Even a surprise thunderstorm couldn’t stop the crowds at the June 21 Fête de la Musique PH (or Fête PH) Main Stage from having a good time. As the clouds around the Ayala Triangle Gardens turned a concerning shade of gray only two hours into the all-day concert, attendees huddled closer underneath the stage awning, determined to enjoy the music of local acts like percussion ensemble group Brigada, pop-folk singer Janine, indie-folk band The Ridleys, and more.
On the edges of the scene, people set up picnic blankets on nearby patches of grass, happy to enjoy the concert from a distance. Around the Triangle, buskers set up guitars and mics on smaller makeshift stages, drawing their own lively crowds with their performances. Despite the heavy rain finally pouring down, concertgoers simply pulled out their umbrellas and swayed in place. There was no way they were giving up their spots, especially with acts like Ely Buendia and The Methodists, Armi Millare, and James Reid set to perform later that night.
“We’re here for two things: Ely Buendia and a free concert,” one Fête PH concertgoer who goes by Aliyah told Rolling Stone Philippines. Many others shared Aliyah’s sentiment, highlighting the concert’s impressive local lineup and its free admission as the top reasons why they were in attendance. “We’d never really heard of Fête before, but we saw this TikTok ad saying we wouldn’t need to pay, so now we’re here,” another concertgoer who goes by Pau told Rolling Stone Philippines. Pau named James Reid as his favorite act, while his partner Joy was most excited to see Armi Millare. Joy added, “We’re not leaving until we see them!”
French Roots
Although Fête PH has been a widely attended national concert tradition since 1994, its roots trace back to France, where the original Fête de la Musique began in 1982. What started as a modest local festival organized by the French Ministry of Culture to celebrate the start of summer has since grown into a global event held annually in nearly 120 countries for free. “This is more than a music festival,” said Mathilde Sejourné, cultural counselor of the Embassy of France to the Philippines, during this year’s media launch. “Fête de la Musique 2025 is a celebration of connection, creativity, and culture.” But it seemed that this year’s concertgoers barely, if at all, knew about the concert’s French roots. When I mentioned this fact to a few of them, I was either met with blank stares or a surprised, “It’s French?”
One attendee, however, was familiar with the connection. “I’ve tried to never miss Fête,” Maylis, a French concertgoer, told Rolling Stone Philippines. Born and raised in France, Maylis explained how Fête is a major annual celebration back home. “It’s always a big party, and everyone comes out because they love the music,” said Maylis. “Since I just moved to Manila, I really made an effort to come out for today’s Fête. It’s a little smaller than what I’m used to, but I love everyone’s energy.” As a strong gust of wind sent dust and leaves swirling around us during our chat, Maylis simply laughed. “This won’t stop me from staying,” she said.
Free and Accessible
For Maylis, and many concertgoers who braved the inclement weather that day, the real magic of Fête PH lies in its accessibility. What sets the concert apart from many of the musical events held throughout the Philippines is that it’s free and easy to attend. In a country where live concerts are often gated by high ticket prices and hard-to-reach venues, Fête PH stands out as a rare celebration of culture that welcomes everyone.
The Philippines has long struggled to mount large-scale free concerts that are both well-organized and safe for the public. Most recently, the 2024 Quezon City Pride Festival drew an estimated 200,000 people to the Quezon Memorial Circle to see headliner BINI, only for the event to become dangerously overcrowded. With heavy rain adding to the chaos, organizers were left with no choice but to cancel the performance, raising serious concerns about crowd control and public safety at free mass gatherings. Other free national concerts-turned-fiascos include the 2017 ASEAN Music Festival and the 2003 Myx Mo Concert.
Fête PH demonstrates that free concerts in the Philippines don’t have to fall short on quality or safety. This year’s event was a success, despite the rain, because of its efficient planning and focus on accessibility. This should set a valuable example for future events in the country, showing that free cultural experiences can thrive without compromise.
