Free music rocks the Côte tonight

Saint-Tropez is one of those going ahead with its programme, starting at 6pm with a concert by school children at the Place de la Gare (pop, rock, boogie, jazz, etc) and also at 6pm in Place Lattre-de-Tassigny where the Condor group (20 musicians playing traditional instruments from Arles) will be performing. Then at 9pm in Place du Casino until midnight there is a rock concert featuring several bands.

Marseille: France’s second biggest city knows how to party, particularly in the medieval Panier district, a melting pot of immigrant cultures just up the hill from the old port. At the heart of last year’s festival was a philharmonic orchestra in one of the large tree-lined squares with a couple of hundred people demurely seated listening to classical music. All around them the alleyways teemed with bands playing every type of music you can imagine from African drums to Provencal tambourines to South American rhythms and jazz. On every corner make-shift stalls sell spicy snacks, water-melon, rum punch, kebabs, sweetmeats and more – everything except French food!

Antibes: the popular seaside town pulls out all the stops with heavy rock music pounding the Provencal market, an elegant orchestra performing classical music and film scores outside the cathedral, and dancing to the foxtrot on offer in Safranier. Place de la Gaulle usually vibrates to the hypnotic rap beat and the streets are alive with the sound of music including regulars like the Blues Brothers’ look-a-likes and a 1930s cabaret group.

Monaco: this year’s free concert down at Port Hercule is a funky-rock group called Pep’s named after its leader Florian Peppuy’s who had a big success in France last year with their single “Liberta”. They take to the stage at 9pm after Nicolas Ghetti and his five musicians have kicked off the evening with a folky repertoire of French songs. Other events are going on throughout the day.

For full details of what is on offer in all the towns, it is best to contact the local tourist office or just keep your ears open. CL

A litte bit of history: the Fête de la Musique originated on the streets of Paris in 1982 and is now celebrated in most EU countries as well as in far-flung locations in China, Morocco, Brazil, San Francisco and New York. It always takes place on the Summer Solstice – 21st of June – and is an occasion for "the people" to celebrate with amateur and professional musicians performing free in concert halls, opera houses and (most importantly) street corners.