Skip navigation
Skip navigation
You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser.

There is under a month to go until this year's international Music Day celebrations hits the UK.

There is under a month to go until this year's international Music Day celebrations hits the UK.

Music Day is a connected set of free public music events taking place each year on 21st June in over 100 countries and 700 cities around the world. The festival has been officially taking place in the UK since 2012 and is a fun and vibrant celebration of music in all its forms. It's a truly grassroots event with no sponsorship or ulterior motives – just localised, low-impact events for the community. Many of the events are family-friendly and the day is also about DIY participation and cultural exchange.

Music Day events come in the shape of gigs, festivals, workshops, sing-a-longs, club nights – you name it! The proviso is that all events created for Music Day are free of charge and open to the public. In other countries the idea revolves around bringing music out onto the streets and public spaces. This attitude is encouraged in the United Kingdom, though most events take place in established venues as it’s logistically easier.

All #MusicDay2017 events are listed on an interactive map on the central website: www.musicday.org.uk


WHO ARE WE?

Our group, Music Day UK, is a small collective of musicians and music-lovers who have been working voluntarily to be the official co-ordinators of British contributions to the international Music Day phenomenon since 2012.

This is an annual event which takes place across the globe on 21 June, the longest day of the year and our midsummer solstice. The event is also known as Fête de la Musique, having originated in France, and the idea is simple – a celebration of music in all its forms in a variety of locations which is free of charge and fully accessible to the public.

It will be the 35th international Music Day in 2017 and the sixth consecutive year that the event takes place in the United Kingdom under the guidance of Music Day UK.


EDITORIAL

During the Jubilee and Olympics celebrations it was apparent that people and communities responded positively to the call for hosting local street parties for themselves; when licensing restrictions and ‘red tape’ were lessened there was a tangible sense of communities coming together to celebrate. We want to imbue this spirit into Music Day and for it to be a regular event which inspires collaboration between artists, event organisers and the community.

Local festivals are becoming scarcer, either being monopolised by large festival organisers and out-priced from local residents, or drowned out through bureaucratic procedure and cost; leading to a decline in community-led events. Music Day UK wants to create a working template that is nationally recognised and can be replicated – making 21st June every year a focus for free local community celebrations and reduce the constraints and costs that often dissuade potential event organisers.


LISTINGS

At the time of writing we have 25+ events listed on our website and located on a map of the UK. In addition to our ongoing work to publicise Music Day and provide support where possible, we always organise our own flagship event.

For the second year running this will be taking place at the prestigious outdoor amphitheatre space The Scoop – on the south bank of the Thames, dug into the side of City Hall and overlooking Tower Bridge. It's an amazing location and we are grateful to More Estates and the London Bridge City Summer Festival for hosting us again.


Music Day UK's flagship event:

This is the flagship event from the Music Day UK campaign team for #MusicDay2017 and we have for the second time been invited to stage a takeover of The London Bridge City Summer Festival – which is simply in one of the most amazing locations you could possibly find in London!

Wednesday 21 June 2017
Free entry • 6pm-10pm • No ticket necessary
The Scoop at The London Bridge City Summer Festival
More London Estates, Tooley St, London SE1 2DB

Genres: African, Rock, Reggae/Ska, Other, Acoustic, Punk, Blues
Lineup: King Punch, The Majestic, King Salami and the Cumberland Three, Seeds of Creation
URL: www.musicday.org.uk/flagship
Facebook event: www.facebook.com/events/349750152089631


Other #MusicDay2017 events in the UK:

Deptford’s International Music Day
The Birds Nest, 32 Deptford Church St, London SE8 4RZ
Free concerts at lively South London boozer The Birds Nest for the fourth year running.
Jazz, Pop, Rock, Other, Acoustic, Avant-Garde

Busker Special in Deptford
Various locations in Deptford: The Hoy Kitchen & Steps, Overdrive Studios, Vinyl Deptford, The Music Complex, The Birds Nest, Brookmill Park
Anyone who wants to perform songs, play an acoustic instrument or just enjoy the music is welcome to join in.
Acoustic, Open Mic, Various

International Music Day in Edinburgh
The Pond, 2 Bath Rd, Edinburgh EH6 7JT
A whole host of local DJ’s celebrating Music Day in Edinburgh.
Hip hop, Reggae/Ska, Other, Punk, Electronic Downtempo, Electronic Uptempo

Free Live Jazz Jam
Grow, Main Yard, 98C Wallis Rd, London E9 5LN
Celebrate Music day in Hackney Wick with a live jazz special.
Jazz, Jam Session

Comedy Virgins Musical Comedy Night!
The Cavendish Arms, London SW8 2HJ
Special comedy event dedicated to all our Musical Comedians!
Comedy

Learn to Play Day
Westminster Music Library, 160 Buckingham Palace Rd, London SW1W
Learn to play - Free for all ages and abilities. Pick an instrument and get acquainted, learn the basics of notation.
Classical, Acoustic, Folk

Brazilian Music Day
Made in Brasil. Two venues:
48 Chalk Farm Rd, London NW1 8AJ
2 Inverness St, London NW1 7HJ
Live Brazilian Entertainment
Latin American, Acoustic

Music Day Hull event at O’Rileys
O’Rileys, 83 Beverley Rd, Hull, Kingston upon Hull HU6 7JJ
Our second Music Day event at O’Rileys in Hull with four live acts confirmed so far.
Rock, Acoustic, Electronic Uptempo, Folk

Lucky Voice Islington – Free sing!
Lucky Voice, 173 Upper St, London N1 1RG
We’re celebrating Music Day 2017 with a free 2 hour sing using booking code MD1
All kinds (karaoke)

Open Jack – Music Day 2017 special
New River Studios, 199 Eade Rd, London N4 1DN
Live electronic music performances
Acoustic, Avant-Garde, Electronic Downtempo

Souterrain Presents - Jacob March + Sureyya + Bow Promise + Toby
Strongroom Bar & Kitchen, 124 Curtain Rd, London EC2A 3SQ
The 2017 edition of Music Day at Strongroom Bar
Hip hop, Jazz, Pop, Other, Acoustic, Blues, Folk

Holbeach Town Band practice night
Back Ln, Holbeach, Spalding PE12 7LN
An ideal opportunity to find out more about learning to play a brass instrument, practise with the band, or join in.
Brass

Krafty Kids Junk Orchestra
Grow, Main Yard, 98C Wallis Rd, London E9 5LN
Krafty Kids will make a cocophony of junk and recycled instruments and then descend on the unsuspecting of Hackney Wick to make a minute’s noise!
Noise!

Music Day @ Gainsborough School
Gainsborough Primary School, Berkshire Rd, London E9 5ND
The KS1 & 2 choirs will perform a short recital to their parents and careers.
Choral

U3A Grace Notes
Station Parade, Ockham Rd S, East Horsley, Leatherhead KT24
U3A Making Music group will play for the local villagers.
Easy Listening

Smokin’ Mic - Open Mic Night
Number 90 Bar & Kitchen, Main Yard, Wallis Road, London E9 5LN
3 songs per performer gets you a free drink!
Acoustic, Jam Session, Open Mic


GENERAL INFORMATION AND PRESS CONTACT

Download our full Press Pack, including high-res images and logos:
http://musicday.org.uk/press/Music-Day-UK-Press-Pack.zip

Download our Press Pack PDF:
http://musicday.org.uk/press/Music-Day-UK-Press-Pack.pdf

If you have any queries please contact:
Nick Maule (Press Officer)
press@musicday.org.uk
+44(0)7932 685769

Nick Feldman (Managing Director)
info@musicday.org.uk
+44(0)7985 324356

All #MusicDay2017 events are listed on an interactive map on our website along with event listings. Please visit: www.musicday.org.uk

You can find us on social media here:
facebook.com/musicdayuk
twitter.com/musicdayuk

We upload DJ mixes throughout the year onto our Mixcloud page:
mixcloud.com/musicdayuk

Details of our ongoing events, including the quarterly fundraisers can be found over on our Nightlife page:
musicday.org.uk/nightlife

www.musicday.org.uk

This press release was distributed by ResponseSource Press Release Wire on behalf of Music Day UK in the following categories: Entertainment & Arts, Leisure & Hobbies, for more information visit https://pressreleasewire.responsesource.com/about.