Somerville-Journal

Thousands turn out for Somerville 2nd Porchfest

By Auditi Guha

Wicked Local Staff Photo by David Gordon

Wicked Local

Posted May 23, 2012 @ 11:20 AM

Photo Galleries Somerville Porchfest 2012

While folks stopped in surprise to listen to music wafting in the wind, participants celebrated music and a sense of community at Somerville’s second Porchfest on Saturday. With acts ranging from Bollywood funk and cosmic Americana to Moroccan, Balkan, gospel and clawhammer banjo, passersby were serenaded May 19 from noon to 6 p.m. from more than 100 porches marked by red balloons.

“We had a fantastic turnout and really enjoyed ourselves. My favorite aspect was the contrast of this experience to playing in clubs,” said Conor O’Brien who was a part of the trio forming Big Blue World that played from 2 to 4:30 p.m. on Hudson Street. Sari Kalin, an accordion player at the Porch-i-oke – a group karaoke alt-singalong – said she “had a blast.”

While visitors enjoyed the concept and the music, many first-rime performers were surprised by the camaraderie it generated among neighbors whom they rarely see or know.

“Since we live on Ten Hills, we did not expect a big turnout. We fully expected the audience to be comprised of our friends and fans,” said Mary Ellen Powers, manager for The Rolling Who, a cover band that plays pop and rock hits of the 60s through the 90s and draw most of their material from the British invasions of these eras.

“What happened was another story,” Powers said. “Folks came on bike, car, foot, and public transportation from other parts of Somerville. We met neighbors from our street and a few blocks away who came out because they either heard us or saw our little sign at the intersection of Temple and Puritan roads.”

The band members set up chairs and little tables on the sidewalk and provided water and snacks in order to encourage folks to get comfortable and stick around. They ended up making new friends, many of who stayed on after the show for a cookout in their back patio.

“We had kids playing with bubbles and driveway chalk, and adults discussing music, the neighborhood, and how great it is to live in Somerville,” Powers added. “We enjoyed the day immeasurably and we cannot wait to do it again next year.”The Somerville Public Schools Music Department also participated for the first time, occupying at porch at 10 Wisconsin Ave.“There was a moderate turnout and the students loved playing for the small crowd,” said Rick Saunders, director of music at the schools. “It was amazing weather and everyone who came enjoyed it.”

Saunders said they started at noon with the Brazilian Percussion Ensemble called Grooversity composed of Somerville High and Berklee College of Music students and led by former SHS student Karolina Miereles. This was followed by a jazz set by a couple of former students and a performance of string students directed by Joanne Sadler, a Somerville teacher and topped off by East Somerville Community School fifth graders singing the Mexican folk song De Colores and Woody Guthrie’s This Land Is Your Land. Last year, the Somerville Arts Council created the large decentralized music festival that allows local musicians to share and enjoy their music from their homes. Think of Open Studios, but for music, organizers said.Executive Director of the Arts Council Greg Jenkins said there were about 30 additional locations this year giving folks a total of 105 venues to choose from. He guesses more than 400 people performed and about 5,000 people visited throughout the day.

“I think it went great. Tons of folks out,” he said. “Probably the main dilemma was that there were a bit too many rock bands that were playing too loud which is not the intent of Porchfest. And the fact that folks did not supervise their porches/yards in terms of crowd control or respect to neighbors.”However, there were only a handful of complaints from the entire day.

Unusual groups included a band of ukulele players, a capella groups and the group karaoke sing along. Participants said it made for an unique experience.

O’Brien of the Big Blue World said they met a neighbor who was in his mid-eighties, who had lived in Somerville for most of his life and just stopped by because he heard the music floating down the street. He loved their music and seemed amazed that he liked songs played by a much younger generation would be playing. He asked them about terms like “cover song” and “original, phrases he said he was not familiar with. He especially s song called "Quite Like You" and mentioned that he enjoyed their Cuban covers as well.

“I was really impressed by this character and that he even remembered the name of a song we played and decided to give him a free CD,” O’Brien said. “This is really what Porchfest seems to be about, people of all ages and backgrounds being brought together by music.”

Read more: Thousands turn out for Somerville's second Porchfest - Somerville, Massachusetts 02144 - Somerville Journal http://www.wickedlocal.com/somerville/news/x358788500/PHOTO-GALLERY-Somerville-rocked-at-2012-Porchfest#ixzz23KxaRW2X

http://www.bigblueworld.net/