For over thirty years, Fête De La Musique PH has stood as a staple event within the Philippine music scene.

The annual music festival has championed local talent all across the country, giving musicians of various backgrounds and genres a literal platform to showcase their artistry across numerous pocket stages. Such festivities have become an integral part of the culture that music aficionados nationwide have ingrained themselves in, as they look forward to bearing witness to performances from renowned icons from the scene, as well as the rising names who are just about to get their first big break.

Last year’s celebration for the festival’s 30th anniversary saw its Main Stage take place at the open area of Greenbelt 3 in Makati City, where emerging talents like Dilaw, Any Name’s Okay, and dwta performed alongside established figures such as Autotelic, Morobeats, and Sinosikat?.

But this year, Fête De La Musique PH celebrated its Main Stage with an even grander celebration of what the Philippine music scene has to offer, with the festivities taking place at the Ayala Triangle Gardens in Makati City last June 21, 2025. In grand fashion, the Main Stage saw its largest turnout yet, with over 14,500 attendees, proving that the demand and excitement for live music events featuring local talents remains strong.

It may have been a gloomy Saturday afternoon when this year’s main stage celebration began to kick off, even as it hosted a star-studded lineup of performers who couldn’t wait to electrify the audience under a number of tents surrounding the open venue.

While the somber weather had its own series of plans, acts like Brigada, Janine, and The Ridleys began to pump up the growing crowd with their electric sets, just as the rain began to pour down — almost as if it was trying to join in on the fun that was happening on stage.

The mood of the early evening’s musical festivities never dampened one bit (despite the damp nature of the venue), as the roaring crowd remained in high spirits as Janine belted out some of her biggest hits, including her latest single “Pikit Mata,” or even as The Ridleys crooned their hearts out to “Be With You” and the fan-favorite “Aphrodite.” This mishap of the unfortunate weather did little to ruin the experience; rather, it provided a level of atmosphere that made it an intimate celebration. 

As dusk turned into night, the crowd began to grow significantly as they began to fill up the area as more artists took their turns to grace the main stage. Suffice it to say, this year’s Main Stage didn’t lack variety, offering a wide range of genres to satisfy everyone in the crowd. Seeing a diverse mix of faces of varying ages — some excited to watch their favorite artists, others eager to discover new ones to add to their daily listening rotation — served as a powerful reminder of just how music holds the power of bringing people together.

For starters, Ito Kashitaro, who came all the way from Japan, performed in front of a Filipino audience for the very first time. To many in attendance, the Japanese singer-songwriter was a fresh face who was yet to be introduced to the crowd. But for those already familiar with his music, his captivating performance radiated an eclectic energy that instantly connected with them. Because, as language barriers usually call for misunderstandings and miscommunication, the power of music doesn’t. And even if you weren’t familiar with Ito’s music, his stage presence alone and the way he sang his songs were enough to keep you engaged and tuned in. 

Beyond the music, Ito connected with the crowd by sharing his experiences engaging with Filipino culture, which ties back to this year’s festival theme, “UN MONDE” or “one world,” highlighting how music can unite diverse cultures and bridge the Philippines to the global stage. Emile Londonien, a dynamic musical trio hailing from France and known for their groove-driven jazz, brought a refreshing change of pace. They allowed the audience to breathe and unwind. Their set was infectious enough, especially with an entirely instrumental set.

On the other hand, a Filipino artist that many in the crowd were familiar with is Armi Millare, who began her set just as the night settled in. While some members of the audience were exploring the various merchants and food booths around the Ayala Triangle Gardens, Armi’s performance quickly drew people in, many of them eager not to miss her soothing vocals. Those in the crowd (like ourselves) were delighted to experience her sweet serenades of classic tracks like “Oo” and “Unti-Unti,” which, to the audience’s delight, were amazing to hear and experience live.

Lest we forget, a slowed-down, (almost) jazzy rendition of “Tadhana” brought all the feels and sentiments that have made Armi’s music and songwriting, both in her current career and during her time with UDD, resonate so deeply with Filipino listeners.

Still, the magical night didn’t stop there, as more artists proved that Filipino music thrives through collaboration. The nine-piece Brass Pas Pas Pas Pas brought in the funk and soul to the stage, which was then elevated when renowned duo Leanne & Naara complemented one another through their vocal prowess. 

Such a moment felt like a match made in heaven — kind of like when indie-pop favorite ena mori and the always-versatile Diego Mapa of Tarsius brought the house down and livened up the crowd with their electric set. Their tenacious knack for hyping up the audience, particularly with ena never failing to express her intense passion for music and performance, was the perfect antidote that kept the energy flowing despite the fatigue of standing up for hours.

The night’s festivities went even further uphill from then on, as James Reid took to the stage to perform his set for the show. Despite performing only three songs (two of which were from his latest EP, jgh), Reid caused quite the riot, which resulted in thousands of fans in attendance screaming and shouting. Capping off his brief (yet equally sweet) set was “Randomantic,” which was undeniably a no-brainer. By stepping off stage to interact with the crowd and serenade those near the barricades, he surely gave several of his fans a night to remember.

Although the night was soon about to end, everyone’s spirits were still on a high note. That high then continued when the celebrated rock icon Ely Buendia and his band, the Methodists, promised to cap off the night with a bang as the show’s final act. 

Buendia gave audiences a stellar live set that featured tracks from his recently released sophomore album, Method Adaptor. The inspired nature of his live renditions to “Kontrabando,” “Deadbeat Creeper,” “Tagpi-Tagping Piraso,” and the record’s lead single of “Bulaklak Sa Buwan” left several members of the audience in awe — even as there were technical difficulties that arose during his set. 

However, Buendia’s professionalism and sheer energy on stage made up for any of those interruptions, especially when he added another special track to his setlist — the Eraserheads’ “Pare Ko.” Such a moment flooded the crowd with both awe and nostalgia, especially as they sang along to nearly every word of the track, making it a special highlight moment from all of the day’s festivities. 

With what took place at this year’s main stage of Fête De La Musique PH, it remained clear that Filipino music will always find a place to resonate with listeners of all backgrounds. Though seven hours in total flew by throughout the festival, the highs in each and every performance left audiences like ourselves still wanting more. 

For it’s because Fête De La Musique PH will always serve as a strong indicator that OPM continues to thrive after all these years, with the platforms and accompanying stages getting even grander over time. The names of the talents who we continue to see at events such as this are those we’ll look out for in the near future, whether it be the icons or emerging artists who we’ll continue to champion.

Undoubtedly, Filipino talent will only rise even further as time goes by — and Fête De La Musique PH will continue to serve as a platform for anyone looking for a home to showcase their artistry.