Celebrate the Summer Solstice in Stratford
Sponsored by the Arts Alliance of Stratford
Make Music Stratford is a live, free musical celebration on Wednesday, June 21st that will take place at multiple locations. Sterling House Community Center, Stratford Library & The Baldwin Center.
Sponsored and organized by Arts Alliance of Stratford they are bringing Make Music Day to the town of Stratford for the fifth consecutive year. Make Music Day, which is free to the public, will run from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on June 21st, the summer solstice.
The Arts Alliance will be presenting music performances, music workshops for all ages and 2 food trucks. Come spend the morning and afternoon at the workshops and late afternoon and evening for the music performances.
“We are grateful for our partnership with Sterling House, and support from the Town of Stratford, the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development, Office of the Arts, The Stratford Community Fund, the Stratford Library and the Baldwin Center. Because of these collaborations and the generosity of our performers, we are able to bring this wonderful, free event to Stratford,” said Mark Hannon, President of the Alliance.
Make Music Day is a free celebration of music held around the world on the same day each year, falling on the Summer Solstice. It began in 1982 in France as Fete de la Musique and is now a global event in more than 1,000 cities and 120 countries. For more information, see makemusicday.org.
Make Music Day 2023 Workshop Schedule
THE BALDWIN SENIOR CENTER (Members Only)
9:00am – And The Beat Goes On
10:00am – Ukulele & Sing Along
11:00am – Sit & Dance
1:00pm – The Boomers
2:30pm – SC Dance & Karaoke Party
Baldwin Center Pre-Registration: There are no fees for Make Music Day Programs. Pre-Registration is required. Please call (203) 385-4050 OR register online at Play Make Music Video to reserve your spot! If registering by phone, please indicate you are registering for a “Make Music Day” program (i.e. Make Music Day Sit & Dance, Make Music Day And The Beat Goes On).
THE STRATFORD LIBRARY – LOVELL ROOM
2:00pm – Make Music Day with DJ Austin Dailey
Join us to celebrate summer reading with DJ Austin Dailey! This popular area DJ will have kids up and dancing with fun activities and kid-friendly music. Ages 6-12.
4-5:30pm – uCreate: Make Music with Makey Makey for Teens!
Meet Makey Makey, an invention kit that allows you to turn anything—literally anything!—into a computer button. Learn some simple circuitry and then team up to build a working musical instrument that you can play in celebration of Make Music Day! Registration required. Open to ages 10 & up; anyone 12 & under must be accompanied by a parent/guardian (who should also register). Space is Limited.
STERLING HOUSE
4:00pm – Peter Menta (AKA Washboard Slim): Basics of Blues Harmonica
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. PLEASE BRING YOUR KAZOO OR ASK FOR ONE AT THE ARTS ALLIANCE OF STRATFORD TENT TO HUM ALONG WITH A SPECIAL NUMBER PETER MENTA WILL LEAD. 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.
4:00pm – Iyaba Ibo Mandingo
Iyaba will lead a workshop for kids 7-12 on drum making. All materials will be supplied. Painter, poet, writer, actor and playwright, Iyaba makes art with found objects, fabric, and items many of us would discard.
Make Music Day 2023 Performance Schedule
4:00 p.m. – The Stratford Library – Courtyard or Lovell Room (in case of rain)
Cowboy Keith Chapman, Playing acoustic soul original music and unique arrangements of classic country, rock, reggae, jam & more- picking guitar, blowing harmonica, with a dynamic vocal approach… always available to support & collaborate with others on bass & percussion too.
5:00 p.m. – The Stratford Library – Lovell Room
Hip-Hop Artist FreeChains; Representing Connecticut and Stratford with each endeavor he is a songwriter, rapper, and hip-hop artist.
5:00 p.m. – Sterling House
Pyramid Shriners Pipes and Drums. The Pyramid Shriners Pipes and Drums band was founded in 1971. Wearing the Ancient MacKenzie Tartan, we are a group of Shriners and friends that play the music of the highlands to support the Shriners Hospitals for Children. Our motto is “we march so that kids may walk”!
5:20 p.m. – Sterling House: Sterling Road Band , high school student music ensemble.
6:00 p.m. – Sterling House
The Washboard Slim Trio: The band’s music comes from playing Roots Americana on guitar, mandolin, harmonica and washboard with vocals.
6:30 p.m.: The Stratford Library – Lovell Room
Coastal Mix Barbershop Chorus: Coastal Mix is an a cappella, mixed voice chorus dedicated to bringing family-friendly entertainment to the community. Formerly known as “The Coastal Chordsmen,” they are now a mixed-voice chorus, welcoming all singers regardless of gender. Officially the Bridgeport, CT chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society International, we have been entertaining audiences in Southern Connecticut and beyond for over 75 years!
7:00 p.m. – Sterling House
Shannon McMahon
Shannon McMahon, a singer/songwriter from Stratford, CT, creates contemporary folk music with rich vocals and songs that resonate with a strong sense of the human experience.
7:00 p.m.: The Stratford Library – Lovell Room
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 Stratford’s of the world and entertainment in our own community.
8:00 p.m. – Sterling House
Parker’s Tangent
Parker’s Tangent is a fun group that has to be seen to be believed. They play all original [sometimes art] rock music based on blues and roots sources. They have a wonderful female lead singer, drums, bass, lead and rhythm guitars, and together with an awesome violin player they present virtuosic performances. as you’d expect.
9:00 p.m. – Sterling House
Closing Words
Here in Stratford we started producing the event in 2017. The main lineup this year will be at Sterling House Community Center, Stratford Library and Baldwin Center. The event is supported by grants from the Make Music Day Foundation, and musicians support this worldwide celebration of music by donating their services.
Last year The Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County reported 19 Make Music Day events in Fairfield County. Each community structures the day and performances according to their own preferences, based on venues available.
The Stratford Make Music Day committee is headed by Jim Taylor and Colin Healy to whom we are greatly indebted for their hard work and dedication to make the event happen!
Arts Alliance of Stratford is a nonprofit organization working to build community and enhance the quality of life in the Stratford region. We collaborate with the public, artists, creatives, and art lovers, offering opportunities to learn, teach, create, network, and enjoy the arts. To learn more about the Alliance and its programming, please visit artsallianceofstratford.org.
Make Music Day is produced with the support of the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development, Office of the Arts, which also receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.
