Fête de la Musique Cebu ‘25 features 8 stages and over 50 performers

CEBU, Philippines — The 2024 lineup at Fête de la Musique Cebu was an ideal one for festival director Dexter Sy, who praised the global festival as a major opportunity for Cebuano artists and a reflection of the local scene’s diversity.

This year, Sy gets to execute a bigger vision for his fourth edition of Fête Cebu, which will take place in eight locations – seven of which will be held on the same day and feature over 50 performers.

Happening on the last two Saturdays of June, the Main Stage of Fête Cebu will be held at Ayala Malls Central Bloc’s Corte Garden on June 21. The pocket stages will follow on June 28 across six Cebu City venues: Atúa Midtown, Casa Gorordo Museum, Draft Punk, La Parisienne, Cebu Making Space, and Unity Coffee and Vinyl, plus one in Mandaue City at Handuraw Pizza.

“One of our goals is to showcase the best of contemporary Cebu, and Fête de la Musique has been a good platform for us to highlight what the Cebuano music scene has to offer,” said Sy at a June 9 press conference at Alliance Française de Cebu.

Fête de la Musique, which means World Music Day in English, has taken place annually in France every June since 1982, encouraging people to enjoy music in the streets as summer begins. It has since expanded to over 120 countries. The Philippines, now celebrating its 31st year of participation, hosts the largest celebration in Southeast Asia.

“This year’s edition is a massive step forward for Fête Cebu because it embodies the spirit of the original Fête in France, where people can walk downtown from one stage to another,” said Alliance Française de Cebu Director Gauthier Carol. “It also embraces various genres of music, which is great. We are delighted that Fête continues to create bridges between the French and Filipino cultures.”

Aside from its Cebu leg, this year’s Fête Philippines will also be held in Manila, Iloilo, Dumaguete, Siquijor, Davao, Bukidnon, and Siargao.

Diversity at the Bloc

Set to perform at the Ayala Central Bloc Main Stage on June 21 are Coloura, Vincent Eco, Who’s Next, Liana San Diego, the cast of the musical novel “Girl With a Broken String,” Felhony, The Line Divides, and Sheila and the Insects, with DJ sets by MISTERMIL and DJ Lit.

San Diego and Coloura both performed at last year’s festival and are looking forward to returning to the Fête stage.

“My gig last year was quite intimate, as I was performing here in La Parisienne, and it was amazing. I haven’t performed in Central Bloc yet, which is exciting for me,” San Diego told The FREEMAN.

“We watch Fête every year, and it was last year when we were part of the festival at Ayala Center Cebu as our stage. This year, there is a new, exciting lineup of artists,” added Coloura’s vocalist, Jake Relacion.

San Diego and Relacion are looking forward to seeing Sheila and the Insects, whose lead vocalist, Orven Enoveso, was San Diego’s teacher in advertising.

“The diversity at the main stage – like theater people [from ‘Girl With a Broken String’], Coloura, and the OGs like Sheila and the Insects – it’s a lot. You get a bit of everything from the Cebu music scene on the main stage,” added San Diego.

Different genres at pocket stages

Each of the pocket stages on June 28 will highlight a different genre and audience, strengthening Fête’s mission to showcase Cebu’s musical diversity.

The La Parisienne Tropical Thunder Stage by PHIRE Starter will focus on island music genres such as afrobeats, reggaeton, and dancehall, featuring DJs MISTERMIL, DJ Lit, KIT, DJ RBK + DJ KRV, Kiezo, Santi Gnaelo, Justraw, Felhony, and Drippie Eric.

MISTERMIL, who participated in last year’s festival, is excited for the opportunity to headline his own stage.

“Last year was an amazing experience, and when Dexter asked me if I wanted to do my stage, I had to grab this opportunity because I want to build a distinctive tropical sound for our local collective,” he said, adding that he will be bringing Drippie Eric from Siquijor for his Cebu debut.

Meanwhile, DJ Lit admitted she was nervous to perform at a festival like Fête but is looking forward to showcasing her style, which fuses afrobeats with hip-hop.

At the Casa Gorordo Busking Stage by Folkin’ Friends, held in the museum’s outdoor garden, performers include Kate Livewire, Cliff, Jericho Streegan, Angelou Sereno, Dixzie Cruel, and Victoria Ingram.

Sereno, based in Balamban, is grateful for the chance to perform at Fête, which is his biggest gig so far. “I didn’t expect to get this opportunity since I don’t live in the city. The stars aligned for me, and I was able to build camaraderie with the vibrant music community here in Cebu and promote my music out there,” he said.

At the press conference, Sereno provided a sneak peek of his setlist, performing his songs “Crime Scene” and “Now It’s Over,” which he hopes to release soon.

Filla Killa’s Atúa Pop Stage on F. Manalo Street will feature female alternative pop acts including IIICCCYYYY, Kate Lucero, Sauf, Julia Q, and DJ Panghitaboujee.

Headlining Skanky Vibes and Vanity Records Cebu’s Handuraw Ska and Reggae Stage on Lopez Jaena Street in Mandaue City are Who’s Next, Southern Witch Hunt, Busking Side Project, Queen of the South, LozDrap, God Save Me, Blackzillah, Fiyah, Rootsman Project, Santing, Selah Dub Warriors, and Mahibu, with vinyl DJ sets by Vanity Records Cebu and UNIK.

Performing at the Tunecore Indie Stage by John Bottles and Cebu Making Space at the top floor of Mango Square Mall are The Queens, KANA, Kubra Commander, Deanery, Hazy Daisy, The Midnight Greetings, The Pervs, Karma, Highway Seven Circus, Offals, Cosmic Kid, and She Must Be Dreaming.

The Unity Heavy Stage by Hello Good Morning Productions at Don Jose Avila Street will feature rock acts such as Stab, flowr, Roughands, SHVRIKEN, The Rising Tide, Pulsing Chunky, Interstate, Awkward Dancer, and Shuffled.

The Draft Punk Analog Stage, located behind Mango Square Mall, will showcase DJs from the BAIHAUS Crew: Tarra Blones, Stereomafia, Speed Race, Popdaze, Exploding Boy, Bono Mars, Arcky Ramone, and Analogeezer.

Even with the increased scope of Fête Cebu this year, all of these shows are free of admission, a tradition since the festival’s inception.

Free Fête

“It’s important for us to keep Fête free. We want people to choose the music they want to hear and watch. We are thankful to our sponsors for allowing us to make this a free show for everyone,” said Sy.

The press conference’s host, Aira Calina, echoed Sy’s sentiment. “Fête is one of the biggest moments of the year for artists here in Cebu, as they have an opportunity to get their music out there. It’s important not only to support local, but to love local as well.”

The event’s co-presenters include Sy’s music label Melt Records, Alliance Française de Cebu, and M. Lhuillier Financial Services Inc., in partnership with the Embassy of France in the Philippines and Micronesia, Funky Beat Entertainment, and Anam Kara.

Sponsors include TuneCore, Believe Music, AmSnacks PH, Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, and the aforementioned partner venues. — (FREEMAN)