Fete de la Musique, Paris

Having survived Fete de la Musique 2010 in Paris, I thought I would share a few tips. Here’s how to get the most out of the free citywide music festival, which is held annually on June 21.

You’ll see all types of of music performances around the city, from live DJ’s, to symphonic orchestras, to ragtag bands. You can even see big-time French Pop stars if you choose to attend one of the large, organized concerts. Here’s a taste of the musical variety at Fete de la Musique in Paris

Fete de la Musique Tips

Have a rough agenda. You don’t have to have your evening planned to a tee (and it’s impossible to do so with all the street musicians all over the place), but at least start out with a rough idea of what neighborhoods you want to wander through or which performers you want to see.

One reason to plan in advance is that it’s not as easy to move around town as you’d expect. You might think you can just hop on the Metro and go two arrondissements over, but the trains run erratically and are much more crowded than usual, so you don’t want to be at their mercy. Try to pick performances at destinations that are close together. Take the train to your starting point, and then walk or hop on the bus to get to the next location. I think the BEST way to get around is to rent a Velib, but unfortunately, Americans can rent them because we don’t have the right kind of credit cards.

To make your rough agenda for the night, consult Direct Matin / Direct Soir and A Nous Paris, the subway newspapers in Paris. A Nous Paris has a full listing of every “official” concert and performance, broken down by arrondissement.

For the night scene, head out in the evening, around 7 or 8. Also, wear comfortable shoes, dress to dance, and pack some light snacks and maybe even a bottle of wine and some cups.

Make a plan for how you’re getting home at the end of the night. You’ll see ads about the Metro running all night, but only certain stations are open. Check the list and the schedule at http://www.stif.info, or take some change for the bus if you don’t have a Metro pass.

Guide to Fete de la Musique by Neighborhood

The Fete performances and the crowds that attend pretty much reflect the demographic of the neighborhood. Here’s a brief report on the neighborhoods I strolled through during Fete de la Musique, 2010 :

Place des Vosges: Calm and family friendly. Lots of chorales and classical music.

Blvd. Beaumarchais: A variety of everything, but performance spots few and far between. My main hangout was the hip hop block party at 95 Blvd. Beaumarchais, but I also passed Indie Rock bands and Jazz bands on the street.

Republique: Surprisingly dead. Nothing going on except a Capoiera performance on Rue de Faubourg, and a couple of clubs that had live music inside.

Canal St. Martin / Quai de Valmy / Jemappes: Nice scenery with young, single bobos (bourgeois bohemians and hipsters), having picnics along both sides of the canal and people standing on the canal bridges. Lots of music including Jazz and Indie Rock bands, a dance / lounge DJ, and a Techno/trance block party at another location. Lots of cafes and nightclubs in the neighborhood also had music inside, including Bizz’Art’s R&B showcase.

Ile de la Cite/Latin Quarter/Odeon: Complete bacchanalia — a Spring Break vibe, if you will. Teens, college students, and the wild drunk, crowd.

There you have it, a Fete de la Musique Paris Guide in a nutshell. If you missed out, make plans now to party in Paris next June 21.