Fete de la Musique

29 years and counting. Every 21 June this "Feast of Music" is played out. Begun in France, it has become an integral part of the cultural fabric.
It is quite simply, a celebration of music, all kinds of music, all over France and now in over 90 countries worldwide. (www.fetedelamusique.culture.fr)
On the 21st of June small towns and big cities close off their streets and people by the thousands, all kinds of peoples, young and old, rich and poor, peoples of every ethnicity all turn out for the music and it makes for one big ole street party!
It is really quite a fantastic thing to behold. The universal beauty of music to inspire, unite and entertain.
The experience translates perfectly!
And, in our little village, it is all this with perhaps a twist or two. The entire old town around the harbor is closed to traffic, and, it would seem all 18,000 residents turn out for the party. Everywhere, the streets are packed with a sea of people.
Bands set-up willy-nilly all over the village. They play simultaneously, a calcophany of sounds surrounds me.
I loose count at 15 or so bands, but among the varied styles a Celtic/Peruvian band is most unexpected, a decent N'awlins Dixieland jazz band, but most of the bands favor 60's and 70's American/British pop. It's really a trip to hear French people singing English lyrics. Many times I'm sure they don't understand what their singing--- sometimes neither do I.
Imagine this, a rendition of "Sunshine of Your Love"-Cream, the theme from Rocky, two nearly simultaneous versions of "Smoke on the Water", one a bit better than the other and ending "merci beaucoup", then segued into "I Shot the Sheriff".
There is a DJ with no dancers, the requisite "Riders on the Storm", "Highway to Hell", and "Hotel California" and much, much more.
It was tres, tres surreal!
Perhaps, most "disturbing" was the line dancing troupe, accompanied by the worst "cryin' in your beer country music", rebel flags, US flags, fringed chaps, cowboy hats and unfortunately unlike previous years, without the green blow up cactus props. Huuummm?
It was a uniquely French Experience.
One where a few street toughs in leather and mohawks milled through the crowds chugging cheap bottles of rose wine. Sandy muses if one of the toughs might be the designated holder of the "waiters friend" needed to open all of those bottles of rose. No screw caps here!
And in true French style, it is a spontaneous spectacle with joyous outbreaks of dancing, bobbing and weaving, young and old alike mixing it up. A good time was had by all and, most importantly, everyone just seemed to be "in the moment".
Just another of the many things that I adore about this place.
And on that night, at the very same time the very same drama played out in villages, towns and cities, near and far, all across France.
Now, how cool is that?
A bientot,
Cousin Kevin & Sandy