Hundreds of free outdoor music-making events to be held across the state

Thirteen cities and counties in North Carolina will join forces to present hundreds of free outdoor musical events on Friday, June 21, for Make Music Day, a global music celebration on the summer solstice each year that brings people of all ages and skill levels together to make music.

This year, with support from the North Carolina Arts Council, Bertie County, Brunswick County, Catawba County, Kinston, McDowell County, Raleigh, Stanly County, Statesville, Stokes County, Surry County, Vance County, Wilmington and Winston-Salem are some of the 150+ U.S. communities hosting thousands of Make Music Day performances nationwide, as part of the world’s largest annual music event.

Make Music Day began in France in 1982 as the Fête de la Musique, and in the years since it has spread to thousands of cities across 120 countries. This year is the first time it has been celebrated across the state of North Carolina.

Distinct from a traditional music festival, Make Music Day celebrates and encourages the natural music maker in all of us, regardless of age, ethnicity, background, or skill level. Make Music Day is a free and open invitation for everyone to perform, teach, learn, and experience the joy of making music on the longest day of the year. Reimagining their cities and towns as stages, every kind of musician – young and old, amateur and professional, of every musical persuasion – pours onto streets, parks, plazas, porches, rooftops, gardens and other public spaces to celebrate, create and share their music with friends, neighbors, and strangers.

“North Carolina has proven to be fertile ground for a rich and diverse musical tapestry, with music and musicians that have impacted and been influenced by musical traditions from around the world,” said Jeff Bell, executive director of the North Carolina Arts Council. “It’s exciting to have communities all across our state participating in Make Music Day this year to highlight the joy that music can offer to participants and audiences alike. We hope that other communities are encouraged to take part in future Make Music Day celebrations.”

Highlights of Make Music North Carolina include:

·      Brunswick County: It’s a crazy year in Brunswick, with all-day Kazoo-Fests at branch libraries Rourk (in Shallotte), Harper (in Southport), Barbee (in Oak Island), and Southwest Brunswick (in Calabash). Free kazoos will be distributed while supplies last. The Harper branch library hosts Beatles Trivia at 2 p.m. as well. From noon to 5 p.m., Waterway Music & Education in Southport will host a free guitar string change-out and give out free rhythm sticks while supplies last. The Music Traders store in Shallotte will host a music jam from 4-6 p.m. Free performances include Tina Smith, joined by family and friends, for an old-fashioned front porch jam session El Coqui in Shallotte from 4-7 p.m., The Entertainers outdoor community concert hosted by Oak Island Parks & Rec in Middleton Park from 6:30-8:30 p.m., and the Brunswick Big Band indoor concert from 7-9 p.m., full of swing & dance fun at the Leland Cultural Arts Center. 

·      Catawba County: Make Music Catawba County will be a countywide celebration of music from all walks of life, administered by Arts Culture Catawba. Events included so far are Street Jams in Downtown Hickory and Downtown Newton, an Open Mic Night with the Hickory Music Factory, and a Songwriters Session hosted by Cesar Cruz. Musicians of all skill levels are invited and welcome to join us as we create music all day long across our community.

·     McDowell County: We’re thrilled to present a Jam + Harmonize + Open Mic from 5-7 p.m. hosted by the FCS String Band and Chorus. The FCS String Band and Chorus, led by Freddy Bradburn, will perform a set of both old-time and original songs. Following their set will be an opportunity for the audience to participate in a beginner-friendly harmonica melody led by Mr. Freddy, with 30 free harmonicas provided! After the harmonica lesson, individuals and groups may sign up to perform a song at the open mic session.

·      Raleigh: For the second year, Make Music Raleigh will host a series of events across Raleigh and Wake County. Among them: The City of Raleigh Museum will feature several interactive events, including a harmonica workshop, an instrument zoo with orchestral instruments provided and curated by the N.C. Symphony, and a bucket drumming session at Campbell University School of Law. Azure Violins in the Mordecai neighborhood will host a ukulele learning/strumming session for everyone, including beginners, with loaner ukes available, as we learn to play a song in less than 30 minutes! The Raleigh Uke Jam and the Handsome Ladies of Raleigh also will lead open jams at local libraries. Bring your axes and join the fun!

·      Statesville: Downtown Statesville will transform into a vibrant musical experience with live performances, workshops, open mics, drum circles, STEM classes, buskers, karaoke, and more at every turn, both indoors and outdoors. No matter your musical preference, there will be something for everyone to enjoy.

·      Stanly County: The Stanly County Arts Council is excited to bring the joy of Make Music Day to Stanly County, an area with strong and deep roots in many genres of music.  We’re partnering with music instructors from Music on Main and rBc Music Store to provide free workshops throughout the day in both Albemarle and Locust, including bucket drumming, ukulele, guitar, voice, harmonica, and How to Build a Rock Band. All library branches will have stations to create your own rhythm instruments; the Stanly County History Center will explore all the countries that participate in Make Music Day and what instruments they play; Chorale will show you how to make your own kazoo, and our local music stores will host Instrument Petting Zoos with the assistance of our Concert Band members as demonstrators. Local musicians also will play throughout the county in venues such as breweries, bakeries, coffee shops, park amphitheaters, courtyards and the porch of the Historic 1852 Snuggs House.

·      Stokes County: Make Music Day in Stokes County is offering something for everyone with live music at five different locations — 1889 Taphouse, Sto Co Provisions, Daily Basket, Palmetto Theatre, and The Arts Place of Stokes, featuring a Youth Open Mic Night.

·      Surry County: It’s Mount Airy’s first Mayberry Make Music Day! We welcome musicians of all genres, ages,and skill levels to learn drumming rhythms, perform karaoke, play with MAUI — Mount Airy’s ukulele group — sing along to pop and gospel tunes, participate in an open mic session with our local DJ, take in a Makey-Makey surprise, and more! Enjoy special highlights at Mount Airy’s own traditional Surry County music jam. Music sounds better in Mayberry.

·      Wilmington: Make Music Day Wilmington will be hosted at the Harrelson Center, a downtown campus of nonprofits that has long welcomed the community for a variety of humanitarian services. With expansive outdoor spaces, the venue offers a perfect venue for performances including a ukulele group; the Hot Flashes, a band of middle-aged female rockers, and a DJ with international influences. Organizers are working to recruit people with marching band experience to create a Sousapalooza.

Any musician, amateur or professional, young or old, is invited to visit MakeMusicDay.org to find the nearest Make Music Day celebration and sign up to participate. Likewise, businesses, buildings, schools, churches, and other institutions can visit the website to offer their outdoor spaces as concert locations.

For links to participating communities throughout the state, visit makemusicday.org/nc. 

For more information, contact Karen Loew of the Make Music Alliance: karen@makemusicday.org, 917-621-5174 or Rick Henderson of Make Music Day Raleigh at rhenderson58@yahoo.com.

About Make Music Day
Held annually on June 21 to coincide with the summer solstice, Make Music Day is part of the international Fête de la Musique taking place in thousands of cities across 120 countries. The daylong musical free-for-all celebrates music in all its forms, encouraging people to band together and play in free public concerts. This year, over 150 U.S. cities are organizing Make Music celebrations, encompassing thousands of music making opportunities nationwide. Make Music Day is presented by The NAMM Foundation and coordinated by the nonprofit Make Music Alliance. For more information, please visit makemusicday.org.