About

Make Music Florence is a free, citywide day of music held annually on June 21st, the longest day of the year. Our Inaugural Make Music Day festival is part of the larger Make Music Day, an international summer solstice music celebration occurring in 1,000+ cities across the globe. We hope this year, coffee shops, restaurants, retail shops, centers of worship, front porches, parks, and other locations across Florence will fill with music for everyone to enjoy!

What?

Music “Performed by Anyone, Enjoyed by Everyone.”
A celebration of the summer solstice and the longest day of the year.
A buffet of musical merriment.
A DIY city-wide fest where anyway to make music can and will happen.
Open to music makers of all ages, skill levels, and musical persuasions.

When?
Annually on June 21st

Where?
Throughout the City of Florence!

Who?

Jerry Foster, Florence Academy of Fine Arts Director
Mayor Andrew Betterton, City of Florence
Abby Carpenter, Florence-Lauderdale Public Library Director
Sam Mashburn, Shoals Chamber Public Policy & Governmental Relations Director
Rachel Koonce, City of Florence Media & Sustainability
Mike Adams, Florence Parks & Recreation Programs Manager
Amy Edwards, Florence Parks & Recreation Coordinator
Rhiannon Clark, Florence Arts & Museums
Chris Stangel, Downtown Florence Alliance Director
Dr. Butler Cain, UNA Assistant Vice Provost for International Affairs
Brian Murphy, Florence Arts & Museums Director

Participate

SIGN UP AS A VENDOR OR PERFORMER

Musicians: All styles, ages, and experience levels are invited to register to perform and participate on Make Music Day! You can play one set or schedule as many as you like.

Venues: Whether you have a garden, pontoon boat, sidewalk, café, or other space in mind, it’s easy and there’s no cost to participate.

Important Dates:

Venue Registration Is Open!
Musician Registration Is Open & Matchmaking Is Happening Now!

Follow us on Facebook to stay up to date!

What is Matchmaking?
Matchmaking is our system of connecting musicians with venues. After creating an account, venues can browse musician profiles and vice versa and participants request a booking. A few tips:

Don’t be shy! Feel free to send requests. It helps to put yourself out there and you can book as many shows as you want.
Respond to requests in a timely manner. No one likes to wait to hear back. If it’s not a good fit, let the other party know so they can move on.
Follow up! You can send direct messages through the system or reach out via phone or email.
In the end, just about everyone who wants to participate will match up. If you need assistance, send a message to florence@makemusicday.org.

Who can host?

Is your venue located in the City of Florence?
Is it free and accessible to the public?
Can you maintain a 6′ clearance on the sidewalk for the pedestrian passage?

Parks: Want to claim a city park for your stage? Check out the open venues on florence.makemusicday.org.

Questions? – email florence@makemusicday.org.

Participant Resources

The following list of participant resources will help everyone prepare for Make Music Florence, whether they are venues/hosts or musicians/performers.