Always The First Day of Summer – June 21
The Fête de la Musique was first held in Paris in 1982, its goal is to promote music as a universal language. Amateur and professional musicians are encouraged to perform in the streets.
By 2005, the event had spread to the United States: New York City, Kalamazoo, Michigan, and Albion, Michigan. Albion?
Yes. The President of the Greater Albion Chamber of Commerce at that time, Sue Marcos, had dual citizenship with the United States and France.
Under her leadership, Albion celebrated the Fête de la Musique on the brick streets of Albion, and also at the market place near the river.
Fast forward to 2018, and the event was revived by Jim and Staci Stuart, co-owners of Stirling Books & Brew. Jim is also a trumpet player, and his coffee and book store is close by Dickerson Music Company, where owner Kelly Kidder worked. Kidder had also helped with earlier Fetes in Albion, he and had done his share of performing on his custom bass guitar.
Last year in 2018, Albion’s brick main street was undergoing major repair, but the people of Albion came out to see the progress, including a new Courtyard by Marriott Hotel in downtown, right across from the newly renovated Bohm Theatre. Dickerson Music Co. and Stirling Books and Brew are on the north end of Albion, closer to the water tower on the hill, and to the south end of town was another new business, Albion Malleable Brewing Co., where co-owner Ben Wade, is also a musician, playing guitar.
Albion has been through some difficult times, with losing its hospital, its foundries, its Kmart, and its public school system. But through the difficult times, some community activities and international connections are going stronger than ever, and promise to bring the residents of Albion for special events in the downtown, that has many beautiful features including the brick streets, the river running through town, and the newly remodeled theatre.
To see more information about locations of the music, videos, and photos from earlier years Fete in Albion, visit: albionmich.net/fete
Read about Sue Marcos, Albion’s Greatest Cheerleader, who started Albion’s Fête de la Musique, Albion’s Sister City Program, and Albion’s French Market. https://albionmich.net/albions-greatest-cheerleader/
The Facebook page for Fête de la Musique is here:
https://www.facebook.com/fetedelamusiquealbion/