ATHENS, Ohio — More than 20 musical acts will perform this Sunday at homes and businesses across Athens’ Near East neighborhood.
The inaugural Near Eastside Neighborhood Association Porchfest will kick off at noon Sunday, June 30, at Kiser’s Barbeque at 355 E. State St.
From 1-6 p.m., bands in various genres will perform on porches at homes along Campbell Street, East State Street, Elmwood Place, Maplewood Drive, Meadow Lane, Morris Avenue, Ohio Avenue, Shannon Avenue and Sunnyside Drive. The event will wrap up at Jackie O’s Taproom, 25 Campbell St.
The event is free and open to the public; simply enjoy a Sunday stroll while stopping at neighbors’ homes to enjoy music. Genres include rock, funk, folk and traditional.
There will be around five hours of music, with three simultaneous acts in the first two hours of Porchfest, and then four from 3–5 p.m, said Porchfest organizer Rob Delach.
Delach said the event was inspired by Ithaca, New York’s Porchfest, which began in 2007. Delach said he had the idea for the event about five years ago, though it only recently became possible.
“We haven’t ever had a Porchfest in Athens, with the best of anyone’s knowledge I’ve talked to,” Delach said. “There’s like over 200 of them around the country.”
The Porchfest title just happens to resemble Athens’ fest season, Delach said.
The event matched musical acts to volunteer hosts in the neighborhood, he said.
Delach worked with Scott Winland, a music instructor at Hocking College and The Union’s booking agent, to coordinate the musical groups to play at residences as well as two businesses on Sunday. There are 21 acts including a Celtic jam, Delach said.
Delach said organizers also have coordinated with the city and the Athens Police Department. Because Porchfest doesn’t involve vendors or closures, the event required only permits to post signs indicating where bands are playing.
Because the shows will take place on private property, the consumption of alcoholic beverages is permitted, but not while walking between locations. The neighborhood is not part of the city’s Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area.
One of the great pleasures of organizing the event has been getting to know his neighbors better, Delach said. Though he has a history of organizing socials for the neighborhood, he’s found that there are always more connections to be made.
“I’ve met a lot of people in the neighborhood, but there’s always more it seems,” Delach said. “And I’ve definitely met more people and got to know more people because of organizing this.”
Likewise, the goal of the event is building community, Delach said.
“It’s getting neighbors to meet each other,” Delach said. “And Athens is a great music city — a lot of great music. So what better way to get people to come out than to listen to music from local bands, and get to know more of the musicians, too.”
Delach said the event is also about celebrating the neighborhood and its “social aspects.”
“It’s a great neighborhood; the greatest neighborhood in Athens I think,” he said. “The big thing was community-building. That’s the main reason I thought it was an important thing to do, and it helps build the neighborhood as a place that people want to be, people want to live.”
The event also promotes Near East side businesses such as Dr. May’s, Kindred Market, Avalanche Pizza — and of course musical hosts Kiser’s and Jackie O’s Taproom.
The closing act is Water Witches, performing their last show in Athens for an indefinite time, Delach said.
“They’ve been a staple here in Athens since at least 2014, since they’ve been playing. And they’re my favorite band in Athens, honestly,” Delach said of Water Witches. “This is the last time they’ll be together here in Athens to play as a band, which is sort of sad, but fabulous performers, and it should be a great show.”
For more information, visit NENA Porchfest’s Facebook and Instagram pages; visit this link for general information, including parking resources, and this one for a music schedule. Informational handouts will be available during the event.
