sacramento Fête de la Musique A short video explaining la Fête de la Musique Make Music New York - How it works in other cities Fête de la Musique Sacramento - myspace International Declaration of Principles Fête de la Musique - Information from the French Cultural Ministry

Fête de la Musique around the world Fête de la Musique - French Cultural Ministry Make Music New York - NYC's Fête de la Musique District of Columbia's Fête de la Musique Morocco Times article: Morocco celebrates World Music Day World Music Day in Nairobi Fête de la Musique in Luxembourg Fête de la Musique in the Netherlands Fête de la Musique 2007 in Manila, Philippines

Videos Youtube - Paris Fête de la Musique An American explores la Fête de la Musique in Paris Youtube - A taste of the Fête de la Musique in Paris 2007 Street Films - Make Music NYC Youtube - French News Cast Youtube - French Punks in the Streets of Brest, France celebrating the Fête de la Musique

How To Participate

Want to participate? Add your name to the list of performers and venues below and be there on June 21st

Sacramento 2009 Poster

• Print out the poster (Sacramento 2009 Poster.jpg) and distribute, post, paste, etc.
• Commit to playing and celebrate. Put your name on the performers table on this page (See Performers and Venues section), then choose one or a combination of the following options:
• Option 1. Check the venues, there are several "street fair hosts" that will be blocking off a street or city parks that will serve as hot spots where lots of things will be happening in a concentrated area. You should coordinate directly with the street fair host to play at any particular street fair. City parks with out a stage are open and first come first serve.
• Option 2. Contact a local business and coordinate directly with them to play outside their shop on the sidewalk or inside (like second Saturday events). They can provide electricity for amps etc. Once it's confirmed, add it to the venue list on the wiki.
• Option 3. Pick a corner or address, call it for yourself, mark it down in the wiki venue table, and then just show up. Scout locations for electrical outlets if you need amplification. Some covered bus stops have outlets, as do some lamp posts (like the ones along the river south of Old Sac.) Ask nicely before plugging in, and bring a surge protector!

=> Street locations not directly in front of a store front should be considered first come first serve.

=> It's nice to share, that's why you are participating, right?

• Option 4. Just plan on being there and plop yourself down on any 'ol patch of open public ground and start playing.
• Option 5. Roam around. Pick up and jam with any body else who's wandering around.
• Tell all your friends about the Fête de la Musique and encourage them to participate or spectate.
• Add us as a MySpace friend to get our bulletins, http://myspace.com/sacfete
• Become a Fan of our Facebook Page

Performers & Venues

How to edit the tables below to include your information: Once you register and log in click on the 'edit' icon at the top of the page. Help with Editing is an excellent resource. Alternatively you can double click on the text in the table and replace the words with your information. Some have reported trouble editing text within the tables, you should have no trouble after looking over Help with Editing and only replacing the words leaving the || in place. Please add your information in the place holders at the bottom of the table

Resources

Sacramento 2009 Poster.jpg Park Event Handbook.doc Park Use Guide.doc City of Sacramento Application for Park Use

Feedback

Still confused?? submit your

Comments/Questions

2009-05-01 12:17:14   What is going on for 2009? How can I help organize? Write to d dot bybee at comcast dot net. —dbybe