The COTT Foundation collaborated with the Alliance Francaise recently to host Fete de la Musique at Boys Scouts Headquarters, St Anns. The music festival, which originated in France approximately 27 years ago is one which takes place on June 21 in more than one hundred countries worldwide.

The local celebration of this World Music Day event saw a number of impressive ‘up and coming' artistes performing to an appreciative audience last Sunday 21 June. These artistes who performed songs ranging from various genres included Russell Leonce, Collis Duranty, Shakeela, Lyndon Lai Tan, Micheline Ferreira and Kepha Yahseph. Attendees were blown away by the limitless and diverse range of local talent displayed by these newcomers.  In exchange for their efforts and in keeping with the COTT Foundation's Caribbean educational focus, the Alliance Française has granted one year scholarships to these indigenous artistes/music creators to study French at their institution. The COTT Foundation believes that through such partnerships the benefits lead to development of artiste and the local music industry.

Throughout the event, doors prizes were distributed ranging from hampers (Unilever & Hand Arnold (Trinidad) Limited), CDs (Kam's Records, Jus Cds, Mungal Patasar& H2O PHLO) and T-shirts (Mungal Patasar). This contributed to the event as patrons eagerly awaited the intervals where prizes were being distributed in hope of being selected.

In the midst of the celebration, popular guest artistes performed to the crowd's enjoyment. Performances included artistes like Jason "Fridge" Seecharan and Tim Starr (Where is the Love) and Fireball. Two of the leading local bands adding and closing off the night's enchanting experience were Mungal Patasar alongside his band Pantar and celebrated Rapso group, 3Canal. These two bands got the crowd moving as attendees were brought to their feet and drew closer to the stage whether it be to dance or get an ‘up close and personal' experience with the respective bands.

COTT President, Lutalo "Brother Resistance" Masimba was invited to the stage by Mr. Patasar during one of their sets where he performed an exceptional cameo performance both he and Pantar created. Surprise guest performers doing an excellent presentation during the festivities was rising Rap/Hip Hop Group, Spot Rushaz.

Sponsors contributing to making this event a success and reality included Ambassade de France, Texprint, Flow, Aiports Authority, GDF Suez, SaSSL, Rent A Amp, www.trinidadtunes.com (where for a limited period, the music from Fete de la Muqisue is available for FREE and legal download), Alstom T&T Ltd., Air Liquide, Repsol, International Wine Guild, beyond Accounting Services Ltd and Deka Tickets.

The COTT Foundation is the philanthropic arm of COTT working to develop the music industry through the promotion of education and development initiatives for creators of music across the board.