By Nicole Sandler
Northside News
One of Madison’s most creative and musical events happens every year on June 21, the summer solstice. For many, there’s no better way of celebrating the longest day of the year than with free, local, live music spread throughout the city. Make Music Madison offers an opportunity to connect with friends and neighbors while taking in music — all kinds of music performed by all kinds of artists. And it’s no surprise that the Northside offers a range of venues where you can stop by to listen, dance and support talented musicians.
This June 21 (a Friday) will mark the sixth year that Madison joins the international summer solstice music celebration “Make Music Day.” Once again local organizers are volunteering their time to turn our city into a stage, welcoming music makers of all ages, backgrounds, skill levels and musical styles. Through the generous support of the Madison Arts Commission and Isthmus, along with sponsorships by numerous radio stations and media groups, we’ll be treated to music at over 100 locations across the city. You’ll find more than 400 live performances in or outside coffee shops, libraries and businesses, on front porches, front lawns and driveways, and in our parks.
Here on the Northside we’re fortunate to have a multitude of locations already registered for the event. The Warner Park Shelter is one of the most established and well-known Make Music Madison venues, thanks in part to dedicated community member and renowned blues musician Guy Fields. For the past five years Fields, better known as “Old Black Joe,” has served as master of ceremonies of the Warner Park performances and has helped bring a lineup of diverse talents to the stage.
A 2016 North Star Award recipient for his dedication to this event, Fields is a crowd favorite when the takes the stage himself. When asked what’s so special about Make Music Madison, especially the Warner Park Shelter venue, Fields can’t say enough.
“This event offers such a great variety of music. You’ll find world music, traditional blues, spoken word, reggae, to name just some. It’s a free day of culture when the community can come out and enjoy the pond [Warner],” said Fields. “It’s the music, though, that really makes the day beautiful. It’s a day to celebrate music in the universe.”
Other Northside venues that have hosted Make Music Madison performances in the past and will again this year include Manna Café (they’ll host swing, blues and folk artists) and the Lakeview Branch Library (covered sidewalk performances by singers/songwriters and a capella/barbershop artists). The Dane County Regional Airport also serves as a stage and is offering blues, folk, Americana and bluegrass performances throughout the day.
For a more homegrown experience, Northsiders will find live music at the dead end of Fremont Avenue, including children’s performances. Another Northside stage, The Creek, is described as a “wooden patio under a white pine on Starkweather Creek” and will offer indie-folk, blues, Americana and bluegrass music. Be sure to check the full listing and schedule on the event website, makemusicmadison.org.