Porchfest brings music to village
RHINEBECK, N.Y. >> Music with down-home flavor on Saturday took on real meaning during the third annual Porchfest celebration at two dozen homes over three village blocks.
The event featured 53 bands and solo musicians who entertained primarily with natural acoustics provided by porch roofs.
“The beauty of the porches is that it provides a protected stage for the performer but I think that sunshine makes for a much better day,” co-organizer Liz Mazzarella said.
Music included rock, punk, country, bluegrass, Irish, Turkish, alternative and variations that crossed among each of the genres.
“The majority are local musicians and it gives them an opportunity to get out and showcase their talent and meet people in the community,” Mazzarella said.
Some musicians found
the thousands of people wandering the neighborhood were an opportunity to gain experience while young entrepreneurs were able to try other artistic endeavors. Nine-year-old Griffin Stewart was able to rock and roll in a thriving businesses selling handpainted stones.
“There is a book called ‘Rock Art’ with drawings, paintings on rocks, and it shows you the steps to make them,” he said.
Daisy Marcus, of Greenwich, Connecticut, found her dog Snarky was intrigued by the bands with high energy and passive moods during the acoustic love songs.
“He’s a terrier-pug mix and just goes back and forth when they get roaring and then lays down and tilts his head attentively during when they are gently strumming,” she said.
Mazzarella said the idea for staging Porchfest in Rhinebeck was based on how similar event have taken place in other communities.
“My daughter was a freshman at Ithaca College and sent me some pictures,” she said. “She said ‘Mom, it was the coolest thing. I was walking around the streets and all of this great music was being performed on these porches.’”
Mazzarella said the event was an opportunity to have the entire community come closer together.
“It’s to let the community be united and less divided,” she said. “That’s the beauty of music. It crosses all barriers, and is uplifting, and I want people to forget about all the divisiveness in the world and just enjoy the magic of music.”