Worldwide DIY music festival brings Central Texas into harmony in June
Central Texas prepares for June’s global phenomenon
On June 21, Central Texas finds itself at the harmonic center of a worldwide event with more than 25 music-based happenings on the calendar. June 21 marks Make Music Day, a global DIY music festival. Despite Austin being renowned as a hotbed of musical talent and creativity, it has been missing from the world stage for this event since 2021. However, this only serves to shine the spotlight brighter on the smaller, surrounding locations of College Station, Salado, San Marcos, and San Antonio, among others.
A global celebration of music
Make Music Day, which occurs during the year’s longest daylight period, celebrates music in its most accessible and egalitarian form. Now in its 41st year, this event takes its roots from France and has since spread internationally. Participants don’t require notable experience or connections. Instead, their love of music and desire to share it are qualifications sufficient enough to secure them a place in the day’s schedule. Thus, the event encapsulates the true spirit of performance and the joyous act of creating and sharing music.
Make Music Day in Central Texas
For Central Texas, the dozen and more events underscore the region’s thriving musical culture. Here are a few highlights:
- College Station: Audiences can look forward to three free concerts, one of which features a jazz quartet at Century Square.
- Salado: Numerous music-centric events are scheduled, and every music venue in the town is participating. The highlight of the festival — a drum circle, invites participants to bring buckets or any resonant household item to create music together.
- San Marcos: Four different venues host concerts including a fascinating Latin jam orchestrated by Kirsten Boynt from the local group Los Gatos 512.
- San Antonio: As the largest event in the vicinity, San Antonio is planned to be the musical melting pot of Central Texas. Programming ten solid hours of music at the Texas Public Radio Headquarters, the event features several activities including a drum circle and karaoke. There will also be a day of experimentation for music lovers at the park.
Aspiring performers eager to join the festival can visit each city’s official page and create a music profile to match with potential venues. However, securing a venue isn’t necessary — performers may simply identify and list their own space, even a front stoop, and get right to making music.
For those looking to get involved on the production side, the festival’s broader schedule provides a list of national projects. From group projects involving setting up flower pots to be played on, to a song swap for artists to make covers of each other’s music, the festival offers abundant opportunities.
The 15 Texan celebrations of Make Music Day take place in Dallas, Houston, Laredo, and other locations around the state. However, enthusiasts will have to choose wisely, as all these celebrations happen on the same day.
More about the festival can be found on its official site of Make Music Day.
Hitting the right notes
In conclusion, while Austin may be historically recognized as the region’s musical capital, the spirit of Make Music Day encourages smaller locales to take center stage. A tune played in San Marcos reverberates all the way to Ghana and Italy, exemplifying the power of music to unify and bring communities together. This June 21, Central Texas is set to join this global symphony, hitting the right notes of unity, DIY culture, and music in its purest form.
