Fairfield University to host downtown live music stages for global Make Music Day

The Town of Fairfield will host a series of free, live musical performances on Sunday, June 21, as part of the annual Make Music Fairfield initiative. The global celebration occurs on the summer solstice and features participatory concerts performed by musicians of various ages, skill levels, and musical styles. Fairfield University is anchoring two prominent downtown performance locations along Post Road to support the local lineup.

An outdoor stage will operate from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the pocket park at the university’s Center for Arts & Minds, located at 1720 Post Road. The venue will feature a rotating mix of faculty musicians and regional artists alongside family crafts and activities. Snacks will be provided on-site, and attendees are advised to bring their own lawn chairs or blankets. A second university venue will host continuous performances from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. inside the Fairfield University Bookstore at 1499 Post Road.

The local event functions as a chapter of the broader international Make Music Day movement, which originated in France in 1982 under the name Fête de la Musique. The program has expanded into more than 2,000 cities across 120 countries. Residents interested in tracking scheduled performances or registering to participate as a performer, venue host, or volunteer can access details through the regional portal at makemusicday.org/fairfield.

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Make Music Day schedule

Snakeskin Boots, 1-2 p.m.

Band members and guest players include well-known, accomplished musicians with decades of professional credits who have shared the stage with icons such as Jose Feliciano, the Rolling Stones, and Eric Clapton.

Ellis Island, 2-3 p.m.

Known throughout Fairfield for their high-energy performances and crowd-pleasing classic rock staples.

ZX3, 3-4 p.m.

Was once named “Fairfield County’s Best Alternative Band,” and they cannot wait to rock out at the pocket park.

The Bad Saints, 4-5 p.m.
A female-fronted rock cover band that brings great energy and fun to the stage.

The Other Four, 5-6 p.m.
A fun cover band that highlights many different classic rock staples.

King’s Highway, 6-7 p.m.
A Tom Petty cover band with a playful nod to Fairfield history.

The Noodlers, 7-8 p.m.
A faculty group that brings together professors from across departments to play music and have fun. They got their start playing backyard parties and are thrilled to participate in Make Music Fairfield Day again.

Earlier in the day, the Fairfield University Store at 1499 Post Road will host live performances from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., featuring a range of local musicians including:

Shamrogues, 9-10 a.m.
The Shamrogues are the performance arm of the Shamrock Traditional Irish Music Society, a volunteer-based nonprofit dedicated to performing, supporting, and encouraging Irish traditional music and musicians.

John Van Dyck, 10-11 a.m.

John Van Dyck plays Americana with rock and roll swagger. He delivers songs that reflect on life’s tender moments or revel in the rough and rowdy nights with a voice that can soar with power and settle into a twang. Sparse instrumentation lets the storyteller take the spotlight and the song be the star.

Julie Foldesi, 11-12 p.m.

Julie’s music has been compared to Brandi Carlile, Joni Mitchell, Anais Mitchell, and The Chicks. Her songs were featured in the Hallmark movie In the Key of Love, on the webseries Submissions Only, and in multiple musicals, including the local hit 2Motherpluckers, A Musical. www.2Motherpluckers.com. She has performed in 5 Broadway shows, and has multiple albums and singles released. For more, visit www.juliefoldesi.com.

Parker’s Tangent, 12-1 p.m.

Parker’s Tangent is a fun group playing all original [sometimes art] rock music based on blues and roots sources. They have a wonderful female lead singer—who has been compared to Grace Slick and Nora Jones—drums, percussion, lead and rhythm guitars, bass, and an awesome violin player. They are a professional working band based out of greater New Haven, CT.

Sadie Zabar, 1-2 p.m.

Honest, introspective, and vulnerable. Sadie Zabar is a young Norwalk singer-songwriter whose music blends indie folk influences and centers around acoustic guitar exploring themes of self-discovery, heartbreak, and coming of age. Sadie has recently attended the County Music Hall of Fame songwriting program and was the 1st place winner of the Battle of the Jam music competition for CT youth musicians. Sadie has recently released her debut single “Fiction.”

K.J. Whitton, 2-3 p.m.

CT singer-songwriter K.J. Whitton performs a wide variety of music with influences from many decades and genres. His latest released EP can be found streaming on all platforms.

The Flatts, 3-4 p.m.

The Flatts is a 7-piece band from New Haven, CT, featuring guitars, keys, trumpet, harmonica, drums, and great harmonies, playing covers and original music steeped in over 40 years of rock-n-roll, country, folk, and jazz.

Bill Dempsey, 4-5 p.m.

Bill Dempsey is a singer-songwriter with influences spread across Motown, ’70s rock and R&B, alternative, indie-folk, and everything in between. He is a storyteller with a goal of connecting to audiences through heartfelt and idiosyncratic lyrics that leave even new listeners feeling as though they are spending time with an old friend.

Sean O’Reilly, 5-6 p.m.

Blending indie-folk pop melodies with the rich textures of harp and piano, Sean O’Reilly crafts a unique sound that fuses contemporary storytelling with baroque-inspired arrangements. Known for his wry, evocative lyrics and dynamic performances, O’Reilly captivates audiences both as a solo artist and alongside his three-piece band. Whether solo, or with his band, Sean is an active performer in the regional music scene, playing venues,

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• Mohegan Sun’s biggest-ever Summer of Giveaways, promos, prize pools, entertainment, and more begins on June 22

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June events at Fairfield Theatre Company

6/5 – Jesus Christ Superstar
6/5 – Lez Zepplin: The Same Song Remains The Same
6/6 – Jesus Christ Superstar
6/6 – Joan Osborne SIngs the Songs of Bob Dylan
6/7 – Jesus Christ Superstar
6/9 – Melissa Ferrick
6/10 – Cheese Fries & Chili Dips
6/11 – Louden Swain
6/12 – Andy McKee
6/13 – Friends of the Brothers
6/13 – Rob Morton
6/14 – The Sadies
6/16 – Devon Allman’s Blue Summit
6/18 – Pizza, A Love Story
6/18 – Booker T. Jones
6/19 – Greg Hawkes with Eddie Japan
6/19 – FTC Summer Jam
6/20 – Black Uhuru
6/20 – Daniel Glass Trio
6/21 – Make Music Fairfield
6/23 – Caitlynne Curtis
6/25 – Livingston Taylor
6/26 – FTC’s 80’s Dance Party
6/27 – Albert Cummings
6/28 – Midnight North

Click here for more information & order tickets.

June events at Rentschler Field

6/22 – Post Malone, click here to purchase tickets

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Fairfield University to host downtown live music stages for global Make Music Day