For the second consecutive year, Platteville will have a part in a worldwide music festival next Wednesday.
Make Music Day, on the first day of summer, will be held in more than 750 cities in 120 countries, including, in Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Madison and Platteville.
The Platteville version will feature more than 30 musical acts in 10 locations throughout the city, including Americana, blues, classical, country, folk, jazz, pop, religious and rock music.
Make Music Platteville began after Platteville High School instrumental music teacher Nancy Fairchild attended Make Music Madison in 2014.
“Our son, Mark, was the one that invited us to participate in Madison in 2014,” said Fairchild. “After that event, I said ‘Platteville could do this!’
“For the first year, last year was a perfect day! The musicians that participated had a great time performing, the audience had great weather to be outdoors and it was wonderful to be part of the Make Music Alliance out of New York for their support. The Alliance builds the template for the web-page and provides technical support for the matchmaking software. The matchmaking software puts musicians and venues together making this a ‘do it yourself’ festival.”
Mark Fairchild will be participating in Make Music Portland in Maine, leading a drum circle.
Platteville’s “do-it-yourself” festival has grown considerably for 2017.
“This year the participation of musicians is up 30 percent, and the venue sites up 40 percent from last year,” said Fairchild. “Make Music Platteville, through the Platteville Main Street Program, is once again partially funded by the Platteville Community Fund.”
Events in Platteville start with Pleva’s Piano students at the Platteville Senior Center at 10:45 a.m., and end with Mass Appeal guitar at First English Lutheran Church and the Schumacher family in City Park at 7 p.m.
The largest event may be the Platteville Family and Friend band in City Park at 6 p.m.
New this year will be an instrument petting zoo at Blue Note Music’s new location, the former Rolling Hills Church at 200 N. Court St.
“Make Music Worldwide is a day set aside to celebrate the summer solstice through free music open to anyone that would like to participate,” said Fairchild. “The event originated in France in 1982 and has gradually spread to 750 cities in 120 countries, truly making music a universal language.”
The updated schedule is available at www.makemusicday.org/platteville/listings/.
Make Music Platteville is the first of a summer-long series of musical events in Platteville, which was named one of the Best Communities for Music Education for the third consecutive year.
The annual Platteville Main Street Music in the Park series will begin with The Wundo Band in City Park Thursday, June 22 at 6 p.m. Concerts will be held in City Park Thursdays at 6 p.m. except Thursday, June 29, when the 132nd Army Band will perform in the UW–Platteville Center for the Arts at 6 p.m.
Other concerts include Renegade July 6, City Band July 13, the Fever River String Band July 20, Ken Kilian’s Classic Big Band July 27, Untamed Aug. 3, Point Five Aug. 10, the Katie Burns Band Aug. 17, and Lonely Goats Aug. 24.
The annual Platteville Regional Chamber Hometown Festival Week includes the second annual Southwest Music Festival on Second Street Saturday, July 29, and a new event, the Southwest Gospel Festival, in City Park Sunday, July 30.
