Sat 6/22 @ 1 – 8pm
By Bob Yanega
Here is a simple recipe for an amazing Saturday event in Cleveland:
Step 1 – Go to Larchmere, the up-and-coming arts community just north of Shaker Square.
Step 2 – Start a grassroots movement and get 30 of the top local and regional bands and stagger their performances on 30 porches across various streets and times.
Step 3 – Stir in classic old houses, a variety of porches, incredible restaurants and bars, antique shops, and a fun-loving crowd.
Presto! You have the 5th annual Larchmere Porchfest, the FREE, cool event which continues to grow and embrace a wide array of musical styles set in a walkable, hip neighborhood. It kicks off this year with Harmonia, called a “musical gem” by NPR and featuring Larchmere’s own Steven Greenman, and officially closes with performances by We The People and Jah Messengers. The music and the fun continue, however with after parties at Academy Tavern, Jezebel’s Bayou, and Felice Urban Café (featuring Morgan Mecaskey).
New bands this year include Steev Inglish, Early Girl, and Fever Fever (whose single “Beautiful Dream” was featured in the London Olympics Nike commercial last year) who will be joining past Porchfest favorites such as Universal Funk Mob and Oldboy. Also new this year will be the discounted RTA pass enabling listeners to ride the Blue Line train between the Larchmere Porchfest and the Shaker Heights Arts and Music Festival for only $1. Just get your hand stamped at the info tent at 12629 Larchmere Rd. or the City of Shaker Hts. tent at the Arts Festival.
Maps of the porch locations are available at the information tent, or at the festival website. Also be sure to check out The Dancing Sheep and other great local merchants on Larchmere Rd. for T shirts and compilation CDs.
So ride RTA, bike, walk, or run to the Larchmere Porchfest. Bring a lawn chair, blanket, or just stand in the street. But be warned: you may just enjoy the festival AND the neighborhood so much that, like this writer, you’ll end up moving permanently into Larchmere. But that’s okay — we love people like you.
Bob Yanega is a freelance writer, speaker, fountain of ideas, and renaissance man. He is also the founder and executive director for The 1990 Project, a nonprofit organization that has created a series of Choosing Success™ Programs to promote successful scholarship, entrepreneurship, and workforce training to high schoolers in NE Ohio.A lifelong Clevelander and unofficial Cleveland ambassador, Bob recently published a children’s book, The Littlest Lamppost, which has a strong Cleveland connection. His website is http://www.BobSense.com.
Cleveland, OH 44120