Listen to music on your neighbors’ porches throughout the city

SOMERVILLE – Have you ever sat on your porch and overheard a neighbor strumming guitar on another porch? PorchFest takes this idea and multiplies it to create a city-wide event where neighbors share their love of playing and listening to music.

Somerville’s PorchFest began in 2011 and has been growing rapidly ever since. This year more than 200 musical acts will be performing on porches (and sometimes spilling into front yards and gardens) across Somerville on Sat., May 11. Almost every genre of music you’ve heard of (and a few you probably haven’t) will be played at this year’s PorchFest including gypsy punk, cosmic Americana and killer blues, Afrobeat, acid folk, and American space rock. There’s even Porch-ioke where passersby can step up and belt out a tune with a band backing them up!

This year performances will start in West Somerville and go east. Acts in West Somerville perform from noon to 2 p.m.; central Somerville bands (between Central and Willow streets) perform from 2 to 4 p.m.; and East Somerville musicians perform from 4 to 6 p.m. This staggered schedule allows music to sweep like a wave from west to east and festival goers can plan out their routes to hear as much music as possible. To see the current lineup and map go to http://www.somervilleartscouncil.org/porchfest. Listen to music samples and plan out your day. Want to play PorchFest? Registration is still open until Thurs., May 9! Go to the website for more information and to register your act.

For questions about the festival, contact Arts Council Director, Gregory Jenkins at 617-625-6600 ext. 2985.

Individuals with disabilities who need auxiliary aids and services for effective communication, written materials in alternative formats, or reasonable modifications in policies and procedures, in order to access the programs and activities of the City of Somerville or to attend meetings, should contact the City’s Manager of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Nency Salamoun, at 617-625-6600 x2323 or NSalamoun@SomervilleMA.gov.