Community Corner
Laguna's Really Awesome (and Free) Music Fest Returns This Saturday!
The fabulous Fête de la Musique returns to the downtown streets for its sixth incarnation.
If it's mid-June, it must be time for the annual Fête de la Musique, which is pretty much the closest thing Laguna Beach has to a diverse music festival. And a free one, to boot. There's nothing quite like roaming around the downtown village on a blissful Saturday afternoon and hearing all kinds of music drifting around every corner and down every street and alleyway. The only bad part? The party lasts just a mere three hours. But something is better than nada ...
Want a taste of what's to come? Click here for Patch's coverage of the 2011 Fête, and watch our 2011 video by clicking up above. You can also click here and watch our 2012 video. Good stuff!
Here's the official press release on the event put out by the sponsoring Laguna Beach Sister Cities Association. The Budrows, in particular, are HIGHLY recommended.
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Laguna Beach Sister Cities Association BSCA) is pleased to announce their 6th annual Fête de la Musique on Saturday, June 15, 2013, featuring a variety of performing artists singing and playing throughout the downtown area of Laguna Beach.
The Fête de la Musique will begin at 1 p.m. with an opening ceremony at the Main Beach Cobblestones. This year, 40 locations around downtown Laguna Beach, with almost all of them on Ocean Avenue, Forest Avenue or a short stretch of PCH will celebrate the music filled day.
Among the new performers this year:
- Yours Truly – a teen girls rock band that performed at the Healthy Girl Fair this year (playing at far end of Ocean Avenue)
- Richard and Mary – a folk rock duo that toured the world for 30 years (playing at Coffee Pub/Lumberyard Patio on Forest Avenue)
- Student Showcase – Laguna students who will have the opportunity to perform for their friends, family, local residents and out-of-town visitors (playing at rose garden of Laguna Presbyterian Church)
- LBHS Vocalists – local high school vocalists accompanied by keyboard player Deborah Glass (playing by Sculpture Gardens of Dawson Cole Fine Arts)
Among the notable performers returning this year:
- Swing Set Laguna Concert Band – big band and jazz (playing on Cobblestone of Main Beach)
- JJ & the Habibis – belly dancing troupe (playing on Cobblestone of Main Beach)
- Grey Hill Gospel String Band – gospel and bluegrass (playing outside Tuvalu at corner of Forest and Glenneyre)
- Budrows – three-piece rock band featuring cigar box guitar, harmonica and female vocalist (playing by Chico’s on Forest)
- Blue Offenders – folk rock band (playing inside Hobie Sports on Forest)
- MonTones – eclectic country rock (playing in front of Wells Fargo on Ocean)
- Funghis – 60’s and 70’s folk rock (playing at Forest Avenue Mall)
- Keith Comer – one-man folk rock band (playing outside Johnny Rockets where PCH meets Ocean)
- April Walsh – French chanteause singing French songs, Broadway , jazz and oldies (playing on Forest)
The musical festivities will conclude with a closing ceremony and performance by the award winning CCMP Mariachis on Main Beach Cobblestones at 4 p.m.
The concept of Fête de la Musique was first suggested by American Joel Cohen in 1976 while he was working at a radio station in France. It wasn't until 1981 that French Cultural Minister, Jack Lang, adopted the idea. The first Fête was held in France the following year.
The Fête de la Musique in Laguna Beach, which was awarded Laguna Beach Arts Alliance’s “2010 Best New Arts Program,” is held in conjunction with “World Music Day” to celebrate the coming of summer each June. The Fête de la Musique was originated in France and is celebrated worldwide on, or near, the beginning of summer. LBSCA has crafted its Fête de la Musique to promote Laguna Beach performing arts through live music by a variety of local musicians and singers.
"The Fête has spread to over 110 countries and 250 cities around the world, and Laguna Beach’s Fête de la Musique is now included in this circle of live music celebration,” says LBSCA President Karyn Philippsen. “Anyone, any age, is invited to participate. Every genre of live performing music is welcome. Amateur musicians play alongside professionals, and the entire community engages in the experience. There is no admission fee charged and all are welcome to enjoy and participate in the festivities. In the tradition of the Fête all performers donate their talents for that afternoon."
Additional information is available at the LBSCA website: www.lagunabeachsistercities.com
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