Fête de la Musique

June 21 marks the annual Fête de la Musique in France, with a huge number of events around the country and elsewhere that puts music front and centre of the nation's cultural life.

The idea is that events should be both public and free. Events are intended to be popular and accessible, and although it's a national celebration, it's one that takes place in the community.

For many it's a chance to attend an event without the usual hurdle of ticket price in the way, and at a time when household budgets are tight, an inclusive event like this is something worth celebrating.

The Fête de la Musique has been running since 1982, and this year's theme for the event is the voice, although the day sees music in its every hue, from hip hop to classical, jazz to rock, performed around France. Stages are set in public squares, museums, parks and elsewhere

Although primarily a French celebration, there are event around the world with 100 taking place elsewhere in Europe. A number are taking place in the UK, with shows in Glasgow, Edinburgh, London, Manchester and Belfast.

In Edinburgh, it is being celebrated at the Institut français d’Ecosse in the city's Randolph Crescent. The show gets under way with singer Rosie Nimmo, with a set combining jazz, folk and blues.

Belgian act La Clinik du Dr Poemback are on next, a brass band with 20 musicians bringing a vibrant take on world music, jazz and techno.

Glasgow band the Beat Poets are next on the bill, the underground legendary act who have brought a surf guitar and primitive rock 'n' roll flavour to the Scottish music scene since 1986.

Headlining are the band
Jack and The’ , a classy indie quartet led by Edinburgh-based French musician Julien Lonchamp. Their sound is a refreshing modern take on classic 60s pop.

The show is free, and with a wide variety of music on offer, there's plenty to enjoy.

Elsewhere in Scotland, La Clinik du Dr Poemback play in Glasgow on Saturday June 22 as part of the Fête de la Musique, with free shows at 1pm in the Botanic Gardens, 3pm on the steps of Kelvingrove Museum, and at 6pm in Ashton Lane.

A secret tonight (video) from Jack and the on Vimeo.

David Guetta: Nothing But The Beat

I've not got round to a mention of the new David Guetta album Nothing But The Beat so far, time to put that right. Not that he exactly need my help in promoting an album that already seems like a greatest hits collection on account of several of the tracks already having had such a massive success as singles.

I expect that there will be more singles from the album, and I'm sure they'll be huge as well.

Meanwhile, in the latest chapter in the Guetta story, on Saturday the Grand Rex theatre in Paris hosted the premier of the film Nothing But the Beat, a documentary covering his career from underground DJ to international superstar.

The film is a collaboration between David Guetta and burn - an energy drink from Coca Cola - and it tells his story through interviews with him and with friends, family and collaborators.

Those involved include will.i.am, Kelly Rowland, Snoop Dogg, Ludacris, Taio Cruz and Usher, as well as dance music legends Norman Cook, Laurent Garnier, David Morales and Pete Tong.

It tracks the role Guetta played in the creation of the cross-over genre of house blended with pop, hip-hop and R&B, taking his music and the work of others to new audiences and new generations.

"Nothing But the Beat" the movie, is a burn production in association with What A Music, filmmakers Partizan (Be Kind Rewind, Part of the Weekend Never Dies) and innovation house Deviant Ventures.

David Guetta, who was at the screening with his wife Cathy, said: "Working with burn on Nothing But the Beat has given me the opportunity to share this journey and I hope it will inspire anyone who has talent or dreams to follow them. I have been chasing mine since I was a teenager, and it still feels like it's only the beginning for me."

Dan White, global group director for burn at the Coca-Cola Company said: "The burn brand believes in inspiring action with those who want to leave their creative mark on the world.

"David Guetta personifies this spirit in everything that he does and the more we got to know him and what he stands for, the more compelled we felt to share his story with fans across the globe."

Guetta has gone from the DJ booth at clubs to massive arenas and outdoor festivals. Since he produced I Gotta Feeling for the Black Eyed Peas and released his fourth studio album 'One Love' in August 2009, Guetta has sold over three million albums and 20 million singles,

Guetta's fifth album Nothing But The Beat came out last month, featuring tracks like Sweat (with Snoop Dogg), Where Them Girls At (With Flo Rida and Nicki Minaj) and Little Bad Girl (Featuring Taoi Cruz and Ludacris) has seen

Other tracks feature Usher, Akon, Chris Brown and Jessie J.

Needless to say though, the track that stands our for this listener is the track Glasgow, very much a Daft Punk flavoured electro work from disc two of the collection which has overall a less commercial flavour than the first disc which features the celebrity collaborations.

Guetta played at Glasgow's Braehead Arena in April 2011, and has played in the city several times in his career. Strange to think that the tune will now make more people around the world aware of the city than any marketing campaign ever could.

Live : Olivier Mellano Duel cinéconcert

Guitarist Olivier Mellano plays the third of the Edinburgh International Fim Festival's cinéconcerts in the city on Wednesday, with a live soundtrack fot the film Duel, the first film directed by Steven Speilberg.

Its the latest in the season of events being staged in collaboration with the Institut Français d’Ecosse.

The film which was made in 1971, based on a short story by I am Legend writer Richard Matheson, is a tense and atmospheric affair that manages to maintain a claustrophobic feel despite its wide desert setting.

The film was originally intended as a TV movie before it was given a wider theatrical release, which required extra scenes to be filmed.

Suffice to say the film was a success, and Spielberg's career as a film director

The live soundtrack is performed by Mellano on his own, with just a guitar and multiple effects.

Mellano,from Rennes, has had an accomplished career as a musican, as both a guitarist and a violinist andcrosses the fields of rock, classical and avant garde experimentalism.

After studying music in Rennes he worked with a number of bands, helped found the Rrose Sélavy record label and worked with the bands Miossec and Dominique A. He has worked with the rap group Psykick Lyrikah and also collaborated with Francoise Breut, Laetitia Sheriff and yann Tiersen, amongst many others.

His band Mobiil have released two albums, combining electric, acoustic and electronic instruments, and an album La Chair des Anges presents his piece for electric guitars, string quartet, organ, harpsichords and vocals.

There is more information about the series of concerts in Edinburgh on the Institut français d’Ecosse's website and full information about the Edinburgh International Film festival on their website.

Mellano also performs in Glasgow on Thursday at a cinéconcert at the GFT in collaboration with the Alliance Français de Glasgow as part of their Fête de la Musique events, where he plays along to the 1927 FW Murnau movie Sunrise.

Fesivals: Fête de la Musique

June 21 is a significant date for French music fans, with the country marking the Fête de la Musique every year on that date.

Originally an initiative by the French ministry of culture, the event has been held every year since 1982, so this year marks its 30th anniversary.

Unlike the more commercial idea of what a music festival constitutes - ie a big event full of big names performing behind a big fence for the benefit of those that payed a big ticket price, the idea behind the Fête de la Musique is to make music accessible to everyone for free.

Performances take place in open areas like parks, museums and train stations, featuring musical events outwith their usual confines so that the public get a chance to experience sounds that they might not normally hear, by amateur or professional acts, well known or far from famous.

Young musicians get the chance to work with more established acts, performers get the chance to widen their audiences and showcase their skills and the public get a free cultural event on their doorstep. It's certainly something of a virtuous circle.

There are literally thousands of event taking place around France, including choirs, orchestras and bands, as well as more commercial rock and pop events.

This year sees iPhone and android apps available so that smart phone users can keep track of event taking place in their area.

Events are now held around the world to mark the occasion, with French cultural organisations promoting local events. We are some way from it being a well-known event in the UK, but we are gradually getting there, with events being held by organisations like the Alliance Francaise in Glasgow and the Institut Français d'Ecosse in Edinburgh as well as by the Institut Français in London.

Of course, not everyone has access to an event, in which case they should report to TV5 Monde's coverage on Tuesday night, with four hours of coverage from the Taratata programme at the place des Palais in Brussels featuring Colonel Reyel, Julien Doré, Nolwenn Leroy, Ziggy Marley, Yael Naim, Yannick Noah, Sexion d'Assaut, Martin Solveig, Stromaë and many others.

While every day on this blog is a celebration of French music, if you ever need an excuse to listen to some new music, today is certainly the day for it.