The Magic of SF Porchfest

On Saturday I attended SF Porchfest, a free community music festival in the heart of the Mission District. This year, over 100 local musicians performed on porches and parklets throughout the neighborhood.

I initially planned out my day using the excellent Porchfest website, and created a schedule of bands to see based on songs I liked on the playlist. But after a couple of beers and chatting with the people around me, I realized I was doing it wrong. Instead of sticking to an itinerary, I began just wandering the neighborhood, following the sounds in the streets. This felt like how the festival was meant to be experienced.

Once I stopped planning, I felt more free to roam around the neighborhood. The shows were right in front of local businesses, and every block offered something new. I wandered from block to block, bouncing from the soul of Veotis Latchison, to the latin vibes in front of Radio Habana Social Club, to the punk of the Bonstones, to a jazz band I loved but never caught the name of.

Whenever I wanted a drink, I just ducked into whatever bar I'd wandered up to. The small spots seemed busier than ever, packed with people flowing in and out for the free music. The festival works because it skips the expensive setup most events need, and instead relies on the neighborhood's licensed spots, who provide the drinks and hospitality.

It's also not the kind of event people fly in for. The person next to you is probably your neighbor, and on a sunny day in the 60s, everyone's in good spirits and easy to talk to. Halfway through, I chatted with a guy new to the city, and we spent the rest of the afternoon wandering together, buying each other beers.

One of my favorite moments was stumbling upon Peaboo and The Catz, a teenage rock band who were performing on a porch at 319 Lexington Street. I was drawn in when I heard them covering the Cure’s “Just Like Heaven.” It was one of those “The kids will be alright” moments.

I finished the day watching the Seagulls, a garage rock band, in front of The Chapel on Valencia. I noticed a few Seagulls shirts in the crowd, so they clearly had a dedicated following. I ended up chatting with a few fans around me, who happened to live in my neighborhood. I even exchanged info with the dude I met, and we ended up catching another show together the very next day.

The best part was that all of this was free (except the beers of course). The organizers didn’t need a sponsorship from Monster Energy or Chase Bank to start a music festival, and the attendees didn’t need to buy a $500 wristband on a layaway plan. It turns out you just need a handful of welcoming neighbors with porches.