Latest news with #FêtedelaMusique
TimesLIVE
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- TimesLIVE
Fête de la Musique is back to mark 30 years of 'beats, culture & pure vibes'
The Fête de la Musique is back and turning up the volume in 2025 with more rhythm, more soul, and even more reason to celebrate. Set against the urban-chic backdrop of Victoria Yards, this year's festival is dialled all the way up — marking 50 years of UNESCO's International Music Day and 30 years of the French Institute of South Africa (IFAS). The event is taking place on June 21, at Victoria Yards, Lorentzville, Johannesburg. Expect vibes for days with a curated line-up of more than 20 acts plucked from more than 300 hopefuls by a top-tier panel of national and international tastemakers. This is no ordinary playlist — this is live music magic, with a mix of raw talent and rising stars, all served on a Johannesburg winter afternoon. Sun-El Musician and Bongeziwe Mabandla — both alumni of Fête stages past — are back to show just how far they've come. Now national icons, they're bringing their signature sounds home to where it all began. Also on stage will be Akeeda, Jabulile Majola, Namhla Badela, Thabiso Thabete, NdumzDJ, Brandon Aura, IDAHUM, KatzTheSingR, Tumi Dibakoane, Tsoness, Afro Moment, Shepard Brothers, Tshepo Molefe, Thando Nkosi, KGZOO and many others, including some surprise acts. 'As we celebrate 30 years of IFAS in South Africa, we are proud to continue providing platforms like Fête de la Musique that support artistic expression and cultural exchange,' says Dorine Lebreton, cultural attaché and deputy director of IFAS. 'This festival is not only a celebration of music, but also a space where artists can grow, experiment and connect with audiences in meaningful ways.'
Local France
2 days ago
- Local France
Americans in France: Tax deadlines, French summer fun, and where to buy a second home
Welcome to The Local's "Americans in France" newsletter for members, featuring all the news and practical information you need as an American resident, visitor or second-home owner in France. You can sign up to receive it directly to your inbox before we publish it online via the link below. Dear Americans in France, Les grandes vacances (or the summer school holidays) are fast approaching in France. While this means that summer fun is on the horizon and French tax season is over, don't forget that the IRS gives Americans living overseas an automatic extension until June 15th to file their US tax return. You can request an additional extension to October 15th if you need it. If you are worried you filed your US and French taxes in the wrong order - do not fear. Tax expert Jonathan Hadida has some advice for those who find themselves in this situation. Advertisement Away from taxes and onto the beach! I have a couple of tips for how to maximise your summer holidays in France. My first piece of advice is to look into the SNCF special annual holiday discount plan . Basically, this allows people to get a one-time 25 percent discount on train tickets. The idea is to help you pay for summer travel, and it's available to everyone; you just have to be willing to sit down and apply for it in advance. If you can't swing it this year, it's worth adding to your to-do list for summer 2026. My second tip is to do summer like the French, and by that I mean, enjoy the seasonal festivals . Summer truly is festival season here in France, and as early as June, you have some of the best (free) events like Nuit Blanche in Paris (where museums and cultural centres stay open all night) and Fête de la Musique, where every French town turns into a concert venue. My third tip is to check out your local municipal pool. I cannot speak for the entirety of France, but my experience with municipal pools in western France and Paris has been fantastic. I am consistently amazed by how affordable, well-kept, and clean the swimming pools are. I'll be spending a few weeks in Maryland this summer, and I was shocked to see the entry prices for municipal pools. Safe to say it was much more than the €3.50 I am used to paying in Paris. If you are feeling brave, you might consider jumping into the Seine this summer (in one of the three dedicated swim areas , of course). Here at The Local, we have been busy introducing two new series. The first is on buying a second home in France . I spoke with real estate experts and readers to put together seven articles covering everything you need to know about buying your dream French house/apartment, whether that is in Paris, Brittany, the south-west or the Riviera. Advertisement One of the real estate experts I spoke with - Alexander Kraft, the chairman and CEO of Sotheby's International Realty for France and Monaco - had noticed some recent trends in the French property market . He said that he has seen "more American buyers in the last six months than in the past five years", and interestingly, they are coming from both sides of the political aisle. He had some useful tips for would-be buyers and sellers. With each edition of this newsletter, I like to remind readers that we love to hear from you. You can give your best tips for other Americans in France or ask us questions via our ongoing survey . We've also tried to nail down a clear response to one reader's question about whether or not it's "legal to work remotely for US clients while residing in France on a visitor visa." I started to tackle this thorny question in the previous edition of this newsletter, but since then, we have received more clarification. Confusingly, the 'visitor' status requires people to promise they will not 'work in France', but the meaning of 'work in France' has been up for debate amongst legal experts. Advertisement We can now say with confidence that both French tax and social security authorities consider any work done on French soil to be income earned in France. We'll continue trying to untangle this web, so you can keep an eye out for the rest of the series in our ' Remote working in France' section . Another point I've noticed readers mention over the years is the idea that France still has 'the Napoleonic code in force '. This sounds quite draconian and startling, but in reality, it may not be as shocking as it sounds. And finally, if you don't have a summer of French fun planned, you can still live French culture via French cinema. I tried to put together a list of the French films that are most popular with Americans, but I was surprised to find the category of 'French film' to be broader than I was expecting. By some metrics, the best 'French films' are those belonging to a certain Liam Neeson thriller franchise. Thanks for reading, and as always, you can reach me at
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Vermont musicians tune up for international Make Music Day
Vermont musicians will celebrate the beginning of summer like they have for nearly a decade now — by making music anywhere they can. Make Music Day will kick off in Vermont on the summer solstice, June 21, with the tolling of church bells in Randolph. After that, free performances will take place across the state in every possible venue, from concert venues and clubs to living rooms and front porches, from libraries to state parks. 'We feel grateful for this decade of linking Vermont musicians and venues to the worldwide community that participates in international Make Music Day,' says James Lockridge, executive director of Big Heavy World, a Burlington non-profit that brought the event to Vermont nine years ago and organizes the day's performances. Fête de la Musique began in Paris in 1982 before spreading to more than 1,000 cities around the world. In 2024, 141 U.S. cities organized 5,304 free concerts, according to the Make Music Alliance. Vermont amateur and professional musicians of any age are invited to sign up and participate in the day of music. Singers, church choirs, jazz and rock bands, glee clubs, rappers and marching bands of any skill level are welcome. Big Heavy Music says it is tracking the schedule of performances in real time, and has an interactive map to guide you through the day. Businesses, schools and other institutions interested in hosting a performance can also sign up. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Time Out
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
The European capital named the world's best city for culture right now
Even if you're headed on a break for an Aperol-filled girls trip or you're just keen to spend a few days wandering around some slightly sunnier streets, drinking in at least a little of a city's cultural offering deserves a place on the itinerary – and we know the very best place to do it. Time Out has quizzed 18,500 city-dwellers all about the culture scene in their respective cities, and based on their insights, each destination was given a score for the quality and affordability of its art and culture. We then asked a panel of experts from Time Out's network to vote for their favorite destinations. Topping our list? It was none other than Paris, where a staggering 96 percent of locals rated the city's offering as either 'good' or 'amazing', and which received the joint-highest number of votes from Time Out's panel of experts. Are we that surprised? Given Paris is home to the world's most-visited museum, the Louvre, as well as a plethora of other cultural giants such as the Pompidou Centre and the Palais de Tokyo – not to mention brilliant seasonal events such as La Villette's Cinema en Plein Air and summer street party Fête de la Musique – no, we're not. 'The Parisian spring is unfolding with almost euphoric energy,' says Marine Delcambre, editorial manager for Time Out France. 'Stages are , some performances flirt with weightlessness, and .' 'In the autumn, artist JR will transform the Pont Neuf into a monumental cave, a stunning tribute to Christo's 1985 installation The Pont Neuf Wrapped,' she writes, 'But culture never sleeps – and neither does Paris. Museums are embracing the night in the French capital, from festive late-night events at David Hockney 25 to the Nuit des Musées on May 17, where institutions including Carnavalet, Bourse de Commerce, Picasso Museum and Arts Décoratifs will mix culture, music and light late into the night.'
Local France
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Local France
La Belle Vie: What to do in France this summer and the benefits of a 'microclimate'
La Belle Vie is our regular look at the real culture of France – from language to cuisine, manners to films. This newsletter is published weekly and you can receive it directly to your inbox, by going to your newsletter preferences in 'My account'. It seems to be a rite of passage for French interior ministers to talk a big game about how they will make the rules stricter for people applying for French residency or nationality. Most recently, interior minister Bruno Retailleau sent out a special kind of memo - called a circulaire - to préfecture and interior ministry staff about how they ought to interpret and apply the 2024 immigration law. In reality, the memo will not lead to sweeping changes, but it does mean that some enforcement of existing rules could be stricter moving forward. There is one thing that remains - the dreaded French citizenship interview. Personally, I found my interview to be quite challenging. The fonctionnaire who asked my questions wanted to know things like the date that the Banque de France was founded, as well as how I see a lasting impact from Napoleon in modern life (aside from the Code Civile). It's never too early to start preparing. QUIZ: Could you pass the French citizenship interview? For readers who are considering applying for French citizenship - if you ever decide to do so, prepare yourself for a long wait. The process is slow and it involves lots of time spent refreshing the ANEF timeline page. I was told that after the interview it could take anywhere from seven months to a year to get a final answer. At earliest, that would mean that this summer I'll get to host a 'citizenship party'. I don't want to get ahead of myself, but if everything works out I want to have a big fête where I invite every French person I know to cook a dish or dessert that is typical of the region they come from. On second thoughts, I might do this even if the citizenship thing doesn't pan out. There are plenty of other things to look forward to this summer in France, from time spent sipping rosé en terrasse to picnics at the local park. 9 of the best things about summer in France Summer festivals are another highlight of the year. While I am sad that I'll be out of town for the main nighttime culture event - Fête de la Musique - I am looking forward to celebrating Nuit Blanche. For those who are considering a trip to the capital region, I highly recommend scheduling it for the weekend of June 7th. Nuit Blanche is the one night of the year where museums stay open all night long. This year there will be films screened outside, as well as the usual nighttime art exhibits and shows. Advertisement 29 unmissable festivals and events in France this summer One of the big events in the French cultural calendar is the Tour de France. I am always surprised to learn how many viewers the Tour de France gets on television each year. I decided to tune in for the first time last year - at the behest of The Local Europe's editor, Ben McPartland - and while I enjoy the cycling, the best part to me is the stunning French countryside on display. The Tour de France route this year goes through Normandy and Brittany in western France. Then, it snakes through the central Auvergne region, down to the south-west and the Pyrenees, and back up through the Alps for a grand ending in Paris. Advertisement The race will pass right by the central French city of Clermont-Ferrand, which was in the news recently. The city's mayor has sounded the alarm bells about the ground being 'Swiss cheese'. Here's what that means. 'Swiss cheese': Why this French city is worried about sinkholes The Tour de France tends to go through more remote villages in France. Oftentimes, when I try to find an illustration image for an article of a small French town, there might be four or five photos, with half of them being from that one time the Tour de France passed through. This has been especially true every time I have looked for photos to illustrate villages or rural life in the sparsely populated Ariège département. REVEALED: Where are the most remote parts of France? And finally, one topic of conversation I have found comes up from time to time when discussing where to buy a home in France is the 'microclimate'. Of course, microclimates are real, but it is a selling point I have heard used for many different parts of France (more so than other countries). Advertisement Previously, I had heard assertions that Brittany has several microclimates, including the southern and comparatively sunnier Morbihan département. Most recently, I learned that many consider Nice to be a microclimate, and that includes the city's own tourism website. Does Nice really have a microclimate?
