Porches become stages in West Philly: Porchfest 2025 brings beats, ballads and basslines (Photos)

On one Saturday a year at the start of summertime West Philly Porchfest transforms the neighborhood into a sprawling open-air music festival made accomplishable entirely by its residents What began in with just acts has grown exponentially Now in its ninth year the do-it-yourself music festival featured around registered musical acts performing from Cedar Park to Walnut Hill All free all volunteer-powered and all deeply local West Philly s Porchfest is among the biggest in North America Unlike traditional music festivals there s no centralized stage No fences No ticketing No cost to attend Music spills organically from block to block with each address hosting its own mini-concert Victorian porches rowhomes with shaded stoops and caf s with deep sidewalks all become venues with sets scheduled by neighborhood zones to help manage flow The decentralized neighborhood approach means that everyone can join in One registered performer Jak age listed on the event map as an -year-old karaoke queen was in her second year as a Porchfest participant Jak performed a karaoke set with favorites including Michael Jackson Rihanna and what her dad Ed described as s dad music Ed is a Porchfest volunteer who loves the non-commercial and local vibe of Porchfest This public event is truly welcoming and inclusive for all Jak age warms up for her karaoke set aided by moral sponsorship from her neighbor Lizzie Hanbit Kwon One attendee Robyn commented that Porchfest fosters the vibe that already exists in West Philly noting that this event helps residents showcase their dual interest in society and the arts Longtime West Philly resident and local activist Suzy Subways agreed I love that Porchest shows how much creativity there is in our neighborhood Subways and several other locals also shared that large community events like Porchfest may attract growing attention and crowds that could contribute to ongoing gentrification and added pressure on renters in West Philadelphia Musical genres featured during Porchfest span the map Attendees can expect to hear jazz quartets punk trios eclectic rock experimental noise sets and everything in-between It s not distinctive to encounter a flute solo followed by an a cappella group followed by a funk band with a full brass section all within a block West African dancer and drummer Anssumane Silla drumming in front of Alif Brew Mini Mart Various local businesses hosted pop-up shows to participate in Porchfest Hanbit Kwon Equally diverse are the people who participate Porchfest performers include seasoned professionals and first-timers alike Particular bands plug into amps powered by portable generators while others sing and strum unplugged Audience members linger with lawn chairs or lean against railings chatting with neighbors and sometimes even setting out tables with snacks A large number of young entrepreneurs this year sold everything from Oreos to lemonade to cupcakes Several blocks closed the street and hosted spontaneous car-free block parties to amplify the fun of Porchfest Along the block of Larchwood Avenue Tweens for Hire both sold lemonade and advertised their available services pet sitting plant watering leaf raking and more At Springfield Avenue Grill-Tones brought an eclectic and genre-spanning solo set to life fusing rock n roll with Motown grooves post-punk resource and experimental synth moments I haven t played a live show in over a year the performer shared and I craved to reconnect with the local locality and hopefully meet like-minded musicians in the area A neighbor s front porch became center stage for an eclectic rock act on Springfield Avenue Mike Grill of Grill-Tones tests his equipment Hanbit Kwon Inspired by an eclectic mix ranging from The Chameleons and New Model Army to Neil Young Black Sabbath and even System of a Down the set reflected a deep love of music with surprising twists Performing outside the traditional venue circuit also held particular meaning for Mike Grill Porch shows lower the barrier of entry for lesser-known artists Grill explained They re more accessible and more frequent ideal for anyone trying to get their foot in the door With a blend of classic covers and original experiments Grill-Tones delivered a living-room-meets-garage-show vibe that kept passersby listening lingering and nodding along Behind the scenes long before the music began dozens of helpers were already at work from posting flyers in March to distributing maps the night before the show Organizers encourage porch hosts to coordinate with nearby homes to be mindful of sound overlap and to follow suggested time blocks to help keep the sound flowing naturally across the neighborhood Attendees were also reminded to follow basic Festiquette avoid climbing on cars dispose of trash properly and show respect for all people animals and property Porchfest posters and T-shirts were available for purchase from roving helpers or at a table in Clark Park As the sun dipped low attendees followed the music west to Pentridge Station where the Official After Porchy Party kept the vibe going well into the night Porchfest s mission is simple yet powerful to deepen society ties through the happiness of live music It s an invitation for anyone with a porch an instrument or a love of sound to step outside and join in Scroll through these photos that capture the spirit style and sound of West Philly Porchfest Petri preps the roof at Knot Squat for an impromptu dance floor Hanbit Kwon The society music festival setup requires all hands on deck Hanbit Kwon Fan favorite Batal Philly is an all-inclusive community-supported samba-reggae percussion band based in Philadelphia WIth dozens of drummers Batal Philly exploded into the blocked street of the block of Hazel Avenue Hanbit Kwon James Haro In Storage played a set described as a powerful blend of lyrics and musical arrangements drawing comparisons to artists The Shins Ben Lee and Rilo Kiley Hanbit Kwon Sophia and Cylvia performed as advertised roughly original songs that we wrote all on our own Hanbit Kwon Jamming outside West Philly s Yamatorium Hanbit Kwon With so a large number of options to choose from a printed Porchfest map sunglasses and a comfy hat were essential elements for a fruitful Porchfest adventure Hanbit Kwon A Philadelphia-based poet and writer Marshall James Kavanaugh left James and Robyn enjoyed strolling Porchfest together Hanbit Kwon Participants of all ages presented off their musical skills Hanbit Kwon Families gathered and even offered up their porches to host the music of friends and neighbors Hanbit Kwon One porch on South th Street featured music by couch and prill in aid of porches palestine a community-based initiative that utilizes local events to raise awareness for Palestinian rights Hanbit Kwon Nur Ya Habibti DJing Palestinian tracks at her first Porchfest poses with her family Hanbit Kwon Multiple porches chose to host messages of encouragement and fundraisers along the sidewalk for the ongoing emergency in Gaza Hanbit Kwon From guitars to accordions instruments of all styles were played throughout the neighborhood Hanbit Kwon Tweens for Hire advertised their available services pet sitting leaf raking plant watering and more and also thoughtfully offered three sizes of two different types of lemonade Hanbit Kwon The post Porches become stages in West Philly Porchfest brings beats ballads and basslines Photos appeared first on Billy Penn at WHYY