Article Source: Make Music Day UK
Last Updated: 20 June 2022 10:36
A diverse range of free events will take place across the UK this Make Music Day to celebrate the world’s biggest grassroots DIY music festival and mark the global celebration which takes place annually on 21 June. Double the amount of events will take place in Scotland this year compared to 2021, with the vast majority of all UK events being live.
Make Music Day is the UK’s largest single-day music festival, encouraging musicians, producers, promoters and music lovers to collaborate and organise free in-person and online performances in their communities. Solo performers, groups and music creators of all types are invited to take part, regardless of age, ability or musical genre.
This year will see the largest representation from Scotland to date, making up a third of all Make Music Day UK events, and professional music organisations such as RSNO, EIF, Dunedin Consort and Nevis Ensemble will take part in various events. Scottish musicians Nicola Benedetti and Iona Fyfe will also be ambassadors for the festival.
Singer Iona Fyfe said: “Make Music Day has always achieved the goal of bringing people together to create music – with an emphasis on community music-making. Now more than ever, musicians from all backgrounds and experiences are eager to create music with others and collaborate, whether that be online or in person.
“The festival has been so instrumental in merging both online collaboration and in-person events seamlessly and I’m excited to have taken part in the Global Folk Challenge, which will see several musicians share songs from their respective cultures, customs, languages and traditions.”
In Scotland, events already planned include Make Music Day Glasgow at Byres Road and the lanes. The day of live music will consist of free performances in venues including Embargo, Tennents Bar, Ubiquitous Chip and the Record Factory.
A string of events will also take place at Edinburgh Central Library from noon until 6 pm, including performances from the Edinburgh Mandolin and Guitar Orchestra, Fernando and Michalina, Rolling Hills Chorus, Tenement Jazz Band and Drookit.
In one of the largest events of the day Pulse of the Place will be bringing together 100 young street drummers to perform at the foot of The Mound in Edinburgh.
Events can take place anywhere, as highlighted by the event Singy Dipping, where Edinburgh’s famous outdoor swimmers “Wild Ones” will walk into the sea at Portobello and perform some joyful songs, encouraging audience members to watch and listen on the beach or take a dip themselves.
Classical guitarist Jacopo Lazzaretti will also perform a private concert at Aurrida House, Orkney for people who are neurodivergent or experience learning difficulties. Meanwhile, Musicians in Exile, a group of refugee and asylum-seeking musicians in Glasgow who celebrate diverse cultures in song and music, will perform at Govan and Linthouse Parish Church. They will take to the stage to showcase Home, a performance full of stories and songs about people and places the performers left behind, celebrating their cultures through the freedom of song.
All events are free and can be found on the Make Music Day UK website, where anyone can search for an event happening in their local area or online.
In addition to organising their own events for Make Music Day, musicians are invited to take part in one of the many national and international projects designed to encourage global collaboration. Scottish performers will feature in the global Make Music Day broadcast, accompanying performances from Australia, India, Cyprus, Nigeria, Germany and the US.
Paul Gudgin, Co-Director of Make Music Day UK, said: “This is going to be an outstanding year for Make Music Day in Scotland. With the support of Creative Scotland we are presenting a large and incredibly broad programme of live events involving performers of all ages throughout the country.
“Make Music Day will be a timely celebration of the strength of music in Scotland and a symbol of the way music is bouncing back from the pandemic.”
Since beginning as Fête de la Musique in France in 1982, Make Music Day has grown into a global phenomenon that takes place annually in 125 countries, always on 21 June. The event first came to the UK in 2012, and 2017 marked the first UK-wide, coordinated celebration with support and funding from national organisations, resulting in 147 performances. In 2021, Make Music Day saw 30,000 performers present 3,000 events to a combined online and live audience of 330,000 people across the UK.
Alongside the support of partner organisations and their combined networks, development in Scotland is supported by Creative Scotland.
This December, Glasgow's Oran Mor premieres Morag Fullarton's new theatre production, 'It's a Wonderful Life... Mostly'.
READ MORE
Raise a dram to a decade of Deliveroo: Civerinos and Deliveroo launch 10p pizzas to celebrate 10 years of feeding the people of Scotland.
READ MORE
Glasgow Fort has teamed up with Leopardo Pizza to launch a Home Alone-inspired competition, giving shoppers the chance to win a year's supply of Kevin McCallister’s favourite cheese pizza.
READ MORE
Lidl has unveiled its first-ever ‘Lidl Wrapped’ - a celebration of some of the nation's favourite buys, brought to life as limited-edition Christmas wrapping paper
READ MORE
Glasgow Fort has teamed up with local charities to help raise awareness of the support they can provide to people of all ages experiencing feelings of loneliness and isolation at Christmas.
READ MORE
Tron Theatre is delighted to announce its brand-new season of work for Spring/Summer 2026.
READ MORE
This Sunday visitors to VEGA's Christmas Market have the chance to “unwrap the city” and win the ultimate Glasgow Christmas gift worth over £1,000!
READ MORE
City centre shopping destination Buchanan Galleries has expanded its retail line-up this December with the arrival of two new stores, offering visitors even more choice in the run-up to Christmas.
READ MORE
Lab mentors and partners include Oscar-winning and nominated directors, leading animation studios, and executives from Netflix, BFI, Aardman, and Curzon.
READ MORE
Scotland's basketball franchise Caledonia Gladiators has launched a unique new VIP experience – thought to be the most exclusive sporting seat in the country – in aid of charity.
READ MORE
Since launching in 2019, the Shipyard Bards, Tall Tales and Dinner events held at Glasgow's Mharsanta restaurant have repeatedly sold out.
READ MORE
Gillian Shirreffs has raised over £30,000 for charity through her writing, and she'll be signing copies of Elephant on Saturday 13th December at Waterstones Byres Road.
READ MORE
Silverburn, Glasgow's leading retail and leisure destination, has unveiled a packed diary full of events this December, as guests get ready for Christmas.
READ MORE
Celtic Connections surprised Saturday morning coffee goers with live pop-up gigs across Glasgow, bringing emerging artists into unexpected spaces.
READ MORE
As part of Glasgow 850's Get You In Panto Town celebration, new figures reveal the significant economic contribution of Glasgow's beloved pantomime season to the city's economy.
READ MORE
If your New Year's resolution is to have more fun, start early at Flight Club!
READ MORE
Sloans, has unveiled a spectacular festive transformation following a £300,000 investment that has reinvented the 228-year-old venue inside and out.
READ MORE
There’s plenty for fans of South Asian cinema to enjoy at Vue this December, with a number of titles heading to the big screen.
READ MORE
Some visitors reckon that Santa's cousin who is currently in residence at Winter Wonderland at Glasgow Green is the coolest of Santas.
READ MORE
Children in Glasgow are in for a festive treat this year, as a number of local retailers have announced they will be giving away all 15 toys featured on this year's coveted DreamToys list.
READ MORE
National Trust for Scotland has added its voice to those seeking assurances about the preservation of the first ever Hampden Park in Glasgow.
READ MORE
The newly opened Luss Distillery has announced its first events ahead of the festive season.
READ MORE
Glasgow shoppers embraced “slow shopping” as The Social Hub hosted its Rethink Black Friday market, offering a calm alternative that spotlighted local makers.
READ MORE
Christmas is in full swing at Glasgow Fort, with festive character visits, the Christmas market and family activities now underway to help get shoppers of all ages into the festive spirit.
READ MORE
Jackton Distillery, the family run Lowland distillery behind the RAER whisky, spirits and wine portfolio, has announced a packed Christmas calendar for December 2025.
READ MORE
East Asian-inspired lifestyle brand KENJI has opened the doors to its first Scottish store as it joins the impressive brand lineup at Silverburn.
READ MORE
Loganair, the UK’s leading regional airline, has launched a new festive competition to name the puffin starring in its emotional Christmas advert.
READ MORE
Celebrate the season with festive fun for the whole family at the National Museum of Rural Life.
READ MORE
Scotland's premier retail destination, Braehead Shopping Centre, today announce that this Christmas they will again welcome the Young Enterprise Christmas Trade Fayre.
READ MORE
Katie Gregson-MacLeod is urging young Glaswegians to discover new music IRL as Celtic Connections brings free pop-up gigs to Patricia's x SLB, Through The House and Black Pine this Saturday.
READ MORE