Arts & Entertainment
Free Concerts Held In San Francisco
"This is free, it's great, and you don't have to deal with thousands and thousands of people."
SAN FRANCISCO, CA — San Francisco was alive with the sound of music on Wednesday, thanks to free pop-up concerts that celebrated international Make Music Day.
It was San Francisco's second summer solstice celebration of the event, which differs from a typical music festival in that anyone is welcome to perform, no matter their age, experience, or musical persuasion. The event took place from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. in parks, libraries, community centers and more.
The largest venue was Golden Gate Park, which held more than a dozen performances across four stages. The Golden Gate Bandshell, located in the park's Music Concourse, drew dozens of people during its first performance by singer-songwriter Jesse Loren Strickman.
Among the crowd was Marty Noll, who said this was his first time out in three years without a mask.
"I just turned 77 and, you know, who knows how much longer you have left?" he said.
Noll found the concert online by chance and decided it would be a great opportunity for him and his wife to have a reunion with friends.
One of those friends, Paul Miller, said the event was fantastic. "These days it's insanely expensive to go and see live music," he said. "This is free, it's great, and you don't have to deal with thousands and thousands of people."
Aside from the concerts at the park, many small businesses and community spaces hosted musicians. The Far Out Gallery, an art space in the Outer Sunset, participated in Make Music Day for the second time.
Gallery co-owner Peter Munks said he and his partner had a "magical experience" at Paris' music day a few years ago, so when he saw that San Francisco was having its own iteration he signed up.
Munks, also a folk singer, opened the gallery with an acoustic set with songs from Bob Dylan, Phil Oaks, Joni Mitchell and more.
The city's Make Music Day was orchestrated by the city's Office of Small Business in collaboration with San Francisco Recreation and Park Department, the San Francisco Public Library, the Consulate General of France in San Francisco, the National Association of Music Merchants Foundation and more.
Make Music Day began more than 40 years ago as the Fete de la Musique in France as an effort to bring music everywhere, to everyone. It's since spread to over 1,000 cities in 120 countries around the world.
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