June 27th 2024.
The Fête de la Musique festival in Paris was an experience like no other. It was a whirlwind of no sleep, hopping on buses, going from one club to another, and then another. As Lady Gaga's famous words played in my head, I couldn't help but feel like I could finally relate to her. And it was all thanks to my weekend trip to Paris for the festival.
As I boarded the early morning Eurostar from London's St Pancras International to Gare du Nord, I had no idea what to expect. My friends who had been to the festival before compared it to London's Notting Hill Carnival, both being music-based events that take over the city streets. But Fête de la Musique was on a whole different level, dominating the entire city and even the whole country.
Although I had been to Paris several times before, I had never experienced the festival. So, I was eager to check it out. For those who are unfamiliar, Fête de la Musique is held every year on the summer solstice, June 21st, and is celebrated all over France. Unlike Notting Hill Carnival, which is rooted in Caribbean traditions, Fête de la Musique focuses on the music culture in France. It was first established in 1982 by the Minister of Culture with the aim of bringing people together through music. And it has since become an international phenomenon, celebrated on the same day in over 700 cities across 120 countries.
As I arrived in Paris, I was greeted by tens of thousands of people flooding the streets, dressed in club wear or still in their suits from work. The celebrations began early in the day, with people enjoying drinks by the Seine and concerts in various areas of the city. From jazz gigs by the river to classical performances in historic cathedrals, there was something for everyone. And the best part? All the concerts were free to the public, with performers generously donating their time and talent.
While there were plenty of random buskers entertaining the crowds, there were also big names like Yamê, Matt Pokora, and Fally Ipupa taking over the stages. And even international DJ Stephy Diab made an appearance right outside a popular Lebanese restaurant. As I made my way through the bustling streets, I couldn't help but notice the joy and unity that filled the air. It was truly a magical experience.
However, despite its popularity among Parisians, the festival is not heavily advertised to tourists. So, I enlisted the help of my friends Ahmed and Thea, my favorite Parisian couple, to show me around. And they did not disappoint. We started off at the Grailed x Boiler Room pop-up near Strasbourg Saint-Denis metro station, where they curated DJ sets for the festival every year. It was a trendy and young crowd, but the whole point of the festival was to party outside, weather permitting.
After catching up over cocktails at Paolina Bar, we made our way through the streets lined with dancing crowds to Le Syndicat, a speakeasy that is a regular on The World's 50 Best Bars list. DJs had set up their decks and speakers outside, filling the air with a mix of beats. And the bartenders, who usually served up fancy cocktails in specialized glasses, were now pouring drinks straight into takeaway cups. I had one espresso martini, but there was no time to waste as we made our way to Sürpriz Kebab, a legendary kebab shop known for throwing one of the best parties during Fête de la Musique.
Outside the kebab shop, there was another DJ set, and drinks were being sold for just a few euros next to the booth. And instead of cheap, low-quality drinks, the bartender took their time to make me a strong Moscow Mule that kept me going for a while. It was a spontaneous and lively atmosphere, with people dancing on the street and enjoying some greasy chips and meat. As the sun began to set, we made our way to Canal Saint-Martin, a 20-minute walk from the kebab shop but made much longer by the crowds.
Overall, my experience at Fête de la Musique was unlike anything I had ever experienced. It was a celebration of music, culture, and community, and I couldn't have asked for a better way to spend my weekend in Paris.
The Fête de la Musique was an experience unlike anything I had ever encountered before. It was a whirlwind of no sleep, bus rides, and bouncing from one club to the next. As Lady Gaga's famous words echoed in my mind, I couldn't help but think how relatable they were after my weekend in Paris for the festival. The audio clip of her words had been stitched, shared, and liked across TikTok, and now I understood why.
As I boarded the early morning Eurostar train from St Pancras International to Gare du Nord, I had no idea what to expect from the Fête de la Musique. Friends who had been to the festival compared it to London's Notting Hill Carnival, both being music-based events that take over the city streets. However, this French celebration was on a whole other level, dominating the entire city and even the country. I had been to Paris multiple times in the past, but never for the festival, so I was excited to see what it was all about.
For those who may not know, the Fête de la Musique is held every year on the summer solstice, June 21, and it takes place all over France. Unlike Notting Hill Carnival, which is rooted in Caribbean traditions, this festival focuses on the music culture in France. It was set up by the then Minister of Culture in 1982 with the goal of bringing people together through music. Since then, it has become an international phenomenon, celebrated on the same day in over 700 cities across 120 countries.
As I arrived in Paris, I was greeted by tens of thousands of people flooding the streets, many dressed in club wear, while others were still in their work clothes. The celebrations started early, with people enjoying drinks along the banks of the Seine. In some areas of the city, the festivities began as early as 10am and continued until the sun rose almost 24 hours later. Famous landmarks, such as the Basilique du Sacré-Cœur in Montmartre, boulevards, parks, and public spaces, were transformed into open-air stages for musicians, catering to every taste and style.
From jazz by the Seine to classical performances in historic cathedrals, there was something for everyone. The atmosphere was one of unity and joy as both locals and tourists came together to enjoy the free concerts. Even the performers donated their time free of charge, adding to the sense of community and celebration. I was amazed to see some well-known names such as Yamê, Matt Pokora, and Fally Ipupa taking over the stages, along with international DJ Stephy Diab who made an appearance just outside a popular Lebanese restaurant. To keep us refreshed, Paolina Bar was serving up delicious cocktails throughout the day.
Despite the popularity of the Fête de la Musique among Parisians, it's not heavily publicized to tourists, making it a bit challenging to find the best parties. Luckily, I had some insider knowledge from my friends Ahmed and Thea, a lovely Parisian couple who agreed to be my tour guides for the day. As I waited for them to finish work, I joined the Grailed x Boiler Room pop-up at 23 rue du Sentier near Strasbourg Saint-Denis metro station. This London-based club promoter curated DJ sets for the festival, attracting a trendy and young crowd.
However, the whole point of the day was to party outside, weather permitting. When Ahmed and Thea finally picked me up, we caught up over cocktails at Paolina Bar before heading out to explore the festivities. As we strolled through the streets lined with dancing crowds, we made our way to Le Syndicat, a 15-minute walk from Paolina Bar. The closer we got, the bigger and louder the crowds became. Le Syndicat, a nondescript Parisian speakeasy, was a regular on The World's 50 Best Bars list. DJs had set up their decks and speakers outside, filling the air with a mix of electronic and hip-hop beats.
Inside the bar, the bartenders were known for their wicked mix of cocktails served in specialized glasses. But for the festival, they were pouring drinks without measuring, straight into takeaway cups. After just one espresso martini, I was ready to keep the party going. Our next stop was Sürpriz Kebab, a legendary kebab shop known for throwing one of the best parties during the Fête de la Musique. As we arrived, there was another DJ set right outside the shop, with cocktails being sold next to the booth on the street.
Despite the cheap drinks, the bartender took his time and made me a strong Moscow Mule that kept me going for a while. The crowd was a mix of people dancing in the streets and others enjoying greasy chips and meat from the kebab shop. It was as spontaneous and lively as I had imagined. As the night went on, I lost track of time, and before I knew it, we were on our way to Canal Saint-Martin, a 20-minute walk from Sürpriz. The crowds made the journey feel much longer, but it was all part of the fun.
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