A NEW film and song by refugee and asylum-seeking musicians is being launched to celebrate the world’s biggest grassroots DIY music festival tomorrow.

Violin virtuoso Nicola Benedetti and award-winning singer Iona Fyfe are also supporting Make Music Day, which will see thousands of free events taking place across Scotland and the rest of the UK.

As well as the film and song by Musicians In Exile, in association with The Glasgow Barons, live traditional music performances featuring fiddler Ellie McLaren and singer Ellie Beaton will be broadcast by Hands Up For Trad.

Ourdoor and online concerts for care home residents will be provided by Live Music Now and Scottish youth bands and choirs will be taking part in the Music Education Partnership Group’s online concert.

For the Signing Glee School Challenge, children across the country will learn to sign Stand By Me and connect via livestream for a simultaneous performance. In Edinburgh, the Syncopate digital concert organised by Reel Youth Media will showcase young performers taking part in music-making activities across the capital’s 23 high schools and 88 primary schools.

A range of free, comprehensive support is also available to musicians and event organisers, including a suite of toolkits, Covid-19 rehearsing and performing guidelines, meet-ups and online workshops on topics from live streaming to publicity.

In addition to organising their own events for Make Music Day, musicians are invited to take part in one of the many national and international projects, designed to encourage global collaboration and tackle some of the unprecedented challenges of music-making and inclusion during the global pandemic.

Benedetti and Fyfe have been chosen as ambassadors for Make Music Day UK.

“I wholeheartedly support Make Music Day, a truly global music event that encourages everyone to find their creativity, be it as a performer or listener and to share in the joy of making and appreciating great music,” said Benedetti.

Fyfe said she was also delighted to support the event.

“Music transcends generations, backgrounds, class, language barriers and more,” she said.

“Make Music Day brings people together and allows communities to connect, even virtually, at a time when many people are struggling with isolation and loneliness. Make Music Day is inclusive and widens access to music-making all over

the UK.”

Since beginning as Fete de la Musique in France in 1982, Make Music Day has grown into a global phenomenon that takes place annually in 125 countries, always on June 21.

The event first came to the UK in 2012 and 2017 marked the first UK-wide, co-ordinated celebration with support and funding from national organisations, resulting in 147 performances.

In 2020, despite the challenges of the pandemic and social distancing, 1739 live and online performances took place across the UK, involving 11,162 performers who brought inspiring musical experiences to over 531,700 people.

Barbara Eifler, chair of Make Music Day UK, said: “There are even more reasons to get involved in Make Music Day this year, when Covid-19 has shown us how much music can help and heal.”

makemusicday.co.uk