Fête de la Musique brings global music celebration to Georgetown

The global celebration of rhythm and culture, Fête de la Musique, also known as International Music Day, will bring live performances, cultural exchange, and festive energy to the capital this evening.
The free public event takes place across two venues: beginning at 7:00 pm tonight at the Embassy Sports Bar at MovieTowne and continuing at 5:00 pm at the Umana Yana on Friday night.
Hosted by the Alliance Française de Georgetown, in collaboration with the French Embassy in Suriname and Guyana and Music Unlimited, the event features an eclectic mix of musical styles including acoustic sets, percussion, jazz, pop, and more.
Since its launch in France in 1982, Fête de la Musique has grown into a worldwide movement celebrated in over 120 countries, with a mission to make music accessible, spontaneous, and inclusive.
A special feature of this year’s celebration is the French karaoke night from 6:00 to 9:00 pm at Embassy Sports Bar. The session offers a chance to sing along to classic and contemporary French music while connecting with members of the Francophone community.
“This event will give people an opportunity to socialise with members of our French-speaking community,” said Deborah Risse, Director of the Alliance Française de Georgetown. “It’s a great way to practice their French if they already speak it, or surround themselves with the language and meet new people if they’ve always been curious about it.”

Risse noted that the karaoke session is designed to get attendees into the spirit of Fête de la Musique, and to introduce more people to the French musical tradition. “We’ll be celebrating French music by singing folies from Eurysthia to modern artists like Vaon–Mark Hestick and Maria Rodriguez,” she explained.
She also emphasised the historical and cultural significance of the event.
“This popular tradition started in France in the 1980s to celebrate the start of summer. On this day, musicians take over the streets and people walk around enjoying live music of varying genres supporting musicians, whether amateur or professional. You can think of it as one large open mic night on a citywide level.”
The Alliance, she added, hopes the event will also deepen public interest in French language and culture.
“We’re bringing a slice of that tradition to Georgetown, and we urge everyone to come out and support the arts, and also get to know more about the French language and classical culture.”
Meanwhile, at the Umana Yana, audiences can expect a lively line-up featuring Abel Stokes, Drums for Life, Amor Guirola, Vaon–Mark Hestick, and Maria Rodriguez, with more performers expected throughout the evening.
As the festival gains momentum locally, Fête de la Musique continues to unite diverse communities in Guyana through the shared power of music. Whether you’re starting at Umana Yana or singing karaoke at MovieTowne, the evening promises rhythm, connection, and celebration—all in honour of the one language we all understand: music.