Make Music Day Southeastern CT 2023
will feature live, free performances on June 21st.
Celebrate music. Celebrate our community.
About
What is Make Music Southeastern CT?
Make Music Southeastern CT is a part of the international Make Music Day movement which brings free, community-wide, outdoor musical celebrations to hundreds of cities worldwide! Every year, the celebration is held on June 21, the summer solstice, in more than 1,000 communities around the world.
What happens on Make Music Day in Southeastern CT?
Make Music Day in Southeastern CT features musicians of all abilities and music from any genre. Everyone is invited to participate in offering live performances (in accordance with state and local guidelines) during this international day of music by performing, providing an outdoor space, appreciating, or volunteering. All Ages | Free.
All are welcome to participate- no experience necessary! Join a diverse community of musicians and help fill every town and city in Southeastern CT with music.
Who coordinates Make Music Day in Southeastern CT?
The Cultural Coalition is the designated Make Music Day chapter in Southeastern CT. Now in its 6th year, this project is part of our mission to improve the economy, vitality and quality of life in Southeastern Connecticut by supporting the arts, cultural and creative community. Find out more about participating, then register with us!
Make Music Day Southeastern CT is being administered in partnership with the Make Music Alliance and New London Music Festivals, with support from the Department of Economic & Community Development/CT Office of the Arts, which also receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.
How did Make Music Day get started?
Make Music Day Southeastern CT is modeled after a Parisian tradition (Fête de la Musique) that began in 1982 as a tribute to the Summer Solstice. More specifically, each June 21st Paris is filled with musicians of all kinds performing on sidewalks, lawns, balconies, in parks, etc. for anyone to enjoy at no cost. In 2007, Fête de la Musique crossed the Atlantic with the debut of Make Music New York.  Ever since, cities around the world have been starting their own Make Music days. In the U.S,, Make Music Day is presented by the NAMM Foundation and coordinated by the non-profit Make Music Alliance.
Check out more about participating in Make Music Day Southeastern CT.
Participate
Make Music Day Southeastern CT is Wednesday, June 21, 2023!
Make Music Day Southeastern CT is returning on June 21, 2023, for our region’s 6th annual celebration. We expect numerous venues across the region to offer an exciting schedule of in-person, live public performances and music-making.
We invite you to join in one of the many Make Music Day initiatives that will take place this year in Southeastern CT. You can also curate and share your own free performance.
Unlike traditional music festivals, Make Music Southeastern CT is an open invitation for everyone to make music anywhere and everywhere.
Musicians & Host Locations – How Can You Participate?
Make Music Southeastern CT 2023 will feature live performances. All Make Music Southeastern CT performances must be free to attend and family-friendly.
Anyone interested in celebrating Make Music Day by performing or hosting a performance(s) should register with us. Registered performances appear on the online Make Music Day Southeastern CT schedule and will be promoted on social media, our website, and via email.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
For musicians, groups, venues/performance hosts
Note: Users who registered with us in 2022 will be able to revise/update your profile from last year.
Featured National Projects 2023
Musicians may also participate in National Projects coordinated by the Make Music Alliance.
These include:
- Flowerpot Music
- #MySongIsYourSong
- Sousapalooza
- Stridulations
- Mass Appeal
Information about how to participate is available at www.makemusicday.org
Who else is taking part?
Over 62 artists, including:
A Former Friend -- Artreach Jazz Band -- Band of Friends -- Barbara Harvey -- Bards of Gungywamp -- Blonde Furniture -- Bluebird- Leigh H and Bob P -- Braiden Sunshine -- Brett Masterson Effect -- Brian Gore & The Tender Fritters -- Bruce A McDermott -- Byrd StayLow -- Chaplin Ukulele Band -- Christopher Funk -- Double the Dial -- East Lyme Senior Guitar Group -- Five Bean Row -- Flowerpot Music -- Free Group Guitar Lesson -- Hot Strings Cafe -- Howling Hound Dogs -- Hugh and Dana -- JZ and Company -- Jalapeno martini -- John Brown and Friends -- Kelli O'Connor & Bob Weirath -- Kosch & Krash -- Lisa Aranci -- Mary Ellen Cowles -- Mystic Ukulele Strummers -- New Day Rockers -- New London Drone Orchestra -- Nightingale's Teen Showcase -- Old Lyme Town Band -- Old Possum's Jazz Band -- Open Piano under the Garde Marquee -- Paul Loether -- Peter Previty -- Public Drumming Workshop -- Reliance Health, Inc. -- Simply Enchanted Children's performance -- Sing-Along for Adults - Songs of the 60's & 70's -- Slyne and the Family Stoned -- Solo Viola with Alexander McLaughlin -- Southeastern CT Tuba-Euphonium Ensemble -- Students at Natalia Syed's Piano & Voice Studio -- Summer Stock (1950) Screening -- Sunny Train -- Sweet Polly Duo -- Sym-Bops & Be-Bophones (A Simple Side of Phish) -- The Bill Memorial Library Kids Sing-Along -- The Geoff Mitchill Band -- The Midnight Anthem -- The Mystic String Quartet -- The ToneShifters -- Those Guys -- Three's A Charm -- Tom Bora Jazz Duo -- Two of Us -- Wandering Bards -- Waterford Community Band -- Woolite
Over 22 venues, including:
Acton Public Library -- Artreach, Inc. -- Chaplin Public Library -- Custom House Maritime Museum -- Dive Bar -- East Lyme Senior Center -- Fiddleheads Food Cooperative -- Foundry66 -- Garde Arts Center -- Groton Public Library -- Guitar Center - New London -- Hempsted Houses -- La Grua Center -- Lyman Allyn Art Museum -- Make Music Old Lyme Music Stroll -- Mystic Noank Library -- New London's Whale Tail Stage -- Preston Public Library -- RD86 Space -- Reliance Health, Inc. -- The Bill Memorial Library -- Waterford Beach Park Summer Concerts
Support
Make Music Southeastern CT is a program of the Cultural Coalition, a non-profit organization whose mission is to improve the economy, vitality and quality of life in eastern Connecticut by supporting the arts, cultural and creative community.. Help us make events like Make Music Southeastern CT possible! Click here to make a tax deductible donation!
2023 Make Music Day Southeastern CT Sponsors:
Interested in being a sponsor of Make Music Southeastern CT, contact Deb Mathiasen at 860-460-5236
Press
Make Music Day serenades southeastern Connecticut
The Day, June 22, 2022 – By Dana Jensen, Staff Photographer
Make Music Day heralds the return of live music in New London
The Day, (video) June 22, 2021 – By Peter Huoppi and Rick Koster Day staff writers
‘Music is the key to happiness’: Make Music Day brings joy back to Norwich
The Bulletin, June 22, 2021 – By Matt Grahn
Hundreds Celebrate Summer Solstice With Stroll Down Lyme St. Enjoying ‘Make Music Day’
LymeLine.com – June 24, 2021 by Olwen Logan
Region celebrates Make Music Day
The Day, June 21, 2021 – By Sarah Gordon Day staff writer
Sunday’s Make Music Day events go virtual and live
The Day, June 19, 2020
Celebrate Make Music Day online with performances from local musicians
WTNH News
SEÂ Connecticut hosts live tunes aplenty on second Make Music Day
By Rick Koster, Publication: The Day, June 21, 2019
Singin’ in the rain- Damp weather couldn’t derail Make Music Day in New London
By Rick Koster, Publication: The Day, June 21, 2019
Make Music Day to ring in summer with hundreds of live free concerts in Connecticut
By Chip McCabe, Publication: Hartford Courant, June 17, 2019
Make Music Day Photo Gallery 2019
Make Music Day 2018, The Day, Video by Rick Koster and Peter Huoppi
There were 40 different acts performing around downtown New London on Thursday, and we set out to see all of them. The performances were part of Make Music Day, a free, worldwide celebration of music that takes place in more than 800 cities in 120 countries.
Musicians, venues across the region to take part in Thursday’s Make Music DayÂ
By Rick Koster, Publication: The Day, June 17, 2018
June 21 is Make Music Day around the world — and now in our region
By Kristina Dorsey, Publication: The Day, April 27, 2018
Contact
Make Music Day info and questions:Â
Deb Mathiasen, Assistant Director at d.mathiasen@culturesect.org
Kia Baird, Outreach & Community Impact Coordinator at k.baird@culturesect.org
For help with registration, creating a profile and using the “match-making” website, please contact Make Music Day Registration & Schedule Coordinator, Elisa Haveles at e.haveles@culturesect.org
For New London venues and musicians, please contact Make Music Day New London coordinator, Rich Martin of New London Music Festivals/The Telegraph, at kosimar@gmail.com
2023 Listings: Wednesday, June 21st