Each year, over 1000 cities around the world throw citywide music celebrations on June 21.

It all started 40 years ago in France.

In 1982, France’s Ministry of Culture dreamed up an idea for a new kind of musical holiday. They imagined a day where free, live music would be everywhere: street corners and parks, rooftops and gardens, store fronts and mountaintops.

And, unlike a typical music festival, anyone and everyone would be invited to join and play music, or host performances. The event would take place on the summer solstice, June 21, and would be called Fête De La Musique. (In French, the name means both “festival of music” and “make music!”)

Amazingly enough, this dream has come true. The Fête has turned into a true national holiday: France shuts down on the summer solstice and musicians take over. Almost 8% of the country (5 million people) have played an instrument or sung in public for the Fête de la Musique.

Three decades later, the holiday has spread throughout the world and is now celebrated in more than 120 countries. In the U.S., the presenting sponsor is the NAMM Foundation.

Friday, June 21, 2024 is the 3rd Annual Make Music Day Atlanta!

On Friday, June 21, 2024 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. EST Atlanta will celebrate Make Music Day on summer solstice in conjunction with over 100 cities around the world. This one-day celebration will showcase music by local artists throughout five of Atlanta’s historic districts: East Atlanta, Virginia Highland, Little 5 Points and West End. These districts make up the Atlanta Main Street cohort.

In all of these neighborhoods, Make Music Day Atlanta will celebrate and promote the natural music maker in all of us, regardless of age, ethnicity, background or skill level. Make Music Day Atlanta is a free and open invitation for everyone to make, enjoy, perform, teach, learn and experience the joy of making music on the longest day of the year and the launch of summer. 

MMDATL mobilizes the community to self-produce a collaborative city-wide celebration where music is the medium and independent businesses and nontraditional venues are the location. The event is free and open to the public.

Email us at atlanta@makemusicday.org with any questions and follow us @makemusicdayatl on Instagram and Facebook!

About the Main Street Cohort:

The Atlanta Department of Planning launched the Atlanta Main Street cohort program in 2019 to bring the principles of design, organization, promotion and economic vitality to Atlanta’s historic neighborhoods and the nonprofit organizations representing each neighborhood. 

ALL EVENTS ARE FREE TO ATTEND!

Spend the Summer Solstice connecting to the community and show your love for local performers! Plan your day in the neighborhood you live or work. You could pick a neighborhood you’re not familiar with and let the healing vibes of music on the longest day of the year be your tour guide. 

Bring a chair, a blanket and/or put on your dancing shoes. Make Music Day is a participatory event where performers, venues and YOU make the magic! Support local businesses! Eat yummy food, grab a drink, enjoy a coffee, and buy a gift for a loved one or yourself.  Make Music Day Atlanta mobilizes the community to self-produce a collaborative city-wide event where music is the medium and independent businesses are the venues.

We’d love to hear from you!

Get in touch with us at atlanta@makemusicday.org

Follow us @makemusicdayatl on Instagram and Facebook.

Make Music Day Atlanta Cofounders

Jennifer Ohme

Over the last 22 years in Atlanta, Jennifer Ohme has created a company that builds community organizations – with the community – for neighborhood commercial districts. idealDESIGN works with community stakeholders to develop and manage the organization which educates, connects and organizes for the benefit of all businesses within the neighborhood(s). 

Launching Make Music Day Atlanta is a perfect complement to Jennifer’s existing work that  brings energy, awareness and community engagement to Atlanta’s historic neighborhoods and independent businesses.

Lauren Kelley

Lauren Kelley, an Atlanta-native, has supported artists and entrepreneurs throughout her entire career having participated in building and launching Atlanta companies such as Kenzie Lane, Clutch Technologies, the Modern Mystic Shop, The Splatter Studio, LeadAbroad and idealDESIGN. Recently she has been focused on wellness initiatives such as her own business, Digitarot, among others with colleagues, Jennifer Ohme as well as Yale Zhang. Lauren also serves as the Board Chair for Manga African Dance founded in Atlanta 32 years ago. With a love for music, community, healing and Atlanta, becoming a cofounder of Make Music Day Atlanta was a natural fit.

Ben Holst

Ben Holst has been a career musician, producer, engineer and composer in the Atlanta area for over 20 years. He came up in Athens, co-founded Tunewelders – an award winning music and audio production company, and later re-opened the historic Southern Tracks Recording Studio in Atlanta. Recent accolades include: Composer on the animated Netflix series The Liberator; co-producer on Grammy-nominated India.Arie’s Songversation: Medicine; writer and performer on the theme song for season 9 of Mike Rowe’s Dirty Jobs; and Recording Academy Atlanta Chapter Board of Governors. Ben also currently serves as Director of Creative Media and Brand Development for live streaming powerhouse – Volume.com.