Barbara Harvey and Texas Jack Hardesty played from the side porch of Lymes’ Youth Service Bureau. Photos courtesy of Cheryl Poirier unless otherwise noted.
OLD LYME —Make Music Old Lyme rang in the summer solstice Saturday evening with tunes up and down Lyme Street as part of the international tradition promoting free music for all.
‘Two of Us’ attracted listeners in front of Patricia Spratt for the Home.
Economic Development Commission member Cheryl Poirier estimated there were at least 300 people strolling the historic district while more than a dozen musical acts entertained from porches, yards and storefronts.
Chris Gregor entertains at Center School, where folks stopped to listen and to buy something to eat from the Lions Club grills.
Revelers strolled a route extending from fire station, where Old Lyme’s Colin Hallahan played cover songs and originals, to the lawn of the First Congregational Church of Old Lyme on which the 50-year-old Old Lyme Town Band played selections from its 500-piece catalog.
Old Lyme Town Band puts on a show in front of the First Congregational Church of Old Lyme.
Poirier acknowledged the crowd seemed lighter than in previous years, though she said it’s difficult to provide an exact count when attendees are spread out across three-quarters of a mile for two hours.
Howling Hound Dogs wail under the Kousa Dogwood at Cooley Gallery.
Some people walked up and down the street sampling all the sounds, while others sat down to enjoy one band at a time.
The Scoville Jazz Duo became a trio at the former ice cream shop.
The event is produced by the Old Lyme Arts District and the MusicNow Foundation. Launched in France in 1982, Make Music is an international musical festival open to all who would like to participate, and takes place in over 1,000 cities in 120 countries every June 21, the summer solstice.
The Old Lyme Historical Society got interactive with their contribution to ‘Make Music Day.’ Photo courtesy of Edie Twining.
Children made their own music in an activity hosted by the Old Lyme Historical Society during the stroll.
Band of Friends were back on the patio of the Old Lyme Phoebe Griffin Noyes Library.
This year marked the 7th annual Make Music event. Genres represented this year included bluegrass, folk, indie rock, American standards, and pop.
The Celestials croon at Village Shoppes.
The international Make Music phenomenon returns for next year’s summer solstice on Sunday, June 21.
The Lions Club volunteers finish up after a successful event.
Sunny Train will kick off ‘Make Music Old Lyme ‘with a family concert from 4 to 5 p.m. at Lymes’ Youth Service Bureau. LymeLine file photo.
OLD LYME–A popular live music stroll along Lyme Street, Make Music Old Lyme, returns Saturday, June 21, from 5 to 7 p.m. An international celebration of free music for all, the Old Lyme Arts District produces the town’s event in conjunction with the MusicNow Foundation.
Music for all ages will be offered by the Old Lyme Town Band. File photo by James Meehan.
With over a dozen performers, the seventh annual Make Music Old Lyme celebration takes place on Lyme Street, stretching from the First Congregational Church of Old Lyme where the Old Lyme Town Band will play, to the Old Lyme Firehouse where Colin Hallahan will entertain attendees.
The Colin Hallahan Band will again play in front of the Lyme Street Firehouse. LymeLine file photo.
Between these two locations, talented musicians from across the Northeast will give live acoustic performances on front lawns and sidewalks along Lyme Street.
Chris Gregor will play folk vocals on guitar during Make Music Day on Saturday. Find him on the Center School lawn this year. LymeLine file photo.
Chris Gregor returns this year and will perform on the Center School lawn. Gregor’s mix of pop, Broadway tunes, and even operatic selections entertained audiences at the 2024 Make Music Old Lyme.
Braiden Sunshine will play for fans on the side lawn of Nightingale’s Acoustic Café.
Braiden Sunshine will perform this year on the side lawn of Nightingale’s Acoustic Café. File photo by Alan Poirier.
Kelly Riley, home from Nashville, will perform in front of the Memorial Town Hall. New to Make Music Old Lyme, Riley has opened for Willie Nelson, the Steve Miller Band, and Lyle Lovett with country and folk songs including her own original works.
Genres this year include bluegrass, folk, indie-rock, American standards, and pop.
Musicians scheduled to perform include: Chris Gregor, Braiden Sunshine, Colin Hallahan, Rodney Brown, Two of Us, Barbara Harvey, Jack Hardesty, Kelly Riley, John Charland, Band of Friends, The Scoville Unit Jazz Duo, Howling Hound Dogs, The Celestials, Paul Loether, and the Old Lyme Town Band. Kipp “Kid Caviar” Sturgeon will perform while strolling the event as well.
Before the stroll, Sunny Train will perform a family concert at Lymes’ Youth Service Bureau (LYSB) from 4 to 5 p.m.
A children’s craft will be available in front of the Old Lyme Historical Society from 5 to 7 p.m.
The Lyme-Old Lyme Lions Club will also be in front of Center School with grill items including hamburgers and hot dogs for sale from 5 to 7 p.m. Nightingale’s Acoustic Café and The Chocolate Shell will also be open and selling refreshments.
The Lyme-Old Lyme Lions will once again do brisk business selling hot dogs and hamburgers in front of Center School. LymeLine file photo.
For those wishing to sit and enjoy one location’s performer, lawn chairs or blankets are encouraged.
According to “Ramblin’ Dan” Stevens, one of the volunteer organizers of the event, “We’re excited for our lineup of incredible musicians for Make Music Old Lyme. We love the chance to showcase the amazing talent right here in Southeastern Connecticut as well as welcome home some of our great musicians, who are traveling and doing shows around the country.”
Launched in France in 1982, Make Music Day is an international musical festival open to all who would like to participate, and takes place in over 1,000 cities in 120 countries on June 21, the summer solstice.
The State of Connecticut Office of the Arts debuted the State’s effort in 2018 with 528 free musical performances at 224 locations across the state, including Old Lyme.
A handout with musician locations will be available at the event or in pdf form on the website the day of the event.
The Old Lyme Arts District is a partnership of a dozen organizations and businesses promoting arts and culture on Lyme Street.
Make Music Old Lyme is supported by Connecticut’s Eastern Regional Tourism District and is sponsored by Pasta Vita, Essex Savings Bank/Essex Financial Services, the Herb Chambers Charitable Foundation, Bluewater Millwork & Construction, Mercer Advisors/Benchmark Wealth Management, and Shoreline Web News, LLC/LymeLine.com.
