SINGIN' FROM THE PORCH

      Wouldn't it be cool if musicians played music for the neighbors from your front porch? Gainesville's historic Duckpond neighborhood has many old houses with "singin' room" out front.

               

Last Saturday they were front and center in our town's first Duckpond Porch Fest.

                             

        That's a small, volunteer-run festival where front porches become stages, yards become venues, and anyone can wander into the audience.

 

    Some time ago someone got the notion to "bring music home" by turning front yards into concert sites.

     

Now its a national tradition when one weekend a year communities are encouraged to have "Front Porch Festivals".

       Gainesville got its first one last Saturday when local musician Quincy Flint and the Florida Music Heritage Foundation made it happen in Duckpond. 

 

     Mr. Flint and I being buddies, I signed on as a concert guide, a guy in a funny hat leading the multitudes from one half-hour porch concert to the next.

     It started with Cathy DeWitt's band, Patchwork, performing on the Thomas Center's porte chochere.

From there we walked to six other houses over a course of four hours.

     It was a perfect day for music and outdoor fun. We thank Quincy, the foundation, and all of the musicians who make it possible and look forward to next year's front porch fun.

 

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