Denver PorchFest Was For The People

By: Kate Szambecki

Anyone taking the idyllic stroll through Denver’s historic Baker neighborhood last Saturday could tell that something special was happening. Children shrieked and danced along the street. Couples sat on their porches in camping chairs to watch the passersby. The faint sound of a saxophone or electric guitar drifted down the sidewalk, growing louder until a crowd appeared, spilling into the street.

Almost 200 bands performed across 85 locations throughout the afternoon as a part of the inaugural Denver PorchFest. The festival brought thousands of attendees to the Baker neighborhood for an experience offering a new take on Denver’s music scene.

Some bands played on actual porches, others in driveways or yards. On one block you might find punk and emo, like Color Me Fatigued or Soneffs, and on the next, folk or rock like Swift Current and Five Minutes Out. There was something for everybody, and somehow each band was spaced out just enough that the sound did not overlap.

Lead organizer Bradley Schwartz was inspired by the Atlanta iteration of PorchFest, and was surprised that Denver was not among the many cities hosting an event like this, bringing locals together in such a profound way. He brought the idea to several friends and music lovers, and their hard work brought the day to fruition.

It was no easy feat. The organizers spent months securing the correct permits, going door-to-door to secure permission from neighbors for the event, and coordinating the logistics of the day. One of the most important partnerships was with Minimal Impact, a company that offers zero waste event operations, consulting services and products. Along with following routes all day, team members stayed until late in the evening sorting and removing trash and recycling. However, organizers said attendees did an exceptional job of keeping the neighborhood clean. 

“The Baker neighborhood stepped up in such a massive way to make this happen,” said Keagan Vernon, Denver PorchFest organizer and lead singer of Cliffhouse, a participating band. “It just speaks to the artist community in Denver. There is so much good talent here, and people who want [to see] it, and that was our goal: let’s get artists connected with locals.”

With Dailey Park as a central hub, visitors could grab drinks, shop at merch and artisan booths, and engage with the festival’s partner, East 7th Arts, a local nonprofit organization that helps children with autism by providing art and music therapy.

Co-founder Jay Gindi, who was also a festival organizer and musician, expressed his gratitude for “the people who took time out of their day to do something one billion percent for the good of the world and others, and set an example of how we all can be living.” He also emphasized how important it is to feature vendors and musicians alike. “This was all for the people.”

Suggested donations to the festival went towards both the musicians and East 7th Arts, and unlocked various perks such as access to special merch and the festival app. Along with a detailed schedule and map, the app included deals to use at businesses in the area, such as Lucky Noodles on First Ave. Ploy, the owner, said the amount of business she got throughout the day was “unreal”— lines were out the door. “Even if people couldn’t come in, now they know about us,” she said.

The positive reviews continue to flow in, shared Orin Levy, another festival organizer. During the festival, Levy spoke with a couple in their eighties who grew up two blocks away from each other in Baker. They were elementary school sweethearts and have lived in the neighborhood their whole lives. They were thrilled about PorchFest.

As for Vernon, many of his friends expressed that despite attending shows frequently, PorchFest opened their eyes to the scope of music they truly had access to. “And that was the entire point of what we did,” said Vernon, “showing Denver, and the country, that you have easy access to incredible bands who are talented and work hard, and you can go see them for 20 bucks on a Friday night.”

Or for free, at Denver PorchFest. If you’re interested in volunteering, performing, or hosting a band on your porch, keep an eye out for information from the organizers on the PorchFest website or on Instagram: @denverporchfest.