By Amelia Tarallo
Hometown Weekly Staff
What do you do when you get when you combine a beautiful Saturday afternoon, over a dozen musicians, and a community-wide appreciation for music? You get PorchFest, a community-driven music festival unique to Medfield.
On Saturday, May 1, visitors were welcomed to listen to some fantastic tunes, performed live on Medfield's porches, driveways, lawns and other outdoor spaces. Organized by the Cultural Alliance of Medfield, the event brings the community together through a shared love of good music.
This year’s iteration hosted more musicians than last year's, while maintaining the same number of sites across town - and as with last year's version, each spot presented something different. One neighborhood hosted several different acts, making it easy for people to enjoy the music with a leisurely walk through the neighborhood. At Dale Street, former fifth-grade teacher Mike Mason sang folk songs with a local twist. During his cover of Dave Loggins’ song “Please Come to Boston,” for example, Mason inserted a different town in the chorus: “Please come to Medfield, She said no,” he crooned, making audience members chuckle. Just a short drive away, listeners gathered on Green Street to listen to some jazzy tunes played by Anton Derevyanko and David Baler. Neighbors sat on their lawns listening to the music with friends, while those in cars and on bikes stopped to catch a number or two.
PorchFest is still quite new to Medfield, as it started in 2020 amidst the pandemic. “PorchFest was originally conceived of as an event at multiple locations on the grounds at [Medfield State Hospital] last spring. But the pandemic changed our ability to gather, so we shifted to the more traditional PorchFest of musicians playing outside at their homes,” explained President of the Cultural Alliance of Medfield Jean Mineo. The shift from the hospital grounds to homes in Medfield seems to have been an easy one, based on the success of both years. “PorchFest at home is easier for musicians, since their equipment is there and they can tap into power for those that need it, so I'd like to see PorchFest continue to showcase musicians at home and remain open to anyone to perform,” Mineo said.
Festival-goers could all find something they loved about the day. On Bridge Street, one neighbor remarked that it felt great to be outside in the warm weather and enjoying some tunes from her own yard. For Mineo, picking out a favorite part was a bit more difficult. “That's like asking a mother to pick her favorite child. Besides experiencing some really amazing live music, I love seeing the audience out enjoying the event. People were smiling everywhere. You just can't overemphasize the impact of music to make you feel good. And we can all use more of that right now,” she explained.
In its second year, PorchFest managed both to captivate the community and show off its musical talent. While there are sure to be some new musicians - and with a little luck, fewer masks - at next year's installment, PorchFest is sure to continue bringing out the best in Medfield.
