Bring on the bands! This Saturday, July 8, marks the 4th Annual Jamaica Plain Porchfest, where musicians and other performers take over porches, lawns and other impromptu stages all over the neighborhood for an afternoon of music, dance, theater, comedy and a resource mobilization fair featuring area nonprofits.
Chris Helms
Voci Angelica Trio played its folks-inspired classical on Boylston Street at JP Porchfest, Saturday, July 9, 2016.
There will be 205 bands performing on 95 porches throughout JP with a variety of musical styles -- jazz, Latin, rock, pop, classical and more. The term "porch" is loosely defined and includes stoops, yards, driveways, churches, community centers, affordable housing and elderly housing. In other words, it will be rather hard to go more than a street or two without coming across some sort of free, live performance.
There will be several children's events as well, including a children's social justice experience, appropriately named Wee the People, at the Mozart Park from noon to 3 p.m. Commonwealth Circus artists and storytellers coordinated by MassMouth's Mary Hannon, will be at the Eliot School.
On the other side of the age spectrum is the Intergenerational Poetry Porch, which will include senior poets from "Never Too Late to be a Poet," as well as youth spoken-word artists from DenCity.
If you're looking to dance, definitely head over to the Loring-Greenough House, which is hosting a six-hour dance and theatre porch. Along with a dance party, prominent local theatre companies and dance troupes will be featured.
The Politician Porch is back, and will let elected officials run wild with singing and storytelling. Boston City Councilors Matt O’Malley, Tito Jackson and Annissa Essaibi-George, as well as state Rep. Liz Malia, are all expected to appear. For a taste of what the politicians may have in store for this year, check out O'Malley's rendition of David Bowie's "Space Oddity" from last year's Porchfest.
The full schedule of performers, including porch locations and times, is available on the JP Porchfest website. Here's a sampling of what the day will offer:
The website also boasts an interactive map, which allows you to click and see which acts are performing where:
Hubway is offering free 24-hour bike rentals to the first 100 people to RSVP. This year, there will also be a trolley making a continuous loop around JP with room to transport 35 people at a time. And of course, most Porchfest attendees make their way around the neighborhood on foot, with frequent stops to listen to whatever band catches their ear.
The rain date is Sunday, July 9; the call will be made by noon Friday.
JP Porchfest is organized by Mindy Fried, Marie Ghitman, Arreen Andrew and Julian Velasco, and is a free, all-volunteer event that "celebrates JP’s creative talent and diversity, using the arts as a vehicle to weave the community together across the divides of race, class, culture and immigrant status."
And one more thing: Remember to tag Jamaica Plain News on Twitter (@02130News) with your Porchfest videos and pics!
Previous Porchfest coverage on Jamaica Plain News:
Photos: Hyde, Jackson Squares Celebrate Porchfest 2016
JP Porchfest 2016: A Video Sampler
Watch Julia Martin, 87, Slay the Electric Slide
Porchfest will bring Music, Dance and Community to the Streets of Jamaica Plain
Thousands Groove to Porchfest 2015
JP Porchfest Breaks the Internet. Again.
Jamaica Plain Porchfest: Songs in the Key of JP
Social Media Explodes Over JP Porchfest