How To
Get Involved
An excellent source of locally-grown music since 2017, Modesto Porchfest is a day of no-cost, independent porch parties driven by the collaboration between porch hosts and musicians. Porchfest is a celebration of neighborhood, community, and creation, making a tradition of the talent of our region.
HOW IT WORKS…
PORCH HOSTS
Becoming a porch host means opening up your porch and outdoor space to showcase a musician and welcome the community. There are just a few things to consider as a potential porch host:
LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION:Porches are residential homes in the area within this boundary map. (We know it can be frustrating if your porch is left out… but keeping Porchfest within a given boundary ensures that this event is safe, focused, and walkable within participating neighborhoods.)
PORCH SWEET PORCH: In general, any porch, driveway, or outdoor space facing the street could work! (Backyards do not. Likewise, we will need to decline a host if their porch is on a busy street and / or if there is not a safe space for a crowd to gather.) Note that you must have an electrical outlet that musicians can plug into.
CHOICES CHOICES:Most porches host one or two bands during the day-long event. You may already have lined up which band(s) you’d like to host and can include that in the application! If you haven’t arranged your own band, you can note in your application any genre preferences and the Porchfest organizers can help find a matching musician to connect you to!
IT’S ALL ABOUT YOU:You have full control and responsibility of your own porch party! Line up a food truck, set up chairs and blankets, or just let folks come and sit on your lawn. Some porch hosts choose to close down their streets so people can gather in the streets safely. Porch hosts are responsible for applying for a city permitto do so. Note that porch / home owners are ultimately responsible for what happens on their property, just as they would be at any other time.
HOW IT WORKS…
MUSICIANS
Becoming a Porchfest musician means sharing your art with your neighbors. Whether you’re an up-and-coming name or you’ve been at this for decades, Porchfest can connect you to the community! Here’s what you should keep in mind as a Porchfest musician…
MINDFUL MUSIC: Porchfest musicians play a family-friendly set at a volume appropriate for a residential neighborhood. Think Sunday afternoon chill vibes. Solo acts, ensembles, and bands representing countless genres are all welcome! But be considerate in your content and volume so that this remains a family-oriented, neighborhood-scaled event.
BE READY: All bands need to have at least a 60 minute set of family-friendly music. You will also need to provide your own equipment – including cords, amplifiers, and instruments. Your porch host will provide power, but you will need to coordinate anything else you need to perform.
LOCALLY-GROWN: This is a local event, and priority is given to musicians from Modesto, Stanislaus County, and the wider Central Valley.
FRESH-PICKED: When you apply as a musician without a pre-organized porch host, our event organizers will work to pair you with an available porch. However, please understand that every year, we have more bands than porches apply, and must select only bands that can be paired with open porch hosts, working within their genre preferences.
GET THAT BAG: We encourage you to set out a tip jar and / or post QR codes to receive tips electronically during your set! Likewise, you are welcome to sell or distribute recordings or merchandise!
Porchfest event organizers publish a map and schedule of porches and musicians, help match up porches and bands, provide porta-potties throughout the Porchfest area, and keep the public informed! Organizers will email everyone on or about April 1st with the match results and draft lineup.