Live Music from 4 – 9 p.m. on Saturday
Music, Food, Crafts, Fun
Shakespeare Park
Make Music Day is live Saturday from 4-9 p.m. with over 20 craft vendors and food trucks! Like last year, they are planning an Artisan’s Market around the circle of the driveway with food trucks for picnic dinners while watching and listening to live music while enjoying the views of the Housatonic River at sunset. The town will be providing the Showmobile Stage and there will be a smaller stage provided by the Mighty Quinn Foundation.
Bring a lawn chair or blanket, pack a picnic basket or patronize one of the multiple food trucks. Listen to music while munching on snacks. Go to one of the workshops and join in – learn to play a ukulele, washboard, or drum, sing along with workshop groups.
Make Music is a free celebration of music around the world on June 21st. Launched in 1982 in France as the Fête de la Musique, it is now held on the same day in more than 1,000 cities in 120 countries. Thirteen towns and cities in Connecticut have Make Music Day events.
This is not your typical music festival; Make Music is open to anyone who wants to take part. Every kind of musician — young and old, amateur and professional, of every musical persuasion — pours onto streets, parks, plazas, and porches to share their music with friends, neighbors, and strangers. All of it is free and open to the public.
Make Music Day Stratford is produced by the Arts Alliance of Stratford with the support of the CT Office of the Arts, Department of Economic and Community Development which receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts, The Mighty Quinn Foundation, The Town of Stratford, The Stratford Community Fund and Tom Dillon.
In 1982, France’s Ministry of Culture dreamed up an idea for a new kind of musical holiday. They imagined a day where free, live music would be everywhere: street corners and parks, rooftops and gardens, store fronts and mountaintops.
And, unlike a typical music festival, anyone and everyone would be invited to join and play music, or host performances. The event would take place on the summer solstice, June 21st, and would be called Fête De La Musique. (In French, the name means both “festival of music” and “make music!”)
Amazingly enough, this dream has come true. The Fête has turned into a true national holiday: France shuts down on the summer solstice and musicians take over. Almost 8% of the country (5 million people) have played an instrument or sung in public for the Fête de la Musique.
Three decades later, the holiday has spread throughout the world and is now celebrated in more than 120 countries. In the U.S., the presenting sponsor is the NAMM Foundation.
The NAMM Foundation advances active participation in music making across the lifespan by supporting scientific research, philanthropic giving and public service programs. A supporting organization of NAMM, the NAMM Foundation is funded by NAMM Members through trade association activities and private donations.
Stratford Make Music Day Schedule
3:45 p.m. – Stage 1
Make Music Day 2022 Welcome & Schedule
4:00 p.m. – Stage 2
Brennan-Lucey Irish Dance Academy
The Brennan-Lucey Irish Dance Academy caters to dancers of all ages, 3-adult, whether they dance for fun, exercise, performance, or competition. All classes are taught by Riverdance Alum ranked 1st at both the World and National Championships of Irish Dance. It is never too late to join in the fun! Contact us for a FREE trial lesson today!
4:30 p.m. – Stage 2
Stratford Sister Cities Chorus
Stratford Sister Cities Chorus is a mixed voice, multi-generational ensemble. As choral and cultural ambassadors for the Town of Stratford, the chorus was organized in 1991 for the purpose of bringing music and friendship to the Stratfords of the world and entertainment in our own community.
5:00 p.m. – Stage 2
Shannon McMahon
Shannon McMahon, a singer/songwriter from Stratford who creates contemporary folk music with rich vocals and songs that resonate with a strong sense of the human experience.
6:00 p.m. – Stage 1
The Void
Classic Rock, Pop and Ballads…played straight from the heart.
7:00 p.m. – Stage 2
Parker’s Tangent
Blues and roots based original art rock
8:00 p.m. – Stage 1
Julai & The Serotones
Music to Boost Your Feel-Good Molecules: They are an 8-piece powerhouse band that bring their unique world of sound to listeners worldwide. Their presence has been described as “big, loud, and unapologetically fun,” and their music has been called a “delicious melting pot of influences, seamlessly blending indie-rock with hints of reggae and blues overtones combined with a delectable helping of soul.”
9:00pm – Stage 1
Closing Words
Make Music Day Committee
Make Music Day Workshops
5:00 p.m.
Colin & Myra Healy: Folk Music Song Circle
The Healy’s will lead a song circle where everyone has a chance to participate. All ages welcome. Bring a favorite song to lead or an instrument to play or just come to listen. They will have a few copies of Rise Up Singing, a wonderful resource for folk and popular songs. You can order your own copy new or used on-line or just join in on the easy to learn choruses when they come around. Pack a lawn chair or a blanket to sit on.
5:00 p.m.
Nina Lesiga: Ukulele Workshop
Play along and sing along as she teaches chord strumming of beginner level songs of varied genres. If you have a ukulele, bring it with you. If not, Nina will have loaner ukuleles for public use. No prior ukulele experience is needed. Ages 8 and up.
5:00 p.m.
Songs in Different Languages:
There are over 20 different languages spoken in Stratford. We are gathering friends, neighbors, and anyone interested in teaching a short song in their language to young children and to the young at heart! Join us to learn a song in French, Spanish, Portuguese with drums, sign language, and more at this year’s Make Music Day!
5:00 p.m.
TBA
6:00 p.m.
Peter Menta (AKA Washboard Slim):
Basics of Blues Harmonica
Peter Menta has fronted the band Washboard Slim and the Blue Lights for over four decades. He has studied and mastered the harmonica styles of many of the great blues artists. In this workshop Peter will teach the basics of blues harmonica: how to hold the instrument properly to get good tone, a few essential rhythm patterns, and will demonstrate how to bend notes to get that true blues sound. 10-hole diatonic Hohner Harmonicas will be provided for you to keep, but if you have one in the key of C or the key of A, bring it along.
6:00 p.m.
Terry Hopper: Everything Is A Drum: More Than Just a Drum Circle
Terry will provide some instruments, but encourages people to bring their own. In addition to the usual drums and percussion, stretch your imagination a little by bringing kitchen implements, toys, and homemade instruments. The crazier the better.
