MANILA, Philippines – Since 1994, Filipinos have been treated to an annual grand display of music through Fête de la Musique.
Also known as World Music Day, the free music event originated in France in 1982 as a way to make the art accessible to everyone — not just those coming down to see their favorite artists play, but even individuals who just happen to be passing by around the area.
This 2025, Fête de la Musique is celebrating its 31st year in the Philippines, with the main stage kicking off on June 21 at the Ayala Triangle Gardens in Makati City. The free show will be headlined by 12 different acts, with big names Armi Millare and Ely Buendia and The Methodists the latest to join the roster.
This year’s celebration takes on the theme of “Un Monde” or “One World,” meant to signify the power music has to connect people across borders.
“Music has an unparalleled ability to transcend borders and connect people. This year, we aim to showcase how Filipino music resonates globally, truly making us all ‘One World’ through melody and rhythm,” said Xavier Leroux, executive director of Alliance Francaise de Manille.
Ahead of the celebration, get to know the 2025 Fête de la Musique Philippines main stage headliners through these songs:
Ely Buendia
Filipino music icon Ely Buendia is among the latest artists to join the main stage roster, doing so just months after the release of his second solo album, Method Adaptor, which came 24 years after his first, Wanted Bedspacer.
Perhaps worth mentioning is that the melody of “Bulaklak Sa Buwan,” one of the songs off the 10-track record, had lingered for five years before the entire thing finally came into fruition.
Listen to it here:
Listen to the DJ Love remix, too:
Armi Millare
Joining Ely Buendia on the list of welcome additions to the Fête de la Musique main stage lineup is Armi Millare, who comes to the free music event after a stellar string of consecutive single drops in 2024.
Listen to “Say It Again,” the latest one, here:
James Reid
James Reid will also take the Fête main stage armed with a fresh catalog of new music, with the deluxe version of his jgh EP coming out on June 6. jgh, which stands for “just got home,” sees James swerve into new sonic lanes all while exploring the depths of his personality that have remained uncharted.
James wrote “Sandal,” in particular, for “a very special person” who had been going through a tough time. The song also marks James’ first foray into writing songs in Filipino.
Listen to “Sandal” here:
Emile Londonien (France)
Set apart as one of the overseas headliners on the list, French trio Emile Londonien hopes to use their jazz house music to draw in new listeners from the Philippines just several months after they put out their 12-track Inwards record.
Listen to “In Motion” from Inwards here:
Ito Kashitaro (Japan)
Joining Emile Londonien is Japan’s Ito Kashitaro, who returns to the Philippines two years after first performing in the country in 2023 for the 50th anniversary of the ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation.
Ito is the voice behind the soundtracks of numerous anime series.
Listen to “VITA PHILOSOPHICA,” one of the closing songs from the anime My Happy Marriage, here:
Tarsius x ena mori
Diego Mapa and Jay Gapasin of the duo Tarsius will be sharing the stage with Japanese-Filipina artist ena mori, with both acts set to blend electronic and dream pop textures during their set.
Listen to Tarsius’ latest single, “Vagabond,” here:
Listen to ena mori’s latest drop, “little sunny baby,” here:
The Ridleys
Indie-folk band The Ridleys is set to take the Fête main stage for the first time, fresh off the success of their two-day, sold-out Someday We’ll Make a Home concert in November and December 2024.
With the show being anchored on their hit All These And More album, listen to “Strangest Love” here:
Brass Pas Pas Pas Pas x Leanne & Naara
The second collab stage will see the band Brass Pas Pas Pas Pas and duo Leanne & Naara take their distinct sounds to Fête de la Musique.
Listen to Brass Pas Pas Pas Pas’ 2016 hit, “Kumper,” here:
Listen to Leanne & Naara’s latest single, “Find Another Love,” here:
Janine
Janine is set to bring her signature folk-pop-laden music to Fête just three months before she mounts her first-ever solo concert in September at the New Frontier Theater in Quezon City.
Let Janine’s set serve as a preview for her solo show. Listen to her latest single, “Pikit Mata,” here:
Brigada
Lastly, you can leave it to Filipino percussion ensemble Brigada to take care of the Afro-Brazilian beats on World Music Day.
Listen to their song, “Crazy Shaker,” here:
The Fête de la Musique main stage will be held from 3 pm onwards at the Ayala Triangle Gardens on Saturday, June 21. There will also be offstage performances by Bling Bling Papaya, Frank Ely, Marian Carmel, and Zsaris. – Rappler.com
Content shared from www.rappler.com.