Fête de la Musique Festival unveils part of the line-up of this year’s edition
The festival will take place in Johannesburg at three different venues on 24 June 2023
BY CityLife Arts Writer
The French Institute of South Africa (IFAS) has once again partnered with TotalEnergies Marketing South Africa and Newtown Junction to bring the Fête de la Musique (FDLM) back for its 12th year with a carefully curated lineup with both established stars and exciting up-and-coming artists, guaranteeing an immersive musical experience that transcends boundaries.
“Fête de la Musique Johannesburg, the highly anticipated annual music festival, is delighted to announce the first wave of its lineup: 20 winning acts are set to captivate audiences across 6 stages at 3 different venues on June 24th, 2023. The 4 headliners will soon be announced.
The popular and free music festival, established in 2010, has become a great platform for a diverse range of upcoming talents to make themselves heard in South Africa. And for Joburgers of all ages to come and connect with new music in their city. This year, 20 acts have been selected out of 300 applications for a spot on the FDLM stage. The results follow a rigorous selection process involving an expert jury from the South African music world,” the organisers said in a statement.
The selected artists are: Kekelingo,uKhoiKhoi, Zoe Molelekwa, L8 Antique, The Charles Géne Suite, Angelyric, Asiomhle Zuri, The Cooligans, Kazi Ya Sanaa, LUUKHANYO, Madkind, MazwiDaDj,
Nhlanhla Dube, Noba, Ntunja, PG_13, Sfiso Atomza, SHAKES, SweeterBrown, ThuliThulz
“Every year, we receive a wide range of applications, and each year, the selection process is both exciting and tough. South Africa’s musical talent is rich and diverse, which is mirrored in the applications. We believe we have chosen a lineup that reflects the future of South Africa’s dynamic music scene” says Sophie Boulé, Culture attaché and Deputy Director of The French Institute of South Africa (IFAS).
The festival’s vision is not only to highlight fresh talent but also to be an incubator and create more opportunities for the new generation of performers through networking and knowledge-sharing. Like last year, winning applicants will be invited to attend a workshop before the festival. It will be facilitated by renowned industry players looking to strengthen the burgeoning musical talent in South Africa.
Fête de la Musique, also known as World Music Day, originated in France and has since become a global phenomenon, celebrated in over 700 cities worldwide in 120 countries for more than 40 years. Johannesburg is a perfect city to host this event that brings together music enthusiasts from all walks of life.
By partnering with Bassline Live, Newtown Junction, Victoria Yards, and the Alliance Française in Johannesburg, the festival hopes to increase accessibility with a wide range of locations to choose from. The festival will feature an eclectic mix of genres and styles, ensuring there is something for everyone.
Fête de la Musique is on June 24th, 2023, at Newtown Junction, Alliance Française and Victoria Yards. A musical feast for all.