Are you ready for Melville’s music festival?

The streets of Melville will be oozing with music lovers on 28 June on 7th Street at the 2014 Fête de la Musique festival.

7th Street will be turned into a pedestrian friendly zone for music-lovers to truly enjoy the live music performances within restaurants and bars and on various stages.

The festival began in France in 1982 on what was said to be the longest day of the year. It usually takes place on 21 June, the day of the summer solstice in the northern hemisphere, according to project manager Lauren Ceas.

Since being launched by the French Ministry for Culture, the Fête de la Musique is held in more than 100 countries in Europe and around the world.

Last year, the Fête de la Musique was celebrated by more than 10 000 people and was one of the main events of the French season in South Africa 2012.

Based on last year’s success, the event supported by a range of sponsors, promises to offer a wider range of music and other activities in 2014.

“This year we want to try and bring the music and all the fun to the street, we will have stages set up where the artists will perform,” said Ceas.

“Thanks to the impulse and the dynamism of the French cultural network abroad, the Fête has an important international growth; it has seen more than 35 000 people attending to a diversified musical programme in many cities like Johannesburg, Port Elizabeth and Durban in 2013,” said Jean Bourdin director of the Alliance Française Johannesburg.

“Everyone is invited to this free Melville music day which will showcase diverse local amateur or professional musicians and international music, celebrated in a safe and inclusive atmosphere that brings communities together in a popular and free event,” added Ceas.

Andrew Marais from the Melville Resident’s Association said he looks forward to the event and thanked the Melville Business Association and the 7th street business owners and Melville residents for supporting this event.