Fairfield University To Host Performances In Downtown Fairfield On 2026 Make Music Day

FAIRFIELD, CT — Fairfield University will host performances in downtown Fairfield on June 21, as part of Make Music Day Fairfield, the annual international Make Music Day celebration.

The event is held each year on the summer solstice and includes performances in more than 120 countries. In Fairfield, musicians of various ages, experience levels and musical styles are scheduled to perform at locations throughout town.

Two downtown venues affiliated with Fairfield University will host performances and activities.

From 1 to 8 p.m., an outdoor stage at Fairfield University’s Center for Arts & Minds, located at 1720 Post Road, will feature performances by Fairfield University faculty musicians and regional artists. Family activities, snacks and crafts also will be available. Organizers encourage attendees to bring chairs or blankets.

Performances also are scheduled from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Fairfield University Store, 1499 Post Road.

According to organizers, Make Music Day began in France in 1982 as Fête de la Musique and is now celebrated in more than 2,000 cities worldwide. The event is open to participants regardless of age, skill level or musical background.

Residents interested in participating, hosting or volunteering can find more information at makemusicday.org/fairfield.

Fairfield University said its Center for Arts & Minds coordinates arts and cultural programming across university venues, departments and centers, including theater, music, dance, talks, visual arts and community programs.

The full schedule for the performances at 1720 Post Road is as follows:

Snakeskin Boots, 1-2 p.m.
Band members and guest players include well-known, accomplished musicians with decades of professional credits who have shared the stage with icons such as Jose Feliciano, the Rolling Stones, and Eric Clapton.

Ellis Island, 2-3 p.m.
Known throughout Fairfield for their high-energy performances and crowd-pleasing classic rock staples.

ZX3, 3-4 p.m.
Was once named “Fairfield County’s Best Alternative Band, and they cannot wait to rock out at the pocket park.

The Bad Saints, 4-5 p.m.
A female-fronted rock cover band that brings great energy and fun to the stage.

The Other Four, 5-6 p.m.
A fun cover band that highlights many different classic rock staples.

King’s Highway, 6-7 p.m.
A Tom Petty cover band with a playful nod to Fairfield history.

The Noodlers, 7-8 p.m.
A faculty group that brings together professors from across departments to play music and have fun. They got their start playing backyard parties and are thrilled to participate in Make Music Fairfield Day again.

The performances at the Fairfield University Store, 1499 Post Road, are as follows:

Shamrogues, 9-10 a.m.
The Shamrogues are the performance arm of the Shamrock Traditional Irish Music Society, a volunteer-based nonprofit dedicated to performing, supporting, and encouraging Irish traditional music and musicians.

John Van Dyck, 10-11 a.m.
John Van Dyck plays Americana with rock and roll swagger. He delivers songs that reflect on life’s tender moments or revel in the rough and rowdy nights with a voice that can soar with power and settle into a twang. Sparse instrumentation lets the storyteller take the spotlight and the song be the star.

Julie Foldesi, 11-12 p.m.
Julie’s music has been compared to Brandi Carlile, Joni Mitchell, Anais Mitchell, and The Chicks. Her songs were featured in the Hallmark movie "In the Key of Love," on the webseries "Submissions Only," and in multiple musicals, including the local hit 2Motherpluckers, A Musical.
(2Motherpluckers.com) She has performed in 5 Broadway shows, and has multiple albums and singles released. For more, visit juliefoldesi.com.

Parker's Tangent, 12-1 p.m.
Parker’s Tangent is a fun group playing all original [sometimes art] rock music based on blues and roots sources. They have a wonderful female lead singer—who has been compared to Grace Slick and Nora Jones—drums, percussion, lead and rhythm guitars, bass, and an awesome violin player. They are a professional working band based out of greater New Haven, CT.

Sadie Zabar, 1-2 p.m.
Honest, introspective, and vulnerable. Sadie Zabar is a young Norwalk singer-songwriter whose music blends indie folk influences and centers around acoustic guitar exploring themes of self-discovery, heartbreak, and coming of age. Sadie has recently attended the County Music Hall of Fame songwriting program and was the 1st place winner of the Battle of the Jam music competition for CT youth musicians. Sadie has recently released her debut single "Fiction."

K.J. Whitton, 2-3 p.m.
CT singer-songwriter K.J. Whitton performs a wide variety of music with influences from many decades and genres. His latest released EP can be found streaming on all platforms.

The Flatts, 3-4 p.m.
The Flatts is a 7-piece band from New Haven, CT, featuring guitars, keys, trumpet, harmonica, drums, and great harmonies, playing covers and original music steeped in over 40 years of rock-n-roll, country, folk, and jazz.

Bill Dempsey, 4-5 p.m.
Bill Dempsey is a singer-songwriter with influences spread across Motown, ’70s rock and R&B, alternative, indie-folk, and everything in between. He is a storyteller with a goal of connecting to audiences through heartfelt and idiosyncratic lyrics that leave even new listeners feeling as though they are spending time with an old friend.

Sean O'Reilly, 5-6 p.m.
Blending indie-folk pop melodies with the rich textures of harp and piano, Sean O'Reilly crafts a unique sound that fuses contemporary storytelling with baroque-inspired arrangements. Known for his wry, evocative lyrics and dynamic performances, O'Reilly captivates audiences both as a solo artist and alongside his three-piece band. Whether solo, or with his band, Sean is an active performer in the regional music scene, playing venues, festivals, and intimate listening rooms.