La Fête de la Musique: Paris’ Most Iconic Festival Perfect for the Live Music Lover

Each year June 21st marks summer solstice, the longest day of the year and the official start of summer. Throughout the month of June, Paris seems to wake up from its long slumber punctuated by grey skies, rain and sweaters much longer into the year than anyone likes, with a slew of festivals that all culminate in the biggest event of the summer, La Fête de la Musique. 

From 3 o’clock until half past midnight on Sunday June 21st the city will make its yearly transformation from quaint, quintessential Paris to a block party in the streets that people travel internationally to attend. From small burgeoning artists in front of local bars and restaurants to big name acts who throw surprise sets on some of the biggest stages the city has to offer, everyone has their place in the festival. What all of these things have in common is that they are fun, fabulous and free. 

Whether you are planning your La Fête de la Musique night with the precision of a Swiss train or you are looking to see where the night and the city take you. Here is our list of the best places to enjoy both the festivities and everything summer in Paris has to offer.

Boat Bars Along the Seine: Cool Down at Pont Marie 

With the temperatures rising in Paris and the inevitable heat wave that makes its way through the city around this time of year one of the best places to either start or end your La Fête de la Musique circuit is along the river front.  Also just a friendly reminder that in this heat and with the large crowds please stay vigilant, stay in a group and stay hydrated!

During the summer the Seine comes alive as the péniches (boats) fill the river and open up their spaces to serve as a place for a quick snack and a slow drink as you enjoy the sun you’ve wait so long for. During La Fête de la Musique you can boat hop along the Seine as you encounter various local and international artists playing their varied melodies. Check out FFA sur l’Eau for pétanque and a great local DJ set or La Péniche Marcounet for a live band and great ambiance. 

Both spots being near Pont Marie gives you easy access to some of the bigger events happening in Le Marais like this year’s live music at the Dover Street Market. As one of the city’s most anticipated events, offering only the best in cool sophistication that comes with the Dover Street Market name and hosted by Stephane Ashwood, A$AP Nast with Mr. Wix and PDP Soundsystem and comes with a limited edition T-shirt for sale. The event starts at 3pm and opens with Jazzpool, moving onto PDP Soundsystem and Mr. Wix at 5pm. The event ends at 7pm so be sure to remember to hit this one early for the best chance at the full experience. 

Looking to include some Midsommar in your La Fête de la Musique celebrations this year? Head over to the Institut Suédois in the 3rd arrondissement for everything Midsommar, complete with a BBQ and a Maypole to dance around. The festivities start at 5pm with the opening of the grill and include two sessions of traditional Swedish dancing and singing followed by Swedish singers Fågelle and Sara Parkman performing at 7pm. 

Oberkampf: Vibes on Vibes

The Oberkampf area on a non-festival day is home to some of the best music venues, large and small in the city. Think Le Bataclan, Little Red Door and Supersonic. During La Fête de la Musique you need to do no more than merely exit the metro and start to wander. It is a hot bed for some of the best music in the city, especially the underground scene. To make this a perfect night grab some artisanal ice cream at Folderol, flavors include orange blossom, basil melon, orange hibiscus and more, and walk one street over to La Rue Ternaux and enjoy the Arabic music and techno hybrid sounds of Acid Arab, the beat drop that only Upsilone can give you or the deep house vibes from Lizy all in the open air of this quaint Parisian street. 

The beauty of La Fête de la Musique is that although there are many large scale organized events that require the reservation of tickets in advance there are also key metro stops that just offer a vibe as you walk through their respective neighborhoods. 

Odéon & Les Abesses: Metro Stops to Wander 

Odéon in the heart of the 6th arrondissement is the perfect spot to wander the streets and catch an up and coming songwriter sharing their latest co-write or a DJ whose set you will never forget thanks to this magical night out in Paris. When making your way through the streets pay special attention to the utterly small and typically Parisian Streets that are lined with cafes and small shops because you are sure to find some gems. 

Usually if you wander towards l’Eglise de Saint Germain you will find a jazz concert out front which is always fun and invites a crowd of dancers and on lookers enjoying the melodies. 

Les Abesses is a neighborhood that always knows how to have a good time. Lined with restaurants and fun shops, it is the place to find some great local musicians and huge parties, whatever your heart desires. Located in the 18th arrondissement between the Montmartre Cemetery and Sacre Coeur. It is a great place to not only take in the musique but some of the top sites on your Paris must see list. Moving opposite the cemetery and you’ll find the famed Sacre Coeur, a site to behold especially at night when its lit up like a beacon for the neighborhood or make your way down the hill and find the Moulin Rouge, where it transforms the neighborhood into a neon red dance club. If you are visiting Paris during Fête de la Musique this is the best neighborhood for you.

Les Buttes Chaumont & L’Île de Monsieur: Finding Shade in the Parisian Parks

Hand crafted during Napoleon’s reign as Paris’ answer to Central Park, Les Buttes Chaumont is the largest green space in Paris (25 hectares / 62 acres) and also the only manmade one. Strolling through the park you will find an Pavillon Puebla blanketed by a canapé of trees making it the perfect escape from the blinding Parisian heat. 

This year during La Fête de la Musique, Pavillon Puebla is being taken over by Cookie Records to transform the space into an outdoor concert venue with 2 stages. Stage one will be holding the party down from 3pm to midnight and stage 2 will be offering listeners live music and bands from 1pm to 11pm. What is so special about this particular point on the La Fête de la Musique map is not only its dual stage but its incomparable setting. With the cool breezes and the shade thanks to the Butte’s hilltop nature and plentiful foliage it is a beautiful setting for a hot night in the city. While this event remains free it does require a reservation so be sure to get your tickets beforehand.  

Just outside the city in Sevres you will find L’Île de Monsieur, a small national park located on an island in the middle of the Seine. This park is a known refuge for those living on the west side of Paris and in its south western suburbs but it is a tucked away secret for the vast majority making it the perfect place if you are looking for a fun but quieter La Fête de la Musique experience. 

Known as a haven for those with boats, the island boasts large spaces filled with greenery and cute nautical houses for those who dock their boats there. A famous stop for a great meal and relaxing afternoon is La Parenthese, who are celebrating the festival all weekend long with live music and DJs on both Saturday and Sunday. The line up for La Fête de la Musique is Casey Rayback, Hippal and LPR Soundsystem offer laid back house vibes all Sunday long. 

The 15th & 16th Arrondissements: The Wild Wild West

Often known for being the more reserved and refined neighborhoods, the 15th & 16th arrondissements use La Fête de la Musique as a time to let their tightly wound chignons down and party with the rest of Paris. 

Musée Guimet is the national art museum for Asian arts and this year their contribution to the festivities is à la Kpop Demon Hunters where they are opening up their rooftop to Kpop artists Arexibo, HWXXNG, Pal Hwang Dan presenting a mix of Kpop and KHouse giving a glimpse into the Korean music scene in a whole new way. 

The Esplanade at the Mairie du 15e is hosting a slew of up and coming DJs in front of their city hall proving that the French government can have fun too. With a mix of house and techno DJs like Carla Schmidt, Space 92, and Jodi, this open air concert on the outer part of the spiral is one not to miss. 

La Fête de la Musique is a Parisian (and French) institution, people of all ages will join together to celebrate the artistic talent of the city of light, love and some of the most famous artists in history. If you are looking for a chill evening of jazz, bossa nova or maybe merengue, there is something for everyone during La Fête de la Musique.