About — Rhythms In The North

Every year, on June 21st, when many cultures around the world are celebrating summer (or winter) solstice, France and many countries make music: people celebrate ''Fête de la musique'', also known in English as International Music Day. It's an annual music celebration to enjoy the longest day of the year. Musicians of every style and ability gather to perform for free in public spaces and parks. Aimed at all audiences, this day of celebration familiarizes people of all ages and all walks of life with a range of musical expressions.

This year, Alliance Française, the French Cultural Center in Minneapolis is partnering with Douala Soul Collective to bring this event to the Twin Cities and around the State of Minnesota! We're giving life to this event through venues and spaces with several musicians and bands performing in small and larger places, reunited under ONE BIG MULTI-LOCATION FESTIVAL, called ''Rhythms in the North''.

**Rhythms in the North: Fête de la Musique Celebration in Minnesota**

In 1976, the American musician Joel Cohen, who worked for the music channel France Musique, would have envisaged "Saturnales de la Musique" on June 21 and December 21. The idea was to organize a musical program to celebrate the two solstices. The first sketch of a music festival project was born. In 1982, Jack Lang, the French ministry of culture organized the first Fête de la Musique to “encourage the 5 million music players in France to play an instrument in the streets”. His wish was that "music [be] everywhere and concerts nowhere"! Thousands of initiatives sprang up all over France. The Ministry reached its objective from the first edition.

Fête de la Musique: Rhythms in the North’s origins

Inauguration of the first Fête de la Musique at the Palais Royal in Paris on 21 June, 1982. © Suzanne Fournier/Gamma-Rapho via Getty

While managing to create a call, a non-directive festival in the public space, it revealed the place occupied by the music in the individual and collective life. This true revolution in state action has encouraged meeting all styles of music without any hierarchy of practices and audiences. At first a purely French creation, the Fête de la Musique has managed to peak the interest of Europe, and the world. It has become the most attended French cultural event.