It’s four o’clock on Sunday afternoon.
The sun in shining. It’s a bit steamy, but who cares?
It’s Make Music Day in NYC and that means it’s time to jam.
Union Square park was packed with guitar players who agree!
For this year’s summer solstice the park was crowded with guitar-loving folks of all ages.
On hand to share insight and some quick guitar lessons were the wonderful folks from the New York City Guitar School, the event’s co-hosts.
Opening the festivities was a down and dirty, bluesy set from The Bones of J.R. Jones. This one-man-band really knows how to lay it all down! With a resonator guitar, a big kick drum, a hi-hat and tamborine and an occasional harmonica, The Bones of J.R. Jones really enthralled the crowd and left them wanting more!
Check out a clip of The Bones of J.R. Jones here:
Up next was the fabulous play along, with songs led by a variety of great local performers. These included:
“Blank Space” led by NYC singer-songwiters Craig Kierce and Melinda May featuring the cool kids of New York City Guitar School.
Acoustic Nation’s Laura Whitmore leading “Bubbly.”
A special guest performance by several dads of NYC who came to rock on Make Music Day for the song “Cruise.”
The Good Good playing “Go Your Own Way.”
“Stay With Me” led by Shane Chapman, NYCGS Director of Online Services and frontman of Anacortes.
“You Might Think” led by Bandits On The Run.
Unfortunately the day ended on a wet note, when the heavens opened up in the middle of The Cars' “You Might Think,” leaving us soaked and scrambling.
Our final act, Danielia Cotton, was unable to go on, as the gear on stage was sopping wet and done for the day.
Fortunately our hardy guitar troops were not, and we gathered together after the squall passed to play a few more tunes and soak in the awesomeness of the afternoon.
Thanks so much to Guitar Center for providing backline and for the day’s sponsors: Martin Guitar, Ernie Ball Strings, Tech 21, Guitar World’s Acoustic Nation and The New York City Guitar School for making the day wonderful.
Check out our photo gallery below!
“Walk Like an Egyptian was so silly. But solid players have asked, ‘What are you playing at the end?’” Vicki Peterson sees herself as “a bit of a hack player,” but she still made guitar-pop history with the Bangles – and guested with Tom Petty
“We had 15 minutes left, and it was time to go… I just started playing that riff. Then Lenny goes, ‘Whoa, what’s that?’” Lenny Kravitz guitarist Craig Ross reveals the serendipitous roots of a Kravitz classic
