About Make Music Salem

Make Music Day Salem is an outgrowth of the Fete de la Musique, which originated in France in 1982. Make Music Day is an event for people who love music and the joyous sense of community that music can foster. The event began as a call to musicians in Paris to get out in the streets on June 21 and play their music. It has since spread and has a large footprint, particularly in Europe and parts of Africa, but also in a handful of cities getting started in the U.S. We think this is a great way to showcase our city and the many talented and amazing people that make Salem special. Last year we had over 230 musicians and bands perform at 50 venues!

The next Make Music Day Salem celebration is set for Saturday, June 21, 2025. It is held at numerous locations in Salem every June 21 (the summer solstice). Make Music Day Salem is a call to participation: Music by the People, For the People. It is an invitation to all musicians, amateur as well as professional, to sign up to play at one of the available venues and, after practicing up for the big event, to perform on June 21. And it is an invitation to music-lovers to show up at the venues and enjoy the musical offerings. Make Music Day Salem is a celebration of music of all genres played by and enjoyed by people of all stripes. We will be joining over 1000 cities around the world to celebrate Make Music Day – so help us make this day unforgettable as we kick off summer with music for all to enjoy!

Sign Up To Perform

Want to perform in this year’s Make Music Day? Register yourself or your band here and add a bio, pictures, description and anything else you might want on your profile. You can browse the available venues and request to play at them. The venue will accept your request.

Register as Performer

Want to host outside on Make Music Day? Register your venue to welcome performers! Set available times, request performers or wait until they request you! Include what genres you prefer and what your set-up is.

Register as Venue

Sign Up to Host

Sign Up to Sponsor

Interested in supporting Make Music Salem through a partnership or sponsorship? Any help to make this Make Music Salem great would be appreciated.

Register as Sponsor

Give a Donation

Make Music Salem is free and open to the public and your contributions make it all possible. Make Music Salem is a community-based fiscally sponsored non-profit through the Salem Foundation. Donations to Make Music Salem are tax deductible. You can donate directly to The Salem Foundation in C/O Make Music Day Salem or contact the Salem Foundation at SalemFoundation@PioneerTrustBank.com. Make Payments to The Salem Foundation in C/O Make Music Day Salem

Salem Foundation Tax ID Number:
93-6018523

Donate

Sign Up to Volunteer

Want to help out with Make Music Salem this year? Putting on an event this big takes a lot of work and we could use all the help we can! We are looking for community volunteers of all ages, experiences, and backgrounds to help out.

Register as Volunteer

DEADLINES

Deadline for Creating Account

JUNE 1
This is your deadline to create an account on our match-making site.
Deadline for Making Profile and Appearing on Event Poster

JUNE 1
This is your deadline to make a profile and also to be featured on our final poster that lists all performers and venues.
Deadline for Confirming Performances

JUNE 7
All performances must be confirmed by this deadline so that all schedules can be finalized.

Sign Up

FAQs

WHERE DID THE IDEA OF MAKE MUSIC DAY SALEM COME FROM?

Make Music Day Salem (MMDS) is based on France’s Fête de la Musique, a national musical holiday inaugurated in 1982. The festival has become an international phenomenon celebrated on the same day, June 21st, in more than 800 cities in 120 countries, including Germany, Italy, Switzerland, and Japan. American cities include Salem, New York, Chicago, Denver, Nashville, Boston, and Seattle, among others. To find out more visit the Make Music Alliance

WHO CAN PARTICIPATE?

Anyone and everyone can participate. Amateurs, students, professionals, and established artists are all welcome. MMDS is open to artists of all ages, all levels of ability, individuals and groups, and all musical categories.

HOW DO I SIGN UP TO PERFORM / HOST A MUSIC PERFORMANCE?

Musicians and host locations can use our ‘Match-Making’ tool on the Participate page to register and make performance arrangements with each other. Sign Up Click Here

WHERE DO THE MUSICIANS PLAY?

A variety of locations are possible for the performances. Some sites are sidewalks, alleys, plazas, schools, courtyards, in front of restaurants or businesses, the Capitol, and parks.

WHO WILL PROVIDE A STAGE / BACKLINE / TUNED GRAND PIANO / ETC., FOR MY PERFORMANCE?

Make Music Day Salem is not a typical music festival. MMDS is about neighborhoods and people getting together in their neighborhoods in a do-it-yourself fashion, putting together their own musical events. Our organizers set up the framework for performances — the rest is up to you! Artists and locations collaborate to produce the events, arrange for electricity, and provide whatever equipment is needed. Salem is your stage. We won’t be constructing stages (though some local venues may do so — and secure additional permits and funding as needed). Performances generally take place at the same level as the audience.You have complete artistic control. It’s your performance. If you want to perform with a different guitarist than previously announced, or take an extended 20-minute bass solo, you don’t have to ask our permission! (But let us know if we need to update your concert description.) And everyone can take part. From professionals to amateurs, from the mainstream to the unfashionably bizarre — if you can find a workable spot for your performance, you can be part of Make Music Day Salem!

HOW DO I SIGN UP TO PERFORM WITH MY FRIENDS? HOW DO I CURATE A SHOW WITH MULTIPLE ARTISTS?

It’s a great idea to partner up with a friend or many friends! So that we have a unique musical description and web address for every performer, each artist should sign up separately. Then have each one match themselves to the same location, at different time slots. If the entire program has a particular theme or title, put that in the location’s description box.

WHAT IF MY BAND SIGNS UP NOW AND HAS TO BACK OUT LATER?

We are counting on you to perform. If you do need to cancel, it is your responsibility to find another performer to take your spot. Please let the location and us know about all program changes ASAP.

WILL MUSICIANS BE PAID TO PERFORM AND WILL THE VENUE CHARGE A FEE TO HOST A PERFORMANCE?

Make Music Day was designed to be a free music event, therefore the performers are not compensated. The venue sites must also host performances without a fee to either the performers or the Make Music Day organization. Make Music Day events around the world invite everyone from the community to either perform, host or attend musical performances and celebrate the first day of summer. The design of a free musical event for everyone is the spirit of Make Music Day throughout the 800 plus cities worldwide that participate.Although performers and host sites are not paid for their musical performances, we help coordinate the overall event and publicize the event city-wide with posters, media stories, social media posts, performance listings with our media partners, an interactive website, and a volunteer street-team.

WHAT IF I PLAY AN INSTRUMENT, BUT DON’T HAVE MY OWN BAND?

You can always make this your first time performing or you can join one of our ‘Mass Appeal’ events. We are organizing musicians to band together to perform pieces written for a single type of instrument. Each performance works differently, depending on the genre, the instrument, and the location. If you have an idea and would like to organize a Mass Appeal Event please email us!

CAN MMDS PERFORMERS SELL CDS, MERCHANDISE OR ASK FOR DONATIONS?

Musicians are allowed to sell their band or individual musician merchandise and CDs during their Make Music Day performance. Musicians can also promote any future performances. Performers may discreetly solicit donations during their Make Music Day performance.

WHAT WILL MMDS DO TO HELP PROMOTE MY CONCERT?

We list all performances on the MMDS website (with descriptions and artist websites), on other social media, include in any newspaper articles about MMDS, and for those performers and venues that register they will be included on the official Make Music Salem poster distributed to businesses throughout the city. We also encourage all musicians and host locations to do their own promoting - sending out email blasts, putting notices on websites, including on social media, handing out flyers to customers, inviting all employees, customers, family, and friends, etc. Obviously the more you help promote, the more people will come to see you perform and attend at your host location.

HOW LATE IN THE EVENING CAN MY PERFORMANCE GO?

In most cases, amplified music can be played until 10 p.m. but this will depend on where you are and the permits in place for the event. Acoustic or unamplified music can be played after 10 p.m. There are some venues and events such as our Silent Disco that will continue after 10 p.m. so please consult the schedule.

CAN MY CONCERT BE “INVITATION ONLY”?

No. The MMD event is a free music event for anyone to attend.

CAN I CREATE A MMDS EVENT THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE ANY LIVE MUSIC?

Possibly. If you have a musical performance that does not include anyone performing live music (e.g. a DJ), contact us directly to determine whether your act fits the MMD criteria.

CAN I HAVE MY EVENT INDOORS?

The MMD event is an outdoor celebration, however, due to rain, it may be moved indoors. Any necessary change from outdoor sites due to weather will be determined closer to the event date.

IS THIS AN ANNUAL EVENT?

Yes. MMDS will take place June 21 every year.

WHO PUTS THIS ALL TOGETHER?

Make Music Day Salem is a nonprofit, volunteer-run network. Donations and sponsorship are tax-deductible through our fiscal sponsor, The Salem Foundation. The event is FREE and open to the public. Our gracious sponsors and individual contributions make it all possible.

HOW CAN I GET INVOLVED AS A VOLUNTEER?

We will need volunteers in making preparations for the event and on the day of the event. If you would like to help us out, please visit our Volunteer Sign Up Page. Make Music Day Salem is already the largest musical event in Salem history and with your help we can make it even better!

HOW CAN I DONATE TO MAKE MUSIC DAY SALEM OR BECOME A SPONSOR FOR THE EVENT?

We’re glad you asked! As we expand and transform into an annual free cultural event, we need your continued support to keep it going. Make Music Day Salem is a nonprofit, volunteer-run network. Donations and sponsorship are tax-deductible through our fiscal sponsor, The Salem Foundation. If your business would like more information about being a Sponsor or Partner let us know. Thank you for your interest in Make Music Day Salem.

wac-grantor-marion-cultural-development-corporation.png