Make Music Chattanooga

Make Music Chattanooga

Make Music Day Chattanooga 2025!

Make Music Day Chattanooga returns for its biggest year yet with a robust lineup of performances, events, and music-making experiences across the city. This June, more than 60+ live music events will take place throughout Chattanooga and surrounding areas, including over 30 free live music events on Friday, June 21st!

From classical and soul to jazz, pop, and experimental, this year’s lineup showcases the diversity and vibrancy of Chattanooga’s music community. Events are open to the public and designed to engage audiences of all ages.

2025 SPECIAL FEATURES:

🎤 Make Music Day Sneak Peek 2025
Hosted by Make Music Chattanooga at Deadbird Studio, this preview event featured special performances from Amber Carrington Lewis, Dran Lewis, Jourdyn Drake, and The Band Chickamauga to kick off Make Music Day 2025!

🌿 Green Stages
June 21, throughout the day
A series of unamplified acoustic sets in neighborhood parks and green spaces celebrating Chattanooga’s designation as a National Park City.

📻 Week of Make Music on WUTC 88.1 FM
June 17–21 TUNE IN
On-air interviews, artist spotlights, and music features with performers throughout the week leading up to Make Music Day.

🌅 “Somewhere in TN” by Toke the Poet OUT NOW!
LISTEN
Streaming on all digital platforms. Celebrate Make Music Day by streaming this heartfelt new single from Chattanooga’s own Toke the Poet, released just in time for Make Music Day!

🎶 Chatta Sings @ ArtsBuild
June 21, 10:00-11:00 AM
A community singalong led by Naomi Griffin Self of Chattasings. No experience needed, just bring your voice!

📚 Dolly Parton Imagination Library Bus @ ArtsBuild
June 21, 10:00-11:00 AM
Family-friendly fun with story time and literacy programming for kids and parents alike.

🎼 Sousapalooza @ First Baptist Church
June 21, 11:30-1:00 PM
Hosted by Chattanooga Symphony and Opera’s Ismael Sandoval, this event features performances inspired by John Philip Sousa, community building and light refreshments!

✈️ Chattanooga Airport (CHA) Performance featuring Josie Weisenberger
June 21, 1:00-1:45 PM
Classical violist Josie Weisenberger performs live at the Chattanooga Airport (CHA), delighting travelers and staff with a beautiful mid-day set.

🚎 Live Music @ CARTA Shuttle Park South & North Garage
June 21, 1:00-3:00 PM
Presented by City of Chattanooga Office of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy and CARTA, enjoy live music at the CARTA Shuttle Park South & North Garage.

🎺 Bessie Smith Big 9 Music Fest
Saturday, June 21 from 3–11 PM and Sunday, June 22 from 3–6 PM
Soul, gospel, and R&B performances on MLK Boulevard in celebration of Chattanooga’s rich Black music history.

🎧 Live Production Masterclass w/ Et Cetera @ Songbirds
June 21, 4:30–5:30 PM
A behind-the-scenes masterclass for students on live sound and production, followed by a live set at 7 PM.

🎸 Riverfront Nights
June 21, 6:00-10:00 PM
Live performances at Chattanooga’s scenic riverfront, featuring local and regional acts.

Listings

2025 Listings: Saturday, June 21

 

About

Make Music Chattanooga exists to support and uplift the city’s vibrant music community. We focus on creating opportunities for connection among local artists, organizations, and music supporters—helping to strengthen relationships, highlight ongoing efforts, and celebrate the role of music in Chattanooga’s cultural life. Our signature events, Make Music Day Chattanooga and Make Music Winter, are part of a global initiative held each year on June 21 and December 21.

Connecting Local Music Partners & Supporters
We create opportunities for conversation, collaboration, and shared celebration—supporting bridges across Chattanooga’s music scene through informal gatherings, working groups, and joint efforts.

Fostering Strategic Partnerships
We help connect the dots between music-makers and community partners to support projects that increase access, visibility, and creative impact for local talent.

Celebrating World Music Day in Chattanooga
With support from the Lyndhurst Foundation, we coordinate Make Music Day and Make Music Winter in partnership with the Make Music Alliance, the NAMM Foundation, and a growing network of local collaborators—bringing free, citywide music experiences to life each June and December.

Make Music Chattanooga Fund

Local performers and music educators are invited to apply for stipends to host or participate in a free, public music performance or participatory activity as part of this global celebration of World Music Day.

🧡 A Special thanks to the Lyndhurst Foundation for their generous support, and to ArtsBuild for serving as our valued partner in making this possible!

Other Funding Opportunities:

In addition to local support, eligible participants may also qualify for funding through the Music Performance Trust Fund (MPTF), coordinated nationally by the Make Music Alliance and locally in collaboration with Make Music Chattanooga and the Tri-State Musicians’ Union, Local 80.

All requests should be submitted by Friday June 6, 2025.

View eligibility requirements and apply at the links below.


Support & Promote

Spread the word about Make Music Day Chattanooga! Share this event with your friends, family, and community networks on social media. Use the hashtag #MakeMusicCHA to join the conversation.

Become a Music Ambassador! Make Music Day Chattanooga is built by the community—for the community. As a Music Ambassador, you’ll help bring the celebration to life both before and during the event. In the weeks leading up to June 21st, you’ll support community outreach, share posts to help spread the word, and invite others to get involved. On event day, you’ll assist with setup, artist support, social media content, and welcoming attendees at performance locations across the city.


Video Campaign

We’re excited to partner with RISE Chattanooga on this video campaign! We invite you to join us in celebrating the power and impact of music by sharing your personal story. No matter your role in Chattanooga’s music scene, we want to hear from you!

Film a 90-second video expressing why music is important and what it means to you. Your video will be a part of our collective celebration of Make Music Day, showcasing the diverse voices and experiences that make up Chattanooga’s vibrant music community.

DEADLINE: June 6th at 11:59 p.m. (EST)

Grab your camera, unleash your creativity, and let’s spread the joy of music together!


CHA Music Passport

The CHA Music Passport is your guide to exploring and celebrating Chattanooga’s vibrant music scene. This initiative connects community members with live music events, highlighting local talent and unique venues across the city. While it plays a key role during Make Music Day and Make Music Winter, the CHA Music Passport goes beyond these celebrations, creating year-round opportunities to experience and support the rich musical diversity that makes Chattanooga special.


News

  • MAKE MUSIC DAY CHATTANOOGA UNVEILS FULL 2025 LINEUP

    CHATTANOOGA, TN — The city is tuning up for its biggest Make Music Day celebration yet, with over 67 live music events happening this June, including 30+ free performances on Friday, June 21st, and more than 50 performers registered across neighborhoods, parks, businesses, and public spaces, 2025’s celebration promises music for everyone, everywhere. A snapshot of this year’s standout events: At a Glance WhetherContinue…

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  • Make Music Day Chattanooga Sneak Peek Event @ Deadbird Studios

    JOIN US AT THE MAKE MUSIC DAY CHATTANOOGA SNEAK PEEK EVENT!  We’re thrilled to invite you to a special Sneak Peek event at Deadbird Studio, as we kick off Make Music Day Chattanooga 2025!  Event DetailsDate: Friday, June 13th, 2025Time: 1:30 PMLocation:Deadbird Studio This event is designed to bring together our lead partners and members of theContinue…

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  • 2025 Make Music Chattanooga Fund Announced

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE New Support Announced for Local Music Performers and Educators Ahead of Make Music Day Chattanooga 2025 Local music performers and educators can now apply for stipends through the Make Music Chattanooga Fund and Music Performance Trust Fund CHATTANOOGA, TN — May 21, 2025 — Local music performers and educators have new resources availableContinue…

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  • Make Music Day Chattanooga April Community Meeting Recap + Music and Event Promotion Session w/ Chattanooga Tourism Co.

    We had a great turnout for our April Make Music Chattanooga Community Meeting, where artists, venue hosts, and music supporters gathered to gear up for Make Music Day 2025. The session featured a special presentation from Sean Phipps and Laura Belluci of Chattanooga Tourism Co., who offered practical tips on promoting music events. We alsoContinue…

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  • Chattanooga Becomes a National Park City!

    Chattanooga Becomes a National Park City—Everywhere’s a Stage on Make Music Day 2025! Big news! Chattanooga has just been named the first National Park City in North America—and we couldn’t be more excited! This is a huge milestone for our community, showcasing Chattanooga’s commitment to preserving our natural spaces and making them more accessible forContinue…

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  • Make Music Day Launch Meeting Follow-Up

    THANK YOU FOR JOINING THE MAKE MUSIC DAY 2025 LAUNCH MEETING! 🧡 We’re excited for another amazing year, and your participation is what makes this event so special. Here’s a quick recap of what we discussed and how you can get involved. Make Music Day Returns! On June 21st, musicians and performers of all ages and skillContinue…

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  • Make Music Day Returns to Chattanooga in 2025

    Community Invited to Join the Celebration & Planning Efforts CHATTANOOGA, TN – Make Music Day, the worldwide celebration of music held annually on June 21, is set to return to Chattanooga in 2025. This global event, presented nationally by the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) and the Make Music Alliance, invites musicians of allContinue…

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  • Make Music Day 2025 Launch Meeting

    Join us Thursday, March 20th, for the Make Music Day 2025 Launch Meeting! This is an exciting opportunity for performers, venues, and educators to come together as we prepare for this year’s city and county-wide celebration of music happening this June! We’ll share everything you need to know about participating, key updates, and how we can make this year’sContinue…

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  • Chattanooga Sets the Stage with Record-Breaking Success for Make Music Day 2024

    Chattanooga, TN – Make Music Day 2024 was a resounding success, with Chattanooga taking center stage as the largest Make Music Day festival in Tennessee and securing a spot among the Top 10 Largest Make Music Day Festivals in the United States. This year’s celebration brought together 48 business and community partners, featured 100 liveContinue…

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Contact

Get in touch with us at chattanooga@makemusicday.org