On Saturday, October 10, Capitol Hill porches will be thumping with music and alive with music lovers in the first-ever Capitol Hill Porch Fest— a free festival day of bands all over the Hill. Edna Boone, one of the organizers, and I chatted about how this incredible effort came together.
As it turns out in our modern world, neighbor Rachel Schiller put a call out on the Lincoln park listserv back in the summer and asked, “Does anybody wanna try to help plan a porch fest?” Enthused by the success of other porch fests around the area, such as the Petworth one in May, several people felt inspired. So right away, Rachel, Edna, along with Thomas Phillips, Torey Potter and Jerry Tolk got to work. They Zoomed and then gathered at community-led third place Mott’s Market in August.
The whole endeavor came together in two months. Along the way, there have been learning moments– forming a non-profit in record time, getting a website designed, etc. But all along, Edna tells me, it’s been an overwhelmingly positive response. Through permitting, meetings with MPD, “it’s all been fabulous.” The organizers counted early on with the support of Petworth Porchfest organizers, who generously shared their musician lists. There is support from Capitol Hill Community Foundation and from the Capitol Hill BID, and even robotaxi hopeful Waymo donated to the effort. You will be able to visit a Waymo booth and learn more about the service at a booth outside of Eastern Market. If you’re headed that way, you can also catch Capitol Hill legends the Capitol Hillbillies. They are porch 62, corner of 7th and North Carolina Avenue SE.
There has been so much interest, in fact, that the group has had to turn down porches, which has been no pleasant task. However, this porch fest will hopefully be the first of many to come, so if you didn’t get the chance to participate this time around, there will be more!
This year musicians will be playing for free, as the logistics for a first-year festival turned out to be a little more pricy than anticipated. Make sure you tip all the musicians at the venues you visit, and spread the word!
New store owner Bailey Weaver, who owns B Street Studio on Constitution Avenue is really excited: Her business will be hosting several bands throughout the day, including The Mostly Dads, who play, naturally, Dad Rock. If you’re interested, it’s porch 41 on Constitution Avenue.
Edna is so grateful to the community, because everyone she’s talked to has fully embraced the effort: “To me it’s really about the outpouring of support. Anyone that we have talked to has said yes. As I’m putting up posters, I’ve seen people scanning the QR code.”
If you go:
WHAT: First-ever Capitol Hill Porchfest
WHEN: Saturday, October 10 (rain date: October 11)
WHERE: All over Capitol Hill! Check out the map HERE.
WHY: Because who doesn’t love live music just a few steps away from home?