An Exclusive Behind The Scenes Look Into Fête De La Musique Philippines 2025

Every June, streets fill with music. Our everyday malls and parks light up with live performances, pocket stages pop up in every corner all while strangers sway in unison. And from Makati to Davao, the Philippines lights up with sound, joy, and community. This is Fête De La Musique Philippines, an annual celebration that — after 31 great years — has become more than a festival.

When Fête PH rolls around, most of us are familiar with the flashing lights that signal the yearly anticipated main stage, or the trek between one gig to another around Poblacion, Makati, or even a few sets by the beach at a destination stage. But what many don’t see is the force behind the scenes: a diverse, passionate team of producers, managers, and crew who pull off the seemingly impossible each year. Much like the audience and music fans Fête attracts every year, the festival is pieced together by people from all walks of life, all brought together by their love of music.

Through the years, Fête PH has expanded, introducing new stages and more destinations, and drawing in hundreds more artists and attendees. This year alone, the festival’s main stage has its biggest audience yet, gaining more than 14,500 in foot traffic. And yet, no matter how big it gets, Fête De La Musique PH never loses sight of its soul. Behind each stage, poster, partnership, and performance is a community of collaborators fueled by the same mission: music for all.

“As every year, Fête De La Musique PH follows its line of staying true to the original concept of this free music festival, ensuring the connection to the long-standing and ever-growing Fête community, while finding new and exciting ways to expand and invite even more music lovers to discover the spirit of Fête. We have been growing every year — and this year is no different,” says Sana Schifferer, who leads the charge for Fête PH’s Destination Stages and Branding.

“Fête De La Musique truly is all about collaborating and connecting,” she continues. “Every year, we are shown in many ways how expansive yet interwoven the community is. From people who only cross paths during Fête, to random encounters that last lifetimes, to musicians turned producers, producers turned venue owners, community members inspiring friends and colleagues to become part of it all — bridging the gap between our consistent identity as celebrants of World Music Day for the last 31 years and the endless opportunity future collaborations can still bring.”

But there’s no discounting the work that goes into building something as monumental as Fête every year. Behind the seamless flow of music and performances across stages is a storm of planning, coordinating, sourcing funds, and troubleshooting. It’s a months-long endeavor that tests even the most patient and resolute — but one that’s carried, year after year, by a dedicated team who believe in the bigger picture.

“While I dread the planning part, it always melts my heart when artists express their excitement when I invite them. Always my favorite part is ‘yung during the event mismo. Nakakataba ng puso kapag nakikita mong nag-e-enjoy both artists and attendees. Their loud cheers validate me. It makes me think na tama ang ginagawa namin. Dun talaga nagiging worth it lahat ng hard work, tears, and stress,” says Ziera De Veyra of FunkyBeat Entertainment who manages the Pocket Stages and Main Events Program.

(“While I dread the planning part, it always melts my heart when artists express their excitement when I invite them. My favorite part is always during the event itself. It’s warms my heart when I see the artists and attendees enjoy. Their loud cheers validate me. It makes me think that what we’re doing is right. That’s when all the hard work, tears, and stress becomes worth it.”)

For Noe Fuentes, the Cultural Manager Alliance Française de Manille, those moments are what makes the festival special. “What I love most about working with Fête is that we try, to the best of our abilities and limited budget, to create these priceless magical moments for everyone involved,” he shares. “In the end, we are here all for the love of music.”

Ultimately, it’s love that fuels Fête De La Musique Philippines.

“Despite all the challenges — and the state of the world — Fête remains a breath of fresh air. It’s a beautiful reminder of what’s possible when people from all walks of life come together through a shared love of music. Working on something this wide-reaching, and seeing it come to life across different cities, stages, and communities, is deeply fulfilling,” says Anam Kara Events’ Alexa Arabejo, who leads the festival’s marketing and brand partnerships.

She adds, “Every drop of blood, sweat, and tears poured into this festival is absolutely worth it. There’s nothing quite like witnessing the joy and sense of unity that Fête brings. It’s truly more than an event — it’s a movement.”

In many ways, Fête PH mirrors the very communities it uplifts: passionate, DIY at heart, and always evolving. From its humble beginnings in Manila to a full-blown nationwide phenomenon, the festival has not only spotlighted Filipino talent; it has also helped cultivate the infrastructure community that keeps it alive.

“The expansion of the Fête spirit to communities nationwide through the addition of numerous new Destination Stages, such as Batangas, Dumaguete, Bukidnon and more, as well as the growth of some consistent productions, such as Cebu, Davao, and CDO, is something we are in awe of,” says Schifferer.

“To receive such enthusiastic feedback from the independent producers all over the Philippines and the local talent and music scenes that they support has been both a great reminder of our Manila-based Fête PH roots — a gentle echo of how it all began and developed here — as well as inspiration and motivation to keep doing what we do. We are honored by their gratitude and the role they attribute to us for opening up the platform of Fête PH to them and their community of music lovers. And we can’t wait to see where they take us… “

For the team, the goal isn’t just to stage a good show — it’s to open doors and make audiences feel that they’re part of something much larger than a weeks-long festival.

“I hope that our attendees will feel proud of how talented and diverse our musicians are in the Philippines. I also want them to feel that they are part of the community who has helped in making Fête PH a success for 31 years,” says Fuentes.

“I really do hope Fête attendees realize that we need to continue supporting the artists, especially the up and coming ones, the independent producers, and the venues kahit hindi Fête. Mas kailangan tayo ng artists kapag magpro-promote sila ng single or album. Napapanood natin sila for free kapag Fête; sana makapag-give back tayo sa kanila in any way we can,” adds De Veyra.

(“I really do hope Fete attendees realize that we need to continue supporting the artists, especially the up and coming ones, the independent producers, and the venues even if it isn’t Fête. Artists need us when they’re promoting a single or album. We watch them for free at Fête, so hopefully we can give back in any way we can.”)

After over 30 years, Fête de la Musique Philippines is still growing. But more importantly, it’s still connecting. Still making space. Still reminding us that despite all the chaos that’s happening all over the world, music still has the power to bring us all together.

As Arabejo says, “[From Fête, I hope audiences remember that there’s still] hope. That no matter the challenges we face in our daily lives, there’s always space to come together and celebrate life. I hope people walk away reminded that beyond our differences, there’s something deeply human that connects us all. And if music is one of the things that brings us back to that truth, then I hope this festival helps us remember it — even just for a moment.”

Check out more behind the scenes photos from Fête De La Musique 2025’s Main Stage here.