Make Music Long Beach—an all-day celebration of everything musical, coming June 21—is making its sonic return after a six-year in-person hiatus. The essence of Make Music Day is simple yet powerful: anyone and everyone is encouraged to make music. From seasoned professionals to enthusiastic amateurs, people of all ages and backgrounds are being encouraged by organizer and local musician David Sauer to come together to fill streets, parks, and public spaces with live music.
“Make Music Long Beach hasn’t had an in-person event since the pandemic,” David said. “That’s when we went virtual in 2020 and 2021. I’ve had the honor of playing it in the past with my band, One High Five. So I saw the opportunity to bring it back to the city, bring some new blood into it… Post-pandemic, there’s just been this rich crop of bands come into play, and I want to capitalize on that and bring in the younger generation.”
So, what is Make Music?
Make Music is a global annual celebration on June 21, coinciding with the summer solstice. Beginning in France in 1982 as the Fête de la Musique, it has since grown into an international phenomenon. That means 120 countries across 1,000-plus cities worldwide.
In the United States, Make Music has been embraced by numerous cities, including Long Beach and L.A. Local organizations and volunteers coordinate events that reflect their communities’ diverse musical landscapes. The day attempts to showcase a rich tapestry of sounds, from jazz ensembles and rock bands to classical quartets and hip-hop artists.
For those interested in participating or attending events, the official Make Music website provides resources and information on local happenings. And yes, this includes the Long Beach event. Whether you’re a musician looking to perform or someone eager to experience live music in your community, Make Music Day offers an opportunity to engage.
What can people expect from Make Music Long Beach?
What sets Make Music apart is its inclusivity and community-centric spirit. Unlike traditional music festivals that often feature scheduled performances by established artists, this day invites spontaneous participation. It can be a solo guitarist on a street corner. Or a community choir performing in a local park. Or a group of friends coming together to jam. The focus is on sharing the joy of music freely and openly. All events are free to attend, emphasizing accessibility and, of course, the universal language of music.
Originally launched in 2016 by the Long Beach Music Council, peaking in 2019, where 150 artists across 75 venues invaded Long Beach. So what is planned for this year?
To start, there’s a Long Beach Family Arts Festival at Grace First Presbyterian Church and a Boomwhacker Choir and Electronic Music Exploration Lab at Jewelbox Children’s Theater. Courtney Politano (Honey Whiskey Trio) will lead a group circle singing and body percussion lesson. Hannibal Media Group will moderate a Women in Jazz panel at the Billie Jean King Library. And a concert by Tatiana Tate, celebrating African American Music Month at Lincoln Park. In addition, there are businesses waiting to connect with musicians to host performances once an artist registers.
Of course, David wants more. And encourages artists and businesses to submit ideas and as venues.
Long Beach’s rich live music has slowly been fading out—but it’s making its return, from the big to the small.
There’s the tale of Goldenvoice essentially vacating the Queen Mary area, leaving behind legacy concerts like Tropicalia and Summertime in the LBC.
There’s the sad tale of The Vault. The space at 350 Pine Ave. hosted acts ranging from the B-52s to Flogging Molly to Ghostface Killah between 2004 and 2008. After being sold for $3.5M and promoted by former property owner Millworks as a “hit it out of the park” future music venue, it was sold to a church instead. Yes, it was sold to a church instead.
There was Summer and Music, Justin Hectus and Fingerprints owner Rand Foster’s spectacular live music series that serenaded Long Beach summers annually.
It would be remiss to fail to note the sense of emptiness in Long Beach’s live music scene. But that doesn’t mean things aren’t changing or evolving. Insomniac has dominated the festival scene with their house, trance, and drum’n’bass events. The Long Beach Amphitheater is becoming a reality. Alex’s Bar has never been stronger with artist lineups. Fingerprints will continue its in-store performance legacy with its new location.
And Make Music Long Beach? It is a part of that latter group that is harnessing the rich history of Long Beach’s live music scene.
