Make Music Madison

Make Music Madison Make Music Madison is a free outdoor musical celebration that happens every June 21st Make Music Madison is part of Make Music Day.

Last year, over 1,000 cities around the world threw citywide music celebrations on June 21. It all started 38 years ago in France. 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 festiv

al, anyone and everyone would be invited to join and play music, or host performances. The event would take place on the summer solstice, June 21, 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.

06/18/2026
Local musicians, check out this INCREDIBLE opportunity to perform on the Joey’s Song stage at the Sylvee in 2027! 🎸🎶🥳
06/18/2026

Local musicians, check out this INCREDIBLE opportunity to perform on the Joey’s Song stage at the Sylvee in 2027! 🎸🎶🥳

Madison has incredible musicians playing on porches, in parks, and at venues all over the city on June 21st. This year, two of them are going to end up on the Freezing Man stage.

Joey's Song and Make Music Madison have teamed up to give local artists a real shot at performing alongside Rock and Roll Hall of Famers and Grammy winners at Freezing Man 2027.

Play Make Music Madison on June 21st. Submit your video. Let Madison vote.

Submission link in the comments. Rules and regulations apply.

06/18/2026
06/18/2026

Ready to move? 💃🕺

Join The Capitol Social at Penn Park from 12–1pm on Sunday for free salsa lessons! Then, put your new moves to work as lacombi_banda brings the groove. No experience needed—just bring your dancin’ shoes.

06/18/2026

Hoist a pint and warm up the pipes. ⚓🍻

We’re hosting the Stoughton Sea Shanty Society for Make Music Madison on Sunday, June 21 from 1–2 p.m.

This isn’t your usual “sit quietly and clap politely” performance. They’ll bring the songbooks, teach the tunes, and turn the room into a full-on shanty sing-along. No experience required. Just show up, grab a beer, and join the chorus if the sea calls to you.

Free and open to the public, as Make Music Madison intended.

See you there.

06/17/2026

Are you playing Make Music Madison on June 21st?

Film it. Submit it. You could end up on the Freezing Man 2027 stage.

Joey's Song and Make Music Madison are putting two local artists in front of a sold out crowd alongside Rock and Roll Hall of Famers. This is a real opportunity, not a gimmick.

Submission link in the comments. Rules and regulations apply.

06/16/2026

Madison, your soundtrack for Sunday is ready!

From front porches to parks, breweries to bookstores, live music will be filling every corner of the city this Sunday for Make Music Madison. Get out and explore, discover a new favorite artist, and celebrate the first day of summer the day it was meant to be celebrated: with live music.

🎶 Completely free. All ages. City-wide.

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Madison, WI

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