The streets of Medellin will be alive with music when World Music Day
(Fiesta de la Musica) takes over the Antioquian city on June 21.
The annual music festival, which originated in France in 1982, has become a worldwide celebration. It’s generally held on June 21 to mark the summer solstice. This year will be the seventh time the festival is celebrated in Medellin. It is organized by Alliance Francaise Medellin and the Medellin Mayor’s office.
The event organizers have compiled a program with a smorgasbord of events spread around Medellin.
The Julliard Jazz Ensemble from New York’s The
Juilliard School will kick off the event with a free concert on the evening of Saturday 20 June.
The Botanical Gardens will be the heart of the 2009 celebrations. Interactive displays and workshops will celebrate the International Year of Astronomy and there will be open spaces for spontaneous musical performances.
Parque San Antonio will have a stage featuring Ska, Reggae, Reggaton and Tropical music. In Parque del Poblado there will be a mix of World and electronic music while Carlos Vieco Theater will become a temple of rock, punk and metal. Anyone shopping at Punto Clave Mall can bop away to pop, ranchera and tropical music.
The festival will also be celebrated with performances at museums, churches and hospitals around Medellin.
Even the Medellin Metro is involved in the program. Concerts will be held at Metro stations throughout the city on the 21st.
In the lead up to the festival afternoon concerts were held at several Metro stops on June 5 and 12. More are scheduled for June 19 and 26.
