Sounds Local: Shelburne Falls Porch Fest to fill village with music

The legendary Judy Collins will take the stage at the Shea Theater Arts Center in Turners Falls on Sunday.

The legendary Judy Collins will take the stage at the Shea Theater Arts Center in Turners Falls on Sunday. PHOTO BY SHERVIN LAINEZ

The Shelburne Falls Porch Music Festival will see 70 acts perform at 40 locations throughout the village.

The Shelburne Falls Porch Music Festival will see 70 acts perform at 40 locations throughout the village. PHOTO BY JASON COMCOWICH

The Shelburne Falls Porch Music Festival began in 2020 as a means to help people combat the isolation of the pandemic.

The Shelburne Falls Porch Music Festival began in 2020 as a means to help people combat the isolation of the pandemic. PHOTO BY JASON COMCOWICH

John Gorka is considered one of the leaders of the new folk movement from the late 1980s and early 1990s. He will perform at the 1794 Meetinghouse in New Salem on Saturday, July 12.

John Gorka is considered one of the leaders of the new folk movement from the late 1980s and early 1990s. He will perform at the 1794 Meetinghouse in New Salem on Saturday, July 12. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Orkestar Banitsa is a group of local musicians that performs traditional Balkan music mixed with a few originals played in the Balkan style.

Orkestar Banitsa is a group of local musicians that performs traditional Balkan music mixed with a few originals played in the Balkan style. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

By SHERYL HUNTER

For the Recorder

Published: 07-09-2025 8:28 PM

There’s nothing better than strolling through the village of Shelburne Falls and taking in all the sights of this picturesque area. Now, imagine the sound of melodic guitars and sweet, soaring voices drifting through the air from the porches of nearby homes. This would transform an already enjoyable experience into something even more special.

The Shelburne Falls Porch Music Festival will take place on Sunday, July 13, from noon to 6 p.m. Now in its fifth year, the free festival features local musicians performing on porches, lawns, in barns and any other welcoming location throughout the village.

The idea of a porch festival first began in Ithaca, New York, in 2007, when two neighbors were inspired by a fellow neighbor playing the ukulele on his porch. They soon began to think that building an event around people performing on porches would be beneficial for everyone, and after that initial porch fest was held the idea spread. Similar events now take place all over the country. Here in the Pioneer Valley, Easthampton hosts a Porch Fest on Oct. 4, while Montague has Good Music Makes Good Neighbors, now a biannual event that will take place in 2026. There is even a worldwide Play Music on the Porch Day on Aug. 30, 2025.

According to Paul Bennett, organizer of the Shelburne Falls Porch Music Festival, about 70 acts will perform this year, playing at 40 locations throughout Shelburne Falls.

For the most part, the performance locations are centrally located at homes on Main, Water, and Mechanic streets, as well as at businesses such as Floodwater Brewing Co. and The Mill at Shelburne Falls.

“We have some new venues this year, too — the Eagles Club and VFW are participating for the first time, which shows how the community keeps growing around this event,” Bennett wrote in an email.

And grown it has. The festival began in 2020 when Bennett’s then 14-year-old daughter thought a porch fest would be the perfect way to help people combat some of the isolation they had been experiencing due to the pandemic.

The event proved to be a success, but after that first year, Bennett’s daughter did not wish to continue it. Bennett stepped in and, with the help of a dedicated team of volunteers, has been overseeing it ever since.

“What makes this special is how it transforms the whole town,” said Bennett. “People walk the streets and discover music everywhere — on porches, in gardens, at storefronts. You’ll hear artists like Adam S.Z & the Inner Fiyah doing reggae, Soular Eclipse with rhythm and blues and funk, Martin Espada, and Brook Batteau’s indie rock. There will be plenty of folk acts, but also a really wide range of genres.”

Freak folk, freeform jazz, upbeat dad rock, quirky indie rock, Celtic, Americana and bluegrass are just a few of the genres that appear on the schedule.

The Farley String Band, 133 Skeele, The Riverbenders, Chris Goudreau, Dave Dersham, Couchboy, Pre-Emption Road, Orlen, Gabriel & Avery, and Frost Heaves and Hales are just a few of the performers coming.

You can be sure the musicians enjoy playing the event as much as the attendees enjoy seeing them, and Daniel Hales of Greenfield is one of the participating musicians who would agree with that.

“This is only our second year playing Porch Fest,” Hales told Sounds Local. “We had a blast last year and are excited for this year. Low-key informal gigs are often the most fun.”

In addition to all the music, there will be author readings and comic relief provided by local comics, including Bennett himself, who will perform a set of comedy for kids and one geared toward adults.

“The whole experience is about community — neighbors and visitors all sharing live music together throughout Shelburne Falls,” Bennett said. “It really does create something unique when an entire town becomes a venue.”

For more information, including a detailed map and schedule, visit shelburnefallsporchfestival.com. While the music is free, tips are always appreciated.

Sunday Sing Down at Floodwater Brewing

As the Porch Fest winds down at 6 p.m., the music in Shelburne Falls will continue when singer-songwriter and Shelburne Falls resident Jeffrey Foucault hosts the “Sunday Sing Down,” a casual in-the-round session where Foucault and a group of musician friends play whatever they’re in the mood for. The element of surprise adds to the fun — you never know what you’ll hear or who will show up to play. The music is scheduled to start at 6 p.m.

Judy Collins at the Shea Theater/1794 Meetinghouse shows

Luckily, we don’t have to travel far to see big-name talents in Franklin County. This week, the legendary Judy Collins will take the stage at the Shea Theater Arts Center in Turners Falls on Sunday, July 13, at 8 p.m. Collins was a central figure in the folk world of the 1960s, which led to a career that has spanned seven decades. While she is a songwriter, she is best known for her beautiful, clear singing voice and interpretations of the work of other songwriters. She helped introduce the world to the music of Joni Mitchell with her cover of Mitchell’s song “Both Sides Now” and gave songwriter and singer Leonard Cohen exposure when she performed a number of his songs before he released them himself.

A Grammy-winning artist, Collins has released 36 studio albums, nine live albums, numerous compilation albums, four holiday albums and 21 singles. Tickets are available at DSPshows.com.

John Gorka will perform at the 1794 Meetinghouse in New Salem on Saturday, July 12, at 7:30 p.m. The acclaimed singer-songwriter is considered one of the leaders of the new folk movement from the late 1980s and early 1990s. After spending years honing his craft at the small Pennsylvania-based club Godfrey Daniels, Gorka released his first album in 1987, launching a career that includes numerous albums and concerts held around the world. Known for his sense of humor, his soulful baritone and emotionally-charged lyrics that resonate with listeners, Gorka continues to tour throughout the United States and Europe.

Also happening this weekend at the 1794 Meetinghouse, it’s Orkestar Banitsa on Sunday, July 13, at 4 p.m. This group of local musicians performs traditional Balkan music mixed with a few originals played in the Balkan style. You can expect to hear unique harmonies, original improvisations and the kind of powerful groove that will have you up and dancing.

For more information and tickets for these shows, visit 1794meetinghouse.org. Children ages 12 and under are admitted for free.

Sheryl Hunter is a freelance writer who resides in Easthampton. Her work has appeared in various regional and national publications. She can be reached at Soundslocal@yahoo.com.