Fete dela Musique 2012 extends to IT Park

CEBU, Philippines - Keeping to its promise of staging a “bigger and better” musical rendezvous each time, this year’s local edition of Fete dela Musique will not only be contained at the The Terraces of Ayala Center Cebu as it has done for the last four years. It will also hold simultaneous series of performances at The Walk of Asiatown, IT Park this Saturday, June 16th.

Now that’s double the excitement, as music fans of all genres who can’t be in one location can also partake of the fun in their second venue of choice!

This was announced in a press briefing attended by Alliance Francaise de Cebu (a French Cultural Institute and Language Center) director Louis Thevenin, Foundry Publishing’s David Harris and Ayala Center Cebu’s marketing manager Janice Parreño.

Extending Fete dela Musique 2012 to The Walk fits the tradition’s original concept, which was for the free musical extravaganza to be “everywhere and accessible to the public,” according to Thevenin. He added that it is his dream to spread out Fete dela Musique to other major streets of Cebu City such as at Fuente Osmeña so that more people can enjoy the array of Filipino talent that the annual fete showcases.

This event brings Cebuanos closer to how France and over a hundred nations worldwide experience World Music Day, also known as Fete dela Musique. It originated in France in June 1982 by American musician Joel Cohen who proposed an all-night musical celebration at the moment of the summer solstice, where amateur and professional musicians can participate. It has since spread to many countries including the Philippines, with Manila holding the festival annually since 1994. This is its fifth year in Cebu. 

Parreño said that last year’s crowd turnout exceeded their expectations, with over 10,000 people in attendance at The Terraces. She also proudly shared that the event had already won an award, via the 2010 ICSC’s (International Council of Shopping Centers) Asia Pacific Shopping Center Awards held in Shanghai, China which recognizes “excellence within the region’s shopping center industry and honors outstanding achievements in marketing and design/development of retail properties.”

Fete dela Musique won under the “Cause-Related Marketing” category, as a single or ongoing event, program, or project that primarily benefits a charitable or community need, interest, or cause. It was specifically cited for successfully bringing together the Cebuano community from all walks of life through the universal language of music.

Fete dela Musique 2012 will kick off with pocket performances inside Ayala Mall from 1-4 pm, with the festival going full-blast by 5 pm until 12 midnight at The Terraces and The Walk.

Performers include Bambu Spliff, Bruce Conte, Carlo Pez (aka Carl Lopez), Drop Decay, Eve’s Garden, Flirt, FOC Fashion, Happy Days, Jensen Gomez, Jessica McYorker, Joel Oporto, Jr. Kilat and the Lupon Anduyo Percussion Ensemble.

Rounding off the list are Lyza Venice, Manuel Flores Cañizares, March The Sky, Mungkanghan, Nikie J, Peace Philharmonic Philippines Youth Ensemble, Powerspoonz, Smooth Friction, Sunday Sunday, Tarsius, The Freegans, The Kingston Blues Project, UV Chorale and Womb.

Underprivileged, but musically-inclined students will also be given the spotlight this year. Collectively known as the Nestor Archival Scholars, this youthful ensemble is composed of the students sent to school by architect Nestor Archival whom he trains at the Archival’s House Close to Nature, one of the city’s ecological attractions for showcasing environment-friendly ways to build and maintain a house. The NA Scholars have graced many stages around Cebu performing Cebuano, Filipino and English songs accompanied by different musical instruments.

Unarguably the most-awaited act will be the band Pupil, fronted by former Eraserheads vocalist Ely Buendia. After getting a record deal with Soy BMG, Pupil gained more popularity, especially with their carrier singles “Nasaan Ka?” and has also won several awards since.

As for how they choose each year’s line-up, Harris said that they put into consideration those artists with original music and the enthusiasm to showcase their talents for free.

Meanwhile, in addition to Fete dela Musique and the recent well-received French hip-hop show at Ayala Center Cebu’s activity area, Thevenin also announced another round of exciting free movie offerings via the French Film Festival, which will run from June 21-23 at Ayala’s Cinema 4. No less than Golden Globe 2012’s Best Picture winner “The Artist,” a 2011 French romantic comedy drama in the style of a black-and-white silent film, will be the opening feature.

Cebu’s top blues band Cuarenta and Boy Katindig to serenade dads

Treat your dads to a delightful father’s day celebration at SM City Cebu and SM City Consolacion this June 17 and make him feel like the hero that he is here at SM.

Cebu’s number one blues band Cuarenta will serenade the fathers with songs from the 80s up to the present in an afternoon of songs and dances at the Event Centre of SM City Consolacion starting at 5pm on June 17.

In SM City Cebu, listen to jazz musician Boy Katindig as he brings back the luster of the jazz scene from the early 80’s to the 90’s. Boy comes from a well known clan of musicians who pioneered latin jazz in Manila, the Katindig’s. His father is legendary Filipino jazz pianist, band leader and arranger Romy Katindig. He learned classical piano at the age of 9 and at 13 formed his own band, “Last Fogg”, in which he majored in keyboards and played guitar, drums and bass as well.

Dads will surely love the miniature car displays at the 2nd level of The Northwing fronting Cyberzone beginning June 13-17 during mall hours. The Sports Car Club of Cebu will display their collections of BMW cars and BMW bikes at the Northwing Atrium from June 13-17 in an exhibit dubbed Dad Loves His Wheels. In SM City Consolacion, also check out the vintage cars exhibit at the Event Centre from June 13-17.

Bring your dads at the My Dad and Me photo spot and share your love through photos. at the Event Centre of SM City Consolacion beginning at 4pm on June 16.

‘What’s happening to my dad?’ Tom Cruise says Suri shocked by his glam rock look in Rock of Ages

He is famed for the macho image forged through appearances in films such as the Mission Impossible series.

And it turns out Tom Cruise’s daughter Suri was not amused at the star’s attempt to branch out by appearing as a poseur glam metal singer in Rock of Ages.

Cruise revealed the six-year-old was aghast when she saw him in leather trousers and eyeliner for his role in the musical.

The 49-year-old told Ryan Seacrest: “When I had the eyeliner and the painted nails, she was a little taken aback by it. She was like, ‘What’s happening to my dad?’”

He went on to reveal Suri ended up getting into the whole experience when she got over Tom’s appearance. “When she shows up on [that] set, she really likes the singing. And here I am with black nail polish and eyeliner. She kind of takes it all in. It’s cool.”

Suri was not the only member of his family to get a fringe benefit from Tom playing the role of Eighties rocker Stacee Jaxx in the film.

He also revealed he channelled his inner Blackadder and kept a bejewelled, dragon-shaped codpiece, used in a scene where he beds two women, for wife Katie Holmes.

He told E! news: “Yeah, I wear it and I keep it. She laughed. It’s hilarious.”

The old pro also revealed he tried to avoid putting in a pantomime style over-the-top performance in the movie.

He added: “I wanted to play it real, but also we needed the comedy, because he’s got to be outrageous.

“Yet, I wanted to play it totally straight and have these different moments that evolve.” (FREEMAN)