Make Music Madison to put on a city-wide concert

Madison will be transformed into an outdoor concert venue Friday with approximately 270 musical groups performing throughout the city on the longest day of the summer.

Make Music Madison is a “free, public celebration of music all across Madison” on June 21, according to its website.

Michael Rothschild, the Madison resident who spearheaded the event, got the idea from his nephew, who started Make Music New York after witnessing Paris’ summer solstice event.

The day of “total musical anarchy” seemed to “really fit the kind of city Madison is,” Rothschild said.  “It’s a chance to give a little something back. ... It’s a really neat thing for Madison to have.”

Madison residents have shown just how well the music festival fits in with the city with 270 different artists and music groups signing up to play around Madison on Friday, making it the third largest “Make Music,” just behind New York and Vancouver, according to Rothschild.

When Rothschild was first inspired, he brought the idea to the city’s Arts Program Administrator Karin Wolf, who presented the concept to Mayor Paul Soglin.

“It’s a neat idea that the mayor decided people believe in the spirit of risk taking and trusting the community,” Wolf said.

The city contributed $25,000 to the event with Soglin’s support, although Wolf said it is not the city’s role to fund the music festival indefinitely.

“I see us more as a catalyst,” Wolf said.

Both Rothschild and Wolf said they hope the city-wide music festival continues to grow and become a new Madison tradition.

“I view this event as an opportunity to activate the citizen musicians,” Wolf said. “We all have ways to contribute to the city’s fabric, and I think art is a great way to be active and participate in this community.”

Make Music Madison is happening all across the city in many different neighborhoods. Check out the map at www.makemusicmadison.org to find out who’s playing near you!

A full list of performances can be found here.