Bristol PorchFest planning a return for 2021

Popular afternoon of local music is scheduled for Sept. 19

Posted 8/20/21

Arts In Common is excited to present Bristol PorchFest 2021, scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 19, from 3 to 6 p.m.

The afternoon will feature 9 porches and 18 bands — solo, duos, trios, and …

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Bristol PorchFest planning a return for 2021

Popular afternoon of local music is scheduled for Sept. 19

Posted

Arts In Common is excited to present Bristol PorchFest 2021, scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 19, from 3 to 6 p.m.

The afternoon will feature 9 porches and 18 bands — solo, duos, trios, and small groups — who will be performing acoustically or minimally amplified to entertain porch hosts and strolling spectators.

“We have amazing porches and great local musicians,” said MaryKae Wright, PorchFest co-chair and member of Arts In Common, a local organization that promotes arts and culture in Bristol. “Combining the two is the perfect way to bring together friends and neighbors for an afternoon in Bristol.”

The last PorchFest in 2019 was a massive success, with an estimated 3,000 listeners, strollers and even dancers taking to the streets to visit the 18 bands on 9 porches. “One of the most amazing things was meeting friends and neighbors coming together as a community to enjoy a Sunday afternoon,” said Bradley Wester, an Arts In Common and Bristol PorchFest founder.

“The team has done an amazing job of bringing back some musical favorites while adding new voices and sounds to the event,” said PorchFest Co-chair Nancy Kellner. Returning performers include Trinity and Friends, Los Duderinos, Andre Arsenault, and other local talent. New this year are Manel the Island Man, an Azorean native offering traditional Portuguese tunes, singer-songwriter Mark Cutler, the Dave Schneider Band, performing jazz and big band numbers, and more.

Also new this year are Dave Carney and Joe Caron in the role of Music Advisors. With more than 50 musicians and bands interested in performing, they had their work cut out for them, guiding the selection of talented artists from various genres to create a diverse range of musical offerings.

“From classical guitar to disco-pop, traditional Portuguese to big band, folk to rock, there is something for everyone,” said Mr. Carney. “We even have a 2019 Miss Rhode Island USA contestant who is an accomplished, award-winning singer performing on one of our porches.”

Bands scheduled to perform include Sinner’s Pie, Strange Brew, Trinity and Friends, Rendition, Los Duderinos, Andre Arsenault, Slack Tide, Fay Bullard, Paula Clare Band, Julio Amaro, Ashley Soto, Allysen Callery, Dave Schneider Trio, Hollow Turtle, Mark Cutler, Baby Oil, Manel the Island Man, Lon Plynton, and Mike Carroll.

As in 2019, to help make the three-hour event safe, organizers worked with the police and received Bristol Town Council approval to close High Street from Walley to Byfield streets. Police will stop traffic and patrol intersections Sunday afternoon starting around 2:45 p.m. until 6:15 p.m. Cars can remain parked on the street during the entire event, but it’s suggested that vehicles should be parked on a side street for those who may want to access and use them during the event. As this is a small, grassroots event, organizers are asking audiences to be respectful of private property and take trash home with them.

Bristol PorchFest 2021 is scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 19, from 3 to 6 p.m., with a rain date a week later on Sunday, Sept. 26. For more information, emailporchfest@artsincommon.org.

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