Re: Oakhurst PORCHFEST (No mando content)
On Sept. 2, my 5-piece Italian music group, La Bella Musica, played Maplewood, NJ's, second annual Porchfest. What a great time! 80+ musical groups spread across 50-or-so porches, driveways, and front lawns. Most played for an hour, w/ some taking yet-fuller advantage of the opportunity. Needless to say, a full array of musical styles, ages, and, uhmm, degrees of accomplishment! A high point of our wandering about after playing was when guitarist Ben, who also plays mandobass in the Bloomfield Mandolin Orchestra, got to take over a set for his old high school music teacher, who was playing bass guitar w/ friends on his own front porch!
From what I gathered at the time, the Porchfest concept is maybe five or six years old and growing. I think there are, thus far, a bit over 4 dozen around country.
And, oh yeah: Our host family was incredibly gracious, providing seating, refreshments, extension cords, etc. Approximate quote: "We didn't think we were planning a block party, but sure ended up with one!"
(Mando content? 2 mandolins, flute, guitar, bass guitar!)
- Ed
"Then one day we weren't as young as before
Our mistakes weren't quite so easy to undo
But by all those roads, my friend, we've travelled down
I'm a better man for just the knowin' of you."
- Ian Tyson
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