Musicians hoping to participate in Make Music Madison have until May 8 to register for the annual Summer Solstice event.
Make Music Madison, now in its third year, celebrates local musicians with hundreds of outdoor concerts held across the city. This year’s event falls on Sunday, June 21.
The event allows anyone, from amateurs to professionals, the opportunity to showcase their music. So far, there are concerts slated for 86 locations, from parks to sidewalks, though the organization reports there is still room for more. The shows are free to the public; performers make tips and can negotiate with venues regarding payment.
This year Make Music Madison is incorporating more sites in underserved areas of the city; offering more stages for young, student and amateur musicians; and building on the success of last year’s group participation events by hosting a get-together for ukulele players, harmonica lessons for 100 people, a mass choral ensemble and a ’60s rock ’n’ roll gathering.
Last year, Make Music Madison presented 285 acts at 110 locations, with 20,000 people in attendance. It was the second highest number of concerts among 115 participating cities.
Although it is organized locally, Make Music Madison is one of 700 cities celebrating Make Music Day, held annually on the summer solstice. It was founded in France in 1982 and has since expanded to over 120 countries on every continent but Antarctica.
Isthmus is a sponsor of Make Music Madison, the exclusive print partner. Look for the pullout event guide in the June 18 issue.
