Porchfest! 9/22/19, Ithaca, NY

[Neo1]

Schroon Lake had their first last year. I'm thinking there were maybe 20ish acts total? Small town, though, so perfect. One act was a reggae band made up of summer workers (it's a resort town in the Adirondack Mountains). So peaceful to just walk a few streets and stop and listen to various musical groups. Super idea.

 

[HeavyJazz]

Ahhh... Ithaca! Porchfest is just another example of how it remains one of the most eclectic places on the planet! My good friend and bandmate moved there in the mid-80's, to start a band (named American Western?) and never left.

Born and raised there. Was always some very smart and very strange people there. Never seemed to be a lot of middle ground. Economically too. You were either a rich outsider working at a university or a destitute local. Still, I have many good memories from before all the big chain retailers rolled in.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

That's a great idea!!

 

[Thorsoundcore]

Hopefully the idea starts working it's way east

 

[prue]

I guess this is a thing. Porchfest in Fairfield, Ct. last month. Huge success.

 

[Jay Corwin]

I have some friends in Ithaca that play that. looks super cool. I gotta get to it one of these years.

We have one in Buffalo that is fun, but tiny compared to Ithaca.

 

[bassliner50]

Bring it to Long Island. I'm ready.

 

[gln1955]

There was a Porchfest a couple weeks ago about five miles from me (Yellow Springs, OH). I didn't play, but my friend's band did. The performances were scattered all over the town, but it's small enough that it was all walkable. Very cool atmosphere!

 

[foolforthecity]

 

[Keyser Soze]

View attachment 3547233

I believe this photo is from last year's Oakhurst, Georgia Porch Fest.

 

[Richland123]

That is a very cool idea!!!!!!!!!!

 

[dan1952]

What a cool idea! I wish I'd heard of such a thing when we live in a downtown area where that would have worked. Now we live out in the country, no close neighbors to do this.

 

[aekisz]

My town just had one (West Concord, MA) but I found out about it too late (2 weeks before the event) so registration was closed. It was still pretty cool, though only about two dozen bands. The best band by far were some kiddie punkers with some fancy equipment but lots of chops! Their sets were tight as well and had no pauses between songs. The lead singer/guitarist looked to be about ten years old and three foot eight. His guitar was almost dragging on the ground.

 

[cholyoke]

We have one in Akron called PorchRokr in mid-August. Over 100 bands spread over a walkable area and usually within a mile of my house. They get a wide range of music, which is really cool, and there are beer tents, food vendors, etc. It is always a good time.

 

[HardNHeavy]

Milford Music Festival here in PA, happens every year.....Bands of all kinds, all over town, outside in gazebos, parks, front porches, local bars....It is truly a great idea and fun!.....Awesome way to support local talent!

 

[Oddly]

What a fun, fantastic idea!
Sadly not likely to happen anytime soon here in Dublin.
We just don't have the weather for porches.

 

[Mugre]

Damn Yanquis. As a mexcicophile, I like that one.

Q: Are they rootsy focused by design or is that more a reflection of whats going on in music these days?

Backyard shows are very big here in southern California especially in the punk/alt/ska bands genres. They are NOT as organized as this seems to be.

 

[mellowgerman]

Nice, I grew up in the Buffalo area and attended SUNY Fredonia... sure miss the music scenes up there! Enjoyed your photos. Brought me back right away to tons of fun porch shows, house party gigs, etc. all of which were now anywhere between 3 and 15 years ago. Florida sure is nice in many ways, but the sense of community is not as strong here in the Orlando area, which makes sense though since it's a much larger area with a huge percentage of transplants (like myself).
Feeling lucky to have a new original band together now, making good progress with material that genuinely has me excited and engaged. Once the EP is recorded by the end of the year, we'll start booking gigs for fun. I toured full time for a year and know that it's not something I'm trying to pursue anymore, but will always have to have an original music project in my life. Very few things are as rewarding as creating, recording, and performing music that you're legitimately proud of, with people you enjoy working with!

 

[40Hz]

I guess this is a thing. Porchfest in Fairfield, Ct. last month. Huge success.

Really? Whereabouts in town was it held?

Was it open to the public or was it more of a neighborhood sort of thing?

 

[CallMeAl]

Damn Yanquis. As a mexcicophile, I like that one.

Q: Are they rootsy focused by design or is that more a reflection of whats going on in music these days?

Backyard shows are very big here in southern California especially in the punk/alt/ska bands genres. They are NOT as organized as this seems to be.

I’d say a reflection. Anyone is welcome to join. There was some hip hop, electronic loop pedal stuff, classical.... but “roots” does seem to be a common denominator for most