Make Music Day Bethel June 21st 2024

Amateurs, professionals, and established artists will perform at public spaces, restaurants, and businesses in town on Friday, June 21 joining communities around the world in the summer solstice phenomenon Make Music Day.

Make Music Bethel will run from 11 am to 11 pm..

Janice Chrzescijanek, director of Economic Development, Town of Bethel is also chair of Bethel Arts and coordinator of this event.

The idea for Bethel to host the event came from Make Music Danbury Coordinator John Fazio who started the city’s event 5 years ago.

He said it's for anyone and everyone to get outside and play music for people no matter their age, genre, or skill level.

“If you have a passion for hitting two spoons together, this is the day to get out and show people. I'm a full-time musician and a solo act for over 10 years in the area and it's not easy, especially for someone starting out. This event is for everyone with no expectations but to make music.”

Fazio described the experience like walking in the streets and hearing different styles of sounds, like you would in music cities like Austin and Nashville.

Main Street, Danbury is ideally-suited for a music event, though it was a tough one to get started because, “They haven't had live music down there in years.

But Bethel has a thriving music community.”

Fazio grew up in Bethel and wanted to see the day happen here too.

“I reached out to Janice last year and asked if she had heard of it and said Bethel would be a great town to jump in,” he said.

Unlike a typical music festival, anyone and everyone may join Make Music Bethel and play music or host performances. Chrzescijanek said not just performers and bands but any act can sign up to participate.

Jim Felice plays saxophone for the Bad Slugs, one of two bands playing at the gazebo - their set is from 4:30 to 5:45 p.m.

He said he appreciates Bethel Arts’ effort in making this showcase for local talent.

“I think all the towns should embrace all the arts. Many already do. It’s all the rage,” said Felice, of Ridgefield. Their town is also hosting a Make Music Day, as is New Canaan, Norwalk, and Fairfield among many other towns and cities in Connecticut.

Felice is a sculptor. His gallery in Francis J. Clarke Circle is home to the Trailer Box Project to showcase artists.

The Bad Slugs played recently on the patio at Notch8. The 7-piece rock and roll band will perform original songs at Make Music Bethel.

Jackie Chasen who is a composer and music director from Tandem Theatre at Workspace CT in town will also perform.

“We wanted to participate in Make Music Day because we feel our enrichment programs are a strong part of our community. At WorkspaceCT, we celebrate the power of music and theatre regularly and it is nice to see a special day dedicated to using music to bring the community together. And what better day than the beginning of summer when our communities really start to come alive after cold winters,” Jodiann Tenney, its business and marketing specialist, said.

The Bethel Seasonal Drum Circle will have their participatory performance at the Municipal Center lawn by the flagpole from 6:00-7:30pm.

The drum circle comes out four times a year in Bethel for the solstice/equinox schedule.

The founders are Suze Shaner and Karin Lewis-Cook who serve on the Cultural Alliance of Western Connecticut Board. They met at an event in Bethel where they held the first drum circle last August, said Shaner.

"People of all ages came. We published on social media. Dan Carter the first selectman came. People were very interested, so we said let’s do it once a quarter,” Shaner said.

The drum circle regularly draws 20-35 people who can sign up on a mailing list to be notified of their events. Drums and percussion instruments are supplied but people can bring their own. “We never run out of drums or other kinds of percussion instruments.”

Shaner said she will start the event by saying something about the summer solstice and encourages the public to come and participate.

“You don’t have to be musical. Once you hit your drum even if you’re not in rhythm, it doesn’t matter. We like to bring it!” she enthused.

Drumming in unison is like the heartbeat of human nature, Shaner said.

A trained expressive arts therapist and artist, she continued, “Playing drums can help people express themselves. Before anything on earth there was sound. There was a vibration. Science is now validating what ancient and indigenous tribes just knew. Drumming was very healing. Very therapeutic.”

Bethel Arts is a nonprofit and the sponsor of Make Music Day Bethel.

“There’s a lot of organizations around the nations that become sponsors of the day. There’s a fee to participate and use the platform for marketing on the website,” said Chrzescijanek.

Venues and musicians sign up to participate. Acts are being added daily.

Everything is free. The musicians don’t get paid. The venues (restaurants and businesses) don't get paid. The three town venues are PT Barnum Square, Bethel Library, and the Municipal Center lawn.

Attendance is free to the public. “It’s a free celebration of music. Venues do not have to only be downtown,” Chrzescijanek said. Some are in Stony Hill.

“What’s unique about this is it really is a free community event. People can come and plan ahead of time, figure out where they want to go, who they want to listen to. Nobody is making money off of this. It’s about bringing music to the community.

27 performers and bands, and over a dozen venues have signed up and more are doing so daily, Chrzescijanek said.

Sign up here.

A list of venues and performers and times of events can be found here.

Food Truck Friday with live music is also running the same day at the Municipal Center.

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