Sat 6/28 @ 1 PM
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 same diversity continues in its 15th edition this year. Things kick off at 1pm with Moon Echo Garden, a psychedelic folk rock band fronted by the indefatigable Megan Stepka. They’re the only band in that time slot, but at 2pm you’ll have to start making choices. Black Island Condors’ instrumental space rock or Nature Nvoke’s post punk? At 2:45, veteran Cleveland hip-hoppers Muamin Collective or Austin Walkin’ Cane’s acoustic blues? The choices keep proliferating! Garage rock from King Buu! Anthemic indie rock from Messmaker! Eclectic soul from Esther Fitz! Polka (!) from Ron Likovic and friends!
At 6pm, everything converges on a single stage for the headlining sets. This year the headliners are New Orleans-inspired brass/percussion ensemble Da Land Brass Band who performed last year at the auto shop, and folk rockers Maura Rogers & the Bellows. If you’re not tired out, stick around for the afterparties taking place at bars and restaurants along Larchmere.
Vendors, food trucks and food stations line the street to offer a break from the music.cThe whole festival is free. Get more info and a schedule here if you like to plan ahead.