Tomorrow, Saturday, June 20th, the downtown streets of Laguna Beach will be filled with music when the Annual Laguna Beach Fête de la Musique (“Festival of Music”) is back in play. Originating in France more than 40 years ago, the Fête de la Musique, celebrates the beginning of summer in more than 1,000 cities and 100 countries.As it’s hosted by our Laguna Beach Sister Cities Association (LBSCA), it also celebrates our close affiliation with our sister city, Menton, France.
Personally, I think it’s quite appropriate that this annual day falls on this year’s national Juneteenth celebration. After all, both are, in their own way, celebrations of freedom. One commemorates a hard-won chapter in our nation’s history. The other fills streets around the world with music freely shared by musicians simply because they love to play.
And really, what better way to celebrate freedom than with live music spilling out onto sidewalks, plazas, and street corners?
But they’ve packed popular bands around the perimeter. In fact, local intel tells me that the popular South Laguna Garden band has been MOVED from the Hotel Laguna corner (the alley by Main Beach Toys & Games) to almost the same spot they typically occupy at the very entrance of the Promenade. The City is moving the construction fences back about 10 feet to create a pocket for the group, and will move the fences back in place after Fete closes for the day.
Share the news and get your friends here for Saturdays “busker-style” live music everywhere in downtown Laguna Beach!
It all starts at the Main Beach stage with the Laguna Community Jazz Band at 11:00 am. The jazz rings strong till about 1:00 p.m. when Opening Ceremonies take the stage with City dignitaries welcoming the event. (Be sure to circle back around to the Main Beach stage for the phenom group, Perfect Blend (1:30 - 2:30) and raffle announcements (3:30 p.m.).
At 1:30 p.m., more than 32 different live performances will begin playing their favorite kind of music throughout the downtown streets. Just wander the streets from the north border of Ocean Avenue to just south of Legion Street and you’ll be hearing jazz, indy rock, classic rock, folk, gospel, island music and more.
👉 👉 👉 Be sure to stop in for the LBHS Student Showcase at the Presbyterian Church courtyard on upper Forest Avenue. Incredible talent! And Rick Weber, the “Laguna Tenor,” is finally in a position deserving of his great voice - the Dawson Cole Sculpture Garden on Glenneyre. I have an affinity for Rick as we discovered his great talent back when Ian Spiers was running “Laguna Voice” at Mozambique.
Download this handy Fête de la Musique PDF Map (below the image) now to see all the performers scheduled to play. Get in on the fun this Saturday and remember - every one of these performers is volunteering for this day, so stuff your pockets with cash, cash, cash to show your support in their tip jars
Be sure to stick around long enough for the fantastic, get-up-and-dance tunes from the band who’s closing the entire day out – Party Foul – back on the Main Beach Stage from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m
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As the music fills every street corridor, expect to see sidewalk sales and specials at every turn with our retailers, galleries and restaurants, too. They are definitely celebrating the return of summer, too! Most of the restaurants in the downtown corridor will be serving up lunch, so be sure to venture in and all the way up the streets to find eats and perfect summery libations.
I’ll see you out there!
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