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'Make Music Buffalo' returns this Friday, June 21

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Mon, Jun 17th 2019 04:45 pm

Over a dozen free outdoor events to be held across area as part of annual global celebration

“Make Music Buffalo” will return for its fourth year with what organizers called “a wild and wonderful mix of over a dozen free outdoor musical events” on Friday, June 21.

This event is part of “Make Music Day,” a global music celebration that takes place on the summer solstice each year and brings people of all ages and skill levels together to make music. This year, more than 80 U.S. cities and the entire states of Vermont and Connecticut will host thousands of “Make Music” performances across the country as part of the world’s largest annual music event.

Highlights of “Make Music Buffalo” will include:

•Lunchtime performances at the Downtown Library and Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus;

•Alliance Française's “Fête de la Musique” starting at 5:30 p.m. at Colored Musicians Club with Chantons ensemble, French ConéXion, Michèle et Maggie interlude classique, Carina and the Six String Preacher, Maggie Roston Jazz Quartet, and an open mic;

•The lighting orange of Niagara Falls, the Peace Bridge, Electric Tower, and Innovation Center at the Medical Campus in honor of “Make Music Day”;

•Music at the Historic Old House Downtown with The Molice, Nigel Nige Network, and Green Gymnast CC; and

•Free live music after work and in the evening in Buffalo, Niagara Falls and Blasdell, and an open mic in Orchard Park.

A full schedule of events is posted at www.makemusicday.org/western-ny and www.facebook.com/MakeMusicBuffalo.

“Here’s something about ‘Make Music Day’ that is different than any other event in Buffalo: Not only does the event connect all parts of Buffalo through music, it connects us to the world,” Buffalo Rising Co-Founder Newell Nussbaumer said of the day. “This is an event that the entire city should be getting behind. Whether you’re sitting on your stoop, playing guitar, or attending a free ‘Make Music Day’ event, there is something empowering about ‘Make Music Day,’ which is why the event has swept the world. ‘Make Music Day’ is what you make of it, which is why it is so different – there is no real official plan … it’s very organic. It’s all about making music – something that should be available to all Buffalonians, no matter where they are coming from, or where they are heading. Because in the end, we are all intertwined by our love of music, whether we’re listening to it, or playing it. ‘Make Music Day’ allows us to do both.”

Nussbaumer, joined by “Swannie” Jim Watkins, Sam Hoyt and Tod Kniazuk, were among the early proponents of bringing “Make Music Day” to the area. Kniazuk helped launch it under the auspices of Arts Services Initiative of Western New York, where it spent its first three years. Now, Nussbaumer and Kniazuk are keeping it going as a volunteer-run grassroots event.

“We’re deeply grateful to ASI for giving ‘Make Music Day’ its start in our area, and for ensuring a smooth transition to our team of volunteers when they decided not to continue to be involved,” Kniazuk said. “This is a community-driven event, and our group of volunteers are excited to continue it in our community.”

“Make Music Day” began in France in 1982 as the Fête de la Musique, and has spread to over 1,000 cities across 120 countries. Completely different from a typical musical festival, “Make Music” concerts are performed by anyone who wants to take part, and enjoyed by everyone who wants to attend. From classical to folk, hip-hop to opera, Latin jazz to punk-rock, live music of all kinds resounds on streets, sidewalks, porches, plazas, parks, gardens, storefronts and other public spaces on the longest day of the year.

Following is a listing of free music in the Buffalo area happening on “Make Music Day.” As more is added, visit www.makemusicday.org/western-ny and www.facebook.com/MakeMusicBuffalo for the complete and up-to-date list.

•Downtown Buffalo Library Reading Park Front Ramp (1 Lafayette Square), noon to 1 p.m., Concertina Club of Western New York

•Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus Food Truck Park (Washington and Carlton streets, Buffalo), noon to 1 p.m., TBA

•Pastry by Camille (1416 Hertel Ave., Buffalo), noon until 2 p.m., French ConéXion

•M&T Bank Plaza (345 Main St., Buffalo), noon to 1 p.m., West of the Mark

•The Historic Old House Downtown (153 Delaware Ave., Buffalo), 5-7 p.m., The Molice, Nigel Nige Network, Green Gymnast CC

•Summer BBQ in the Beer Garden at Flying Bison Brewing Company (840 Seneca St., Buffalo), 5-8 p.m., Jimmy from Pirate Dreams

•The Quarter (26 Virginia Place, Buffalo), 5-8: p.m., Sam Marbella Trio; 9 p.m. to midnight, Jim Bohm Trio

•Polish Happy Hour at Woodlawn Beach Tiki Bar (3580 Lake Shore Road, Blasdell), 5-11 p.m., Disco Duck, DJ Red, and a screening of “Jaws”

•Alliance Française's Fête de la Musique at Colored Musicians Club (145 Broadway, Buffalo):

  • 5:30-6:15 p.m., Open mic
  • 6:15-7 p.m., Chantons ensemble – sing-a-long
  • 7-7:45 p.m., French ConéXion
  • 7:45-8:15 p.m., Michèle et Maggie interlude classique
  • 8:15-9 p.m., Carina and the Six String Preacher
  • 9-10 p.m., Maggie Roston Jazz Quartet

•Music & Arts (4190 N. Buffalo St., Orchard Park), 6-8 p.m., open mic night; sign up at www.MusicArts.com/OpenHouse

•Old Falls Street USA (101 Old Falls St. Niagara Falls), 6-10 p.m., Old School B-Boys & Buffalo Arial Dance

•Chill 443 (443 Main St., Niagara Falls), 6:30-9:30 p.m., Max Muscato

•Jazz and Cocktail “Nights at the Terrace” hosted by JazzBuffalo at The Terrace at Delaware Park (199 Lincoln Parkway, Buffalo), 7-10 p.m., Elliott Scozzaro Duo

•Buffalo Distilling Co. (860 Seneca St., Buffalo), 7-10 p.m., Dozo My Lady

•Je Nes Sais Quoi (1673 Hertel Ave., Buffalo), 7:30-10 p.m., Ascension Band

•Community Beer Works (520 7th St., Buffalo), 8-11 p.m., Invisible Touch ’80s Extravaganza

•Dinosaur BBQ (301 Franklin St., Buffalo), 10 p.m. to 1 a.m., Jason Staniszewki & Casey Bloom

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