Let's make sense of Tower Porchfest's lineup of 200-plus bands
Plus, a long defunct music venues is getting a new life.
Since it’s inception, Tower Porchfest has felt like a good/bad proposition.
The good is that a swath of the community is utterly excited to see (and support) a massive lineup of local creatives as they make art for no reason other than the love of the thing.
That such a large pool of creatives even exists for this kind of showcase is also a good thing.
Plus, the event is authentic representation of Fresno. It takes place in the city’s most unique neighborhood, during a particularly wonderful part of the year (weather wise). It is free and inclusive and its need-a-porch, find-a-porch model feels like the democratization of the local music scene.
So, the good parts really stack up.
The bad is that it can feel overwhelming for those of us following along as 200-plus performers (280 is the official count this year) announce porch addresses and performance slots.
Like, how does one get the most out of the day without feeling like they’re missing something? And you are most certainly going to miss something.
Which can be bad or good, depending on the perspective, I guess.
The organizers do some heavy lifting to balance out the bad by putting together a searchable database of performers and schedules (there’s even a handy map, if visualizations are more your thing).
All of this is a long preface this year’s event, which officially kicks off at 10 a.m. Saturday and runs through to the evening (with a few after parties, too).
Here are some thoughts on how to attack the day.
By porch
Technically, Tower Porchfest isn’t a singular event, but multiple events running simultaneously. Each of the porches is its own curated concert, and as such you could just show up and camp out at one spot.
Porches tend to be have running themes, so this is good if you’re looking for something specific like folk music, or the comedians, let’s say.
Suggested: 1335, the Great Porch, Fred’s Martinez’ Beyond Rooted porch, the Jukebox (for nonbinary and female artists and DJs) and the Love the Captive Shindig.
By performer
This is more difficult in its planning and you’ll have to be real choosy, but the Tower Porchfest website has performers listed out by start time, so it is possible to curate your own soundtrack (and itinerary) for the day and hop from porch to porch.
A few suggestions: Call Me James and Rademacher (a rare set of performances), Hypatia’s Progeny (child drummers rule), Trey Tosh and the Ostrich Sized Bastards (on name alone) and New Old Man (self-promotion, for the win).
The explorer method
Of course, one could just go at it with no planning at all; just show up and start wandering around.
Stop when they hear something they like.
The bulk of the porches are situated in a fairly walkable area near core of the Tower District (the event’s info booth is set up at the Tower Theatre for easy access).
There are a half dozen porches grouped together in the area just north of Olive Avenue from Poplar to Glenn avenues and almost a full dozen in the blocks between Wishon and Roosevelt avenues south of McKinley.
Just be sure to ditch the car and walk (or bicycle or skateboard). Parking is relaxed at Fresno City College for those driving into the neighborhood.
Summer Fox Brewery top open in the old Audie’s Olympic
As reported at The Fresno Bee, a long defunct Tower District music venue will be reopening as a brewery taproom.
Summer Fox Brewing Company has plans to open in the space on Van Ness Avenue, which until 2016 had housed Audie’s Olympic Tavern, a dive bar known for putting on both locals and touring artists.
Of course, the space had a decades-long history as a music venue before that (as the Oly and later as Club Fred) and its loss was felt heavily by those in the scene.
Full Circle Brewing Company tried to revive the spot in 2019, only to close less than a year later after struggling through the pandemic.
Summer Fox will keep the stage for performances and add a patio that opens on to Van Ness. It could be open in three months.
This will be the third location for Summer Fox, which operates its main facility in north Fresno and a second spot in Clovis. The spot will serve its beer list, along with beers from Greyview Brewing Company. Some wine, hop-water other non-beer choices will also available.
That’s it for this week. Remember you can now hear me on the Homegrown Show Sundays at 8 p.m. on New Rock 104.1 FM. Follow my other writing at The Fresno Bee. If you have anything you think I need to be looking at or listening to, feel free to let me know: jtehee@gmail.com