HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — On the longest day of the year, make your way across Huntsville an take in free music shows from rock to jazz to brass band and everything in between during Make Music Day Huntsville.
The event, a collaboration between the Huntsville Music Office and Huntsville Hospital Music Therapy Program, is a free, community-driven live music celebration on June 21. Huntsville joins 1,000 cities across 120 countries to encourage people of all ages and abilities to make music.
Dozens of local amateur and professional musicians will perform publicly on Wednesday, June 21, as part of Make Music Day Huntsville. Joining the fun will be firefighters from Huntsville Fire & Rescue, who will perform in a jam session at Fire Station 1 at 2110 Clinton Ave. from 2-3 p.m.
At 5:30 p.m., students from Maitland Conservatory will perform in Big Spring Park East as part of a student showcase. Other programming highlights in the park include Music X Movement and Vocal Aerobics, two music-themed workouts geared toward kids.
Performances are scheduled at the following public venues. Please note times are tentative and are subject to change:
- Big Spring Park East: 200 Church St. (5-8:30 p.m.)
- Constitution Park: 109 Gates Ave. SE (2-2:30 p.m.)
- Ditto Landing: 293 Ditto Landing Road SE (9-10 a.m.)
- Downtown Huntsville Public Library: 915 Monroe St. (11 a.m. to noon; 4:45-7:45 p.m.)
- Huntsville Botanical Garden: 4747 Bob Wallace Ave. (5-8 p.m.)
- Huntsville Fire Station 1: 2110 Clinton Ave. SW (2-3 p.m.; Huntsville firefighters jamming together)
- Huntsville/Madison County Chamber: 225 Church St. NW (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
- Johnson Legacy Center: 6000 Cecil Fain Drive (6-7:15 p.m.)
- North Side Square: 109 North Side Square (12:30-1 p.m.; 6-9 p.m.)
Want to join in the music-making? The Make Music Day Huntsville website serves as an online “matchmaking” database for both artists and venues. Groups can create accounts and register either as a location interested in hosting a performer or as a performer seeking a venue. Some of the current venues include Guitar Center, The Fret Shop, Lowe Mill, The Common House, Nhuchi & Chris Porch Music, Johnson Legacy Center, Stovehouse, and more.
Huntsville Music Officer Matt Mandrella said the partnership with the Huntsville Hospital Music Therapy Program was a natural fit because music can be a tool that both heals and entertains. Eugene Johnson, who manages the program, said he’s excited by the partnership. “From our hospital halls to downtown Huntsville, our community will be filled with incredible talent and music on June 21. This is an inspiring event that showcases the healing power of music. We hope you will join the fun and support Music Therapy through this year's Make Music Day."
Share Make Music Day Huntsville posts to social with the hashtags #MakeMusicDay and #MakeMusicDayHSV. Photos and video can also be shared with the Huntsville Music Office Facebook page.