Today is the world’s best holiday, and it’s too bad that we don’t celebrate it here. The Fête de la Musique (Feast of Music) was conceived by the French government in 1981 and first held in 1982. To the outsider, it may appear to be a government-organized music festival. After all, local governments post schedules of officially-sanctioned events featuring music of all kinds. Performances are by no means limited to official ones. The government simply publishes a list of suggestions for organizing your own event. Noise ordinances are not enforced. Open container laws appear to be ignored as well. Public transportation gets packed beyond capacity and the roads are nearly entirely blocked by pedestrians.
When I lived in Grenoble 5 (!) years ago, I remember going to one of three separate techno parties in Parc Paul Mistral. I had roamed the city for a few hours before with a nice big 3€ bottle of Leffe. I saw a noise-punk trio using a telephone handset for a microphone, a cheap duct-taped keyboard and a busted guitar. A house party with a DJ had the windows open and speakers facing the street. Every kebab and tea shop had a traditional band playing. Salsa and merengue bands took over a different park in the city.
Maybe it’s not as hectic when it’s not on a Friday as it was last year, but I still think we in the US should adopt this celebration.
