West End’s Porchfest back for end of summer

Chance to yard-hop for string of outdoor concerts will return next month

WEST HARTFORD — Don’t start packing up your lawn chairs quite yet because West End’s Porchfest is returning for an end-of-summer festival this year.

The outdoor neighborhood concert will take place on Sept. 12, from 1 to 6 p.m. Starting south of Elizabeth street and venturing down to Capitol Avenue, neighbors and concert attendees can yard-hop to catch performances from local musicians.

“It’s just a feel-good afternoon of good music,” Sarah Moore, chair of the West End Civic Association, said. “I know this summer in particular felt really good to get back outside, so this is sort of a way to wrap up the summer and be able to see people that you haven’t seen in a year and a half.”

After hosting its first event in summer 2019, the concert series has been on a yearlong hiatus due to the pandemic. While many of the musicians carried out their own impromptu performances last summer, this will only be the second official Porchfest in Hartford’s West End.

The return of the event will include a variety of musical genres, ranging from Bluegrass and rock to folk and rap. Taking the stage this year— or in this case, porch steps — will be several music groups and rising artists, such as folk rapper Tenaya Taylor, Meetinghouse, Cortes-chavez Duo, Nikita and others.

WECA says they will be following all outdoor CDC guidelines at the venues, suggesting social distancing and, though not mandatory, mask-wearing when comfortable. Since many of the porch venues can vary in audience sizes, Moore says, “we’re asking people to behave as they have been and being cognizant of others around them.”

While rotating through the hourlong sets, guests can refresh at the Porchfest hub in the event center at Noah Webster Microsociety School on Cone Street, where there will be children’s activities and regional food truck vendors. Event information booths and T-shirt sales will also be at the hub.

Additionally, the center and each venue will be collecting nonperishable food that will be donated to the neighborhood food pantries.

For more information on this year’s Porchfest and upcoming performance lineups, visit west endporchfest.org.

COURANT FILE PHOTO In Hartford’s West End, local“folk fusion”singer and guitarist Coleus performs on Whitney Street in September 2019 to celebrate the city’s first Porchfest. The festival returns to Hartford next month after a year’s hiatus because of the coronavirus pandemic.