Discover a full day of free concerts happening at some of Houston’s signature spaces for Make Music Day on Wednesday, June 21, 2023.
Now celebrating its third year in Houston, Make Music Day invites musicians to grace stages and businesses across the city for free concerts and live performances that happen all day long on summer solstice.
The music celebration originated in France where, on the solstice, Fête de la Musique would see live musicians taking to venues and street corners across the city for a full day of revelry.
Now a global celebration taking place in more than 120 countries, Make Music Day had a huge year in 2022 with nearly 4,000 free concerts happening across 104 US cities.
In Houston, many of the city’s signature spaces will host artists from across all genres and styles, and the public is welcome to drop in on any of them for free.
We’ve gathered a dozen highlights happening in Houston, but you can check out more on the official Make Music Day website.
Free Make Music Day Concerts in Houston
- Make Music Day Celebration at City Hall | FREE – The kickoff to Make Music Day starts at City Hall, featuring rapper BuddieRoe, Latin jazz performers Charlie Perez & the Trade, and DJ Hiram playing Latin hits and Afrobeats to close it out. 11am to 1pm.
- Mary Hammer at Henderson & Kane General Store | FREE – The singer-songwriter performs at the Sixth Ward general store for lunch and dinner sets. 11am to 8pm.
- All-Day Performances at Harold’s in the Heights | FREE – Throughout the entire day, the 19th Street mainstay hosts singer-songwriter performances from musicians like Mike Darnell, Pam Grisham, Wild Rabbit Salad, Ray Wyatt, and several others. 11am to 9pm.
- All-Day Performances at Houston Farmers Market | FREE – The market on Airline Drive hosts a slate of musicians on their lawn, including hip-hop artist E-Eye’s, jazz musician Malcolm Jackson, blues artist Devon Rismay, and rocker Anthony Carreras. Noon to 8pm.
- Gospel Swag at New Mt. Zion Baptist Church | FREE – In South Acres, this longtime neighborhood institution hosts a full day of gospel performers and DJs, including First Lady Shana Blouin, DJ Brandice, Poetic Rhythm n Soul, Nu Vibez, DJ 1 Click, and more. Noon to 9:30pm.
- Make Music Day at Arts District Houston | FREE – Beginning at 2pm, Sabine Street Studios takes part in Make Music Day with performances by Ziying Zhao on the gugin, and bassist Elisabeth Ellison. Holler Brewery will have Taylor Marberry from 4pm to 7pm. And the SITE Gallery hosts a special, immersive event from 5pm to 8pm with DJs and a guided performance by Social Movement Contemporary Dance Theater, where attendees will walk through individual silos to take in a wide variety of genres including country, Tejano, zydeco, R&B, hip-hop, EDM, Christian, rock, blues and jazz with accompanying dance performances and visual arts. RSVP is required for the SITE Gallery performance. 2pm to 8pm.
- Loreta Kovacic at Smither Park | FREE – The alt-country singer-songwriter has graced many folk stages in Houston, and will now take to Smither Park at the Orange Show for a live performance. 3pm to 4:30pm.
- Traevon Narcisse at the Water Works at Buffalo Bayou Park | FREE – The Water Works stage hosts the 11-year old viral TikTok sensation from Fifth Ward, Traevon Narcisse, who will perform on keyboard in one of his first concert appearances. 6pm to 7pm.
- Evening Performances at the Esplanade at Navigation | FREE – In East End, the Esplanade hosts a trio of performers for an evening concert, including acoustic works from UMJ Trio and Aurum Son, as well as the rock stylings of Jump Rope. 6pm to 9pm.
- Make Music Day Celebration at Riverhouse Houston | FREE – The East River drinks and dining destination celebrates Make Music Day with talented performers from the Tom McKinney Vocal Studios. 6pm to 9pm.
- Jalen Baker Trio & Cris Crochemore Band at Memorial Park Eastern Glades | FREE – A DaCamera Young Artist Jazz Ensemble-in-Residence, the Jalen Baker Trio offers their unique blend of original modern jazz compositions and standards, performing live at Memorial Park’s scenic Eastern Glades park space. 6:30pm to 9pm.
- Houston Heights Brass at the Gazebo at Marmion Park | FREE – The Heights-based quintet takes to the Marmion Park gazebo at 18th & Heights for an engaging performance of classical works and contemporary pop. 7pm to 8pm.
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