About
What is Make Music Southeastern CT?
Make Music Southeastern CT is a part of the international Make Music Day movement which brings free, 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 by performing, providing an outdoor space, or attending to appreciate music. All Ages. Free. Join a diverse community of music-makers 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 7th 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 below, 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.
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. In 2007, Fête de la Musique crossed the Atlantic with the debut of Make Music New York. In the U.S., Make Music Day is presented by the NAMM Foundation and coordinated by the nonprofit Make Music Alliance.
Participate
Make Music Day Southeastern CT is Friday, June 21, 2024!
Make Music Day Southeastern CT is returning on June 21, 2024, for our region’s 7th annual celebration. We expect numerous venues across the region to offer an exciting schedule of 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.
Musicians & Host Locations – How Can You Participate?
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) in Southeastern CT should register with us. Create a profile and search the listings to find a venue or performer. Registered performances also 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
Registration & “match-making” for musicians, groups, venues/performance hosts
Note: Users who registered with us in 2023 will be able to revise/update your profile from last year.
Join Us in 2024!
Who else is taking part?
Over 86 artists, including:
- Jalapeno Martini --
- A Former Friend --
- Ada Mae Florek --
- All In All Out --
- Anne Castellano & the Smoke --
- Band of Friends --
- Bards of Gungywamp --
- Blonde Furniture --
- Bluebird --
- Bluebird- Leigh H and Bob P --
- Brian D Story --
- Brian Sear --
- Bruce A McDermott --
- Byrd StayLow --
- Chris Gregor --
- Christopher Funk --
- Christopher Listorti (of The Pretty Graves) Solo --
- Danny Fleet --
- Double the Dial --
- Drumming Class with Jacob Graham! --
- East Lyme Senior Guitar Group --
- Ethan Cash --
- Five Bean Row --
- Fusion --
- Geoff Mitchill Band --
- Ghost Child --
- Giant Keyboard at New London sign --
- Gina Turcketta, Ukulele Instructor and Jam Leader --
- Guno --
- Harold Walker- Bard --
- Havana Nights: Salsa at the Marina --
- Howling Hound Dogs --
- Hugh and Dana --
- Jackie Pick and Harvard Lane Clarinets --
- James Burke --
- Joe Rice --
- Jontay --
- Karen Ciccone --
- Karl Guillard --
- Ken Atkins and the Honkytonk Kind --
- LA TRICOLOR Latín Band --
- Lamning --
- Leigh and Hunter Trio w/s/g Miguel Rios --
- Marc Bernier --
- Mark Koschwitz --
- Mary Ellen Cowles --
- Mass-Conn Fusion --
- Matt Potter --
- Mystic Ukulele Strummers --
- Nathan Wise --
- Nickelodeon barbershop quartet --
- Niko Severino --
- Old Lyme Town Band --
- Open Piano --
- Paddy Whack --
- Paul Loether --
- Pete Robinson --
- Rocky Nails --
- Ryan Mitten --
- Sandy Allen --
- Sidewalk Piano --
- Simply Enchanted --
- Sing Along for Kids with Miss Mary-Jane --
- Sing-A-Long Music for Preschoolers --
- Spencer Jones --
- Spindrift Guitars- a 'String Together' location --
- Sunny Train --
- Sweet Polly Duo --
- Sym-Bops & Be-Bophones (A Simple Side of Phish) --
- Terri Lachance --
- The Colin Hallahan Band --
- The Mellow Men Two --
- The Merry Men Three --
- The Midnight Anthem --
- The Rattlin' Bog Band --
- The Scoville Unit --
- The Whales --
- Those Guys --
- Those Guys - Al Elms and Joe Rice --
- Tommy Quintin (Quitin' Time) Band --
- Ukuleles By the Sea --
- Undercover Cameo --
- Underwater Runner --
- Wild Irish Spirit --
- XÉNOS --
- the Forest Room
Over 32 venues, including:
- Acton Public Library --
- Artreach, Inc. --
- Caruso Piano Gallery --
- Chaplin Public Library --
- Custom House Maritime Museum --
- East Lyme Senior Center --
- Fiddleheads Food Cooperative --
- Foundry66 --
- Garde Arts Center --
- Groton Public Library --
- Huntington Street Baptist Church --
- Hygienic Art Park --
- La Grua Center --
- Leif Nilsson Spring Street Studio and Gallery --
- Lyman Allyn Art Museum --
- Make Music Old Lyme Music Stroll --
- McCook Point Park --
- Mystic & Noank Library --
- New London sign --
- New London's Whale Tail Stage at Parade Plaza --
- Preston Public Library --
- Spindrift Guitars- a 'String Together' location --
- Spindrift Guitars/Thames Club --
- The Beam --
- The Bill Memorial Library --
- The Marina At American Wharf --
- The Oasis Pub --
- The Plaza at the Regional Innovation Center --
- The Social Bar & Kitchen --
- The Thames Club --
- Washington Park --
- Waterford Public Library
Featured National Projects 2024
Musicians may also participate in National Projects coordinated by the Make Music Alliance.
These include:
- Flowerpot Music
- #MySongIsYourSong
- String Together
- Stridulations
- Mass Appeal
Information about how to participate is available at www.makemusicday.org
Listings
Confirmed location and performer schedule for Make Music Southeastern CT 2024. Updated daily.
2024 Listings: Friday, June 21st
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!
2024 Make Music Day Southeastern CT Sponsors:
support from Department of Economic & Community Development, Office of the Arts
Interested in being a sponsor of Make Music Southeastern CT, contact Deb Mathiasen at 860-460-5236
Press
Old Lyme comes alive with music
The Day, June 21, 2023 – By Rick Koster, Day Staff Writer
Make Music in New London
The Day, June 21, 2023 – By Sarah Gordon, Staff Photographer
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
SE 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 Day
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:
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