Porchfest is moving to rain date: Sunday, May 13!
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Because the weather looks dicey for Saturday, we are switching Porchfest to its rain date, Sunday, May 13th. Times will be the same - noon until 6pm. We understand that some bands won't be able to play on Sunday. We will do our best to update the Porchfest site by tomorrow evening to reflect this.
Bands: Please be on the lookout for an email from Gregory Jenkins re: logistics and what to do if your band can't play.
Please help us spread the word re: rain date!
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Porchfest: Featuring a mere 283 musical acts
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| A few acts that will be performing at Porchfest, from top to bottom: Annabelle's Revival; Post West; Banda Raizes. |
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Porchfest
Sunday, May 13, noon-6pm
Citywide
Porchfest Map/Guide
Somerville may not have loads of music venues these days (R.I.P. Johnny D's) but one thing we do have is porches. And this weekend, the city will be using those porches as music venues to host some 283+ musical acts in a citywide decentralized music festival.
Check out the guide above and plan your route so you can catch acts like Lunatic neighbor, Game of Tones and the Dan Quayle Experience. New this year: there will be not one, but two comedy stages! We also noticed there will be an instrument petting zoo at one porch.
If you're looking for musical suggestions, we strongly recommend heading over to
Wonderland
for some great recommendations.
The Arts Council started the festival back in 2011, and it has since blown up-in terms of scale and influence. Now nearby communities like Jamaica Plain, Quincy, Brookline and Arlington also boast porchfests.
This year, for the first time, the Porchfest wave of music will move from West to East.
PORCHFEST SCHEDULE
noon-2 West Somerville porches
2-4pm Central Somerville porches
4-6pm East Somerville porches
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Porchfest supports Nibble Kitchen and our local immigrant communities!
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| From the top: Estela Calzada; Sandra Suarez; Nimco Mahamud-Hassan, José Barriga and Dani Wilcutt visiting the kitchen site. |
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Do you like Porchfest? Can you spare a few bucks for a great cause? Awesome! Look for Porchfest donation boxes around town this Saturday.
Each year Porchfest collectively raises thousands of dollars for charity. Bands play a huge role in helping with this effort and we thank you; you are making a difference! We hope you can help us again this year.
Nibble--the culinary arm of the Somerville Arts Council--is opening a kitchen in Union Square and we're looking for your support! Like the overall Nibble initiative, the Kitchen has a strong social justice and economic development component. Nibble Kitchen will allow our immigrant entrepreneurs to share their cultures via food and test out restaurant concepts in a low-risk environment. Nibble cooks are predominantly female and lower income. Support Nibble Kitchen at PorchFest--and come visit us in September at Bow Market for a rotating array of authentic international eats! Visit www.facebook.com/NibbleKitchen
100% of donations will go to building out and managing Nibble Kitchen.
Note to bands:
--We ask that you print out the flyer we're sending you via email and put it out on/near your porch with a donation jar/box.
--If you are also comfortable making announcement about our fundraising efforts, great!
--After you've collected funds, send/drop off your donation with us; contact info here: Arts Council. We accept cash and checks written out to the Somerville Arts Council.
--THANKS!
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SAC's Artist of the Month will be Porchfestin'
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If you have not seen Jon Bernhardt perform, you need to. Head to 9 Charnwood Road from 12-2 during Porchfest. More info. here.
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May's featured artist is Jon Bernhardt, a thereminist, DJ, actuary and resident of Somerville since 1996. Here's a snippet of the interview by Matt Kaliner.
SAC: What about the theremin attracted you?
Jon: It's just cool instrument. You play it without touching it. There's really nothing else like it. It appeals to the nerd in me. I like the fact that a lot of people build their own Theremins. The first Theremin I had, I built from a kit. The circuit board was already pre-assembled so it wasn't terribly difficult, but it required a little soldering here and there and woodworking for the cabinet.
SAC: Where does the Theremin technology come from?
Jon: It was invented in 1919, so it's almost a hundred years old. It was the first electronic instrument, so it predates electronic synthesizers and any other instrument that uses electronics to generate sound.
Read the full interview here.
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Important tips for Porchfest
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1. For a map the day of the event, use
this link.
2. Walk or ride your bike. It's not only green, it's much easier and much more fun. Plus, there's so much pedestrian traffic that day, driving can be very difficult.
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Please be respectful of people's private property.
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Respect our local police force as they do a stellar job reminding us not to block streets when cars need to pass.
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Please keep your drinks on private property, not in the street.
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Bands: Consider noise & sound bleed. We ask bands to stick with their performance times. And if a band is playing within close proximity to other bands, please consider sound bleed issues and stagger performances. Go to the map, see who is playing near you, then write them a note to collaborate!
Porchfest works because we all work together to be a respectful and law-abiding community! Let's keep it that way. Thanks everyone!
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Porchfest Eats: a taste of Venezuela at Bow Market!
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Get your first peek at Bow Market this weekend at Porchfest. SAC's Nibble entrepreneurs Carolina Garcia and Carolina Salinas will be there, selling their tasty arepas--griddled corn cakes stuffed with meat or vegetarian filling, cheese, and finished with homemade basil mayo sauce.
Help Carolina Garcia and Carolina Salinas pursue their culinary dreams while getting a glimpse at the new
Bow Market! The Carolinas will be vending right outside where the future Nibble Kitchen will be (ground floor, next to Remnant Brewery).
1 Bow Market Way, Somerville, 2-6pm, May 13
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Stay connected to the Arts Council
Somerville Arts Council, 50 Evergreen Avenue, Somerville, MA 02145
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