Sat 6/29 @ 1PM
Larchmere Porchfest is one of this area’s more distinctive free summer music festivals, inspired by a festival in Ithaca, New York where bands and musicians played on the porches of homes while listeners rambled around the neighborhood to discover something that caught their ear. (There are now similar festivals in Akron’s Highland Square neighborhood and in Peninsula.) On residential streets off Larchmere Boulevard, listeners set up their chairs or blankets on tree lawns or in the street to hear one of the largest varieties of music of any area music festival with everything from classical to hardcore punk and all stops in between.
That diversity continues in its 14th edition (it skipped two pandemic years; otherwise it would be the 16th.) Hear Blackrose’s Afropunk/world beat at 1pm — the only band in the opening slot (Most slots have 4-6 bands so you better study the program and choose wisely!) Other highlights include REDACTED’s experimental/poetry at 2pm; Mary Martin & the Tuna Band’s well-seasoned jazz/blues/Americana and Wave Magnetik’s electronic pop at 2:45; Abrepaso Flamenco, the Tim Mirth Band’s experimental jazz and Da Land Brass Band’s New Orleans-style music at 3:30; singer/songwriter Clare Feorene, the folkie John McGrail Quartet and the Cleveland Classical Guitar Society at 4:15; and the high-energy pop punk of Girl Cologne and Kisha Nicole Foster’s Afrofuturistic spoken word at 5pm.
At 6pm, everything converges on a single stage for the headlining sets. This year the headliners alternative hip hop ensemble Marcus Smith and the Rapscallions and blues rockers the Sam Hooper Group. There are afterparties too at the bars and restaurants that line Larchmere, where you can also find food and drink throughout the day to fuel your listening, along with a food court and vendors just for this event.
The whole festival is admission-free.
Cleveland, OH 44120