Held each year at the summer solstice, the Fête de la Musique is a chance to enjoy all kinds of music. You’ll hear music being played everywhere, with various levels of competence. Offerings can be mediocre, and you can expect a lot of rock “homage” and terrible Euro pop. But you have to envy the Parisians and their enthusiasm. It’s a lively night, and aside from a few precautions—public transportation is overloaded and many streets too crowded for buses—you need worry only about your stamina. In simple terms, be prepared to walk home.

This year’s theme is “the feminine in music, from the nurse with her lullabies to the heroines of opera.” But no year’s theme precludes participation by anyone, so thrash guitar bands and amateur crooners will also be on the scene. If you’re jet-lagged or like to know ahead what you’re in for, choose from among the 125 concerts scheduled for Paris. You can easily search these offerings by musical genre, performance time or arrondissement on the recently updated website.
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