MUSIC lovers are being invited to make a noise by either playing or listening to local bands as part of a worldwide celebration of songs.

Make Music Day originated in France in 1980 as an open invitation for anyone to get involved and play and share tunes for the day.

It has now spread across the globe and takes place each year in 125 countries. Locally, one of the biggest events is in Abingdon and each year the town is enlivened with artists taking music into public spaces.

This year’s event takes place on Sunday, but with all public performances still banned due to efforts to stop the spread of coronavirus, it has gone online.

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Make Music Abingdon will run varied programme of performances, workshops, sessions and sing-alongs from 10am-10pm with live streamed performances from De Fuego, Tony O’Malley, Catgod, Rory Evans, No Horses, Scott Gordon Band, Joely, Factory Lights, Beard of Destiny, Osprey, Patrick Griffin, Hannah Osofsky, Strannik, Genevieve Miles, Anna Renae, Jane Griffiths & Colin Fletcher, Julia Titus, Waterfahl, Simon Gregory, Saving Cathren, Jim Driscoll, Vicky Rainbow, Chris Floyd, and Artisan Blues.

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Julia Titus

Other than the performances, there will be a virtual folk session on the video conferencing service Zoom, a coffee choir and even a campfire session.

There is an open invitation for musicians of all abilities to play, share and enjoy music, by staging their own events, streaming their performance or workshop with the hashtag #MakeMusicDayUK, and listing it on the Make Music Day UK website.

A spokesman said: “People playing music together in the community has always been at the heart of Make Music Day and this year music’s ability to bring people together has never been clearer.

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“Anyone of any musical ability can take part, so whether people sing or play, if they’re a virtuoso or a complete novice, they can perform a song or a whole show, put on a tutorial, a Q&A or a workshop.”

Make Music Abingdon has also launched a song swap challenge, asking musicians to cover other people’s tunes.

The covers will aired on Saturday as a taster for Sunday's fun.

Aidan Byrne, who is involved with the day, said: “This is an open invitation for anyone to get involved and play and share music for one day.

“Naturally, this year plans have had to adapt to accommodate social distancing measures but there are still a number of ways we can all get involved.”

For details see makemusicabingdon.nearme.info