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Scottish musicians tune up for first ever live-streamed Make Music Day on June 21

The global, grassroots festive is already established as the UK’s biggest free single-day music event.

Scottish musicians are set to be part of the first ever live-streamed Make Music Day on June 21.

The global, grassroots festival is already established as the UK’s biggest free single-day music event.

Traditionally the event is about bringing music into public spaces for the community to enjoy.

 Hamish Napier
Hamish Napier

But with restrictions on social gatherings still in place, this year’s celebrations will take place online.

From 2.30pm the broadcast will come from Scotland and feature specially recorded performances by Scottish musicians playing from their own homes funded by Creative Scotland.

Find the broadcast on all Make Music Day UK social channels by searching @MakeMusicDayUK.

Those featuring include folk musician, multi-instrumentalist, tutor and composer Hamish Napier and cellist Su-a Lee.

Collaborative video

Hamish will introduce the premier of the Auld Lang Syne collaborative video composed from submissions to this Creative Scotland funded Make Music Day UK participation project.

Meanwhile, Glasgow Life has curated a series of performances to mark Glasgow's status as a UNESCO City of Music.

Other artists include Electronic duo Herschel 36 and Kinnaris Quintet.

Alison Reeves is Scotland development project manager for Make Music Day UK.

 Kinnaris Quintet
Kinnaris Quintet

She said: “We’re so excited about this line up of incredible musicians from Scotland for the Make Music Day UK online broadcast.

"The festival has been growing globally since it started in 1982 and we’d love it to be as huge in this country as it is in France, where it’s practically a national holiday.

“It’s been a complicated journey to change our plans from live performances in public spaces like Glasgow’s George Square to this digital celebration, but it’s introduced us to a wealth of innovative musicians we wouldn’t have been able to include otherwise.

"It’s fantastic to be able to invite everyone watching, in the UK and across the world, to join in and sing Auld Lang Syne with us, to remind everyone of the power of music to connect, reflect and heal.”

As well as the official live stream, musicians across Scotland will be performing live on 21 June and posting recorded performance on their own social media and you can see a list of these on the Make Music Day UK website.

Highlights will be an afternoon of live streamed music performances and music video premieres created by young people from across Edinburgh with Reel Youth Media and Totally Sound.

'It’s been a complicated journey to change our plans from live performances in public spaces like Glasgow’s George Square to this digital celebration, but it’s introduced us to a wealth of innovative musicians we wouldn’t have been able to include otherwise.

'It’s fantastic to be able to invite everyone watching, in the UK and across the world, to join in and sing Auld Lang Syne with us, to remind everyone of the power of music to connect, reflect and heal'

Alison Reeves

And the Music Education Partnership Group are creating an Orchestra of a Thousand, aiming to have 1000 young people, music teachers and musicians playing and singing along together.

Anyone can take part in Make Music Day, whether it’s playing for your family at home or your neighbours from your garden or live streaming to your social media community.

Use the hashtag #MakeMusicDayUK and list the live stream on the MMDUK website to be a part of one amazing day of music.

If you’re not a performer, you can still join in by making your own instrument or signing up for a free music lesson.

There are comprehensive toolkits and a wealth of advice on the Make Music Day website to help you get started and ensure you can easily join the day’s celebration of music.

For more information head to www.makemusicday.co.uk or follow @MakeMusicDayUK on social media.

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