The annual free music festival Fête de la Musique, organised by French Institute of South Africa (IFAS) and launched in South Africa in 2010, is always one of the most popular live music events of the Joburg winter and a platform for emerging artists. Hosted under the slogan 'Free Music For All', it offers something for everyone with jazz, pop, classical, rock, soul, indie, and funk all on the programme.

The 2025 Fête de la Musique takes place on Sat, Jun 21 at Victoria Yards and promises to be an exciting event filled with family-friendly concerts. The festival embraces an array of musical genres, and the 2024 event saw the introduction of slam poetry, which not only enriches the diversity on display but also highlights the impressive growth of South Africa's slam poetry scene. This powerful form of self-expression has become a dynamic force that captivates audiences with its unique blend of spoken word, emotion, and social commentary. 

Headlining this year's festival are Sun-El Musician and Bongeziwe Mabandla, both of whom performed at the festival a decade ago and have since risen to national acclaim. Sun-El Musician is an award-winning producer known for his soulful blend of electronic and Afro-house, while Bongeziwe Mabandla is a celebrated singer-songwriter whose emotive, Xhosa-rooted music fuses folk and electronica. 

The 2025 edition of Fête de la Musique will showcase over 20 acts, carefully selected from a pool of more than 300 applicants by a respected panel of both international and local judges. The full lineup includes: Akeeda, Jabulile Majola, Namhla Badela, Thabiso Thabete, NdumzDJ, Brandon Aura, IDAHUM, KatzTheSingR, Tumi Dibakoane, Tsoness, Afro Moment, Shepard Brothers, Tshepo Molefe, Thando Nkosi, Many More Poetry, KHNYSA, KGZOO, Little Music School in the Valley, and Poet Bass'd Band.

NURTURING THE NEXT GENERATION: LIVE MUSIC LAB 
Fête de la Musique is more than just a music festival – it’s also a space for professional growth and skills development. Through the ongoing Live Music Lab programme, young music professionals gain real-world experience by joining the festival production team, working alongside and learning from seasoned mentors in the industry. The 2025 cohort – Kamohelo More, Ntokozo Manyoni, Sihle Thipe, Sipesihle Hlatshwayo, and Sandisiwe Maphasa – will work under the guidance of Mabusha Masekela. Their involvement ensures that Fête de la Musique not only showcases incredible talent on stage but also cultivates the next generation of industry professionals behind the scenes.

KEEPING IT CLEAN
This year, Fête de la Musique teams up with the Keep it CKlean (KiCK) initiative to promote sustainability throughout the event. Since 2022, KiCK has worked with communities in Joburg East to combat littering and illegal dumping. At the festival, they’ll manage food waste from vendors, support site clean-up at Victoria Yards, and provide waste separation bins to encourage responsible recycling of glass, plastic, and paper.

Don't miss out on this fun day of live music! Head to Victoria Yards on Sat, Jun 21 from 12:00 – 22:00.