UChicago celebrates first day of summer with musical block party

Musicians around Hyde Park and the University of Chicago will join a worldwide celebration of the summer solstice on Thursday, June 21 during the Make Music Chicago festival.

This musical party is inspired by the Fête de la Musique [1], an annual Paris event that celebrates anyone and everyone’s ability to make music, by inviting people to fill the entire city with music all day and all night long. The party has spread to more than 350 cities around the world.

Make Music Chicago will bring musicians to various UChicago and Hyde Park venues for 14 straight hours on Thursday, from 10 a.m. to midnight. In the spirit of the festival, amateurs share the stage with professionals, and all concerts and events are free and open to the public.

Around campus, the International House, the Midway skating rink, and the Logan Center for the Arts will host performers from a dizzying collection of musical genres, including hip hop artists, rock bands, jazz ensembles, folk singers, and string quartets. Rockefeller Memorial Chapel will chime in with its usual noontime carillon concert.

Other venues in Hyde Park also will host music makers on the longest day of the year. Nichols Park and Chant restaurant on 53rd Street will have live performers, and Joan’s Studio on 57th Street will have musical activities for children.

Everyone in the neighborhood is invited to any performance, and there will be plenty to choose from. People working on campus over their lunch hour are especially invited to a concert with the Suzuki Music School and the UChicago Music Students at the Logan Center for the Arts.

Below is a full listing of Make Music Chicago performances in Hyde Park and across the UChicago campus.

International House (1414 E. 59th St.) 2 to 8 p.m.

2 p.m. Golden String Quartet
2:30 p.m. Jonathan Cambry (piano)
3 p.m. Shawn Payne Quartet (jazz)
3:30 p.m. American Chamber Opera
4 p.m. Tigist Bekele (Ethiopian pop)
4:30 p.m. Middle Eastern classical
5 p.m. ChickenFat Klezmer Band
6 p.m. Melodicos (classical vocal)
6:30 p.m. Marissa, John, & Catherine (pop)
7 p.m. Kmang-Kmang (jazz)
7:30 p.m. K.A.M. Isaiah Israel Klezmer Band

Nichols Park (1355 E. 53rd St.) 1 to 7 p.m.

1 p.m. Pots and Pans (steel drum band)
1:30 p.m. Bohemian Scandal (percussion quartet)
2 p.m. Jarochicanos (Mexican folk-songs)
3 p.m.  Yuri & The Astrochimps (rock)
3:30 p.m. Triple Bypass at the Double A (experimental folk/rock)
4 p.m. Kelly Campos
5:30 p.m. IZReelSoul & Da Truth (R&B)
6:30 p.m. Sun Ensemble (jazz)

Chant Restaurant and Bar (1509 E. 53rd St.) 9 p.m. to midnight

9 p.m. Yasmin, Mandy, Nick (blues/jazz/world)
9:30 p.m. Guitar Evolution
10:30 p.m. Ginger Binge (folk)

Midway Plaisance Ice Rink (1130 Midway Plaisance North) 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

10 a.m. Free books!/Mercredi Beaucoup! (Rock)
10:30 a.m. Al “Hot Mix” Holmes (DJ)
11 a.m. Urbanized Music
11:30 a.m. Vertikal
Noon Juzt Nutz
12:30 p.m. Stereo Genius
1 p.m.   ESQ
1:30 p.m. Steady Serve & Editkut
2 p.m. Soulphonetics (DJ)
2:30 p.m. BVax
3 p.m. Big X
3:30 p.m. 21st Century Hip Hop

Rockefeller Chapel (5850 S. Woodlawn Ave.)

Noon and 5 p.m. Carillon bells

Logan Center for the Arts (915 E. 60th St.) noon and 6 to 10 p.m.

Noon Suzuki Music School and UChicago Music Students
6 p.m. Tyehimba Jess
8 p.m. The Heisenberg Uncertainty Players (Big Band)
9 p.m. Justin and the Salty Dogs (blues/harmonica/folk band)

Joan’s Studio (1438 E. 57th St.)

11 a.m. and 4 p.m. Programs especially for kids

Visit Make Music Chicago [2] for more information about how Chicago will celebrate the international music festival, and for performances and venues around the city.