Wilmington’s streets were alive with music despite the drizzle in the afternoon of Oct. 11.
Wilmington Porchfest enlisted 12 porches of a few residents in the Trolley Square and Cool Springs neighborhoods to showcase local artists in shows that lasted up to an hour. Despite the rainy forecast, the event could have hundreds of attendees see 44 acts altogether.
Grace Vonderkuhn is one of Wilmington’s more popular artists, and she played a solo set at 1:30 p.m. on Rodney Street near Trolley Square. She’s a native of the city, and she said this is a good way to build community.
“It’s great for the neighborhood and the musicians getting to showcase their talent, so I’m stoked,” she said a few minutes before she took the stage.
Exposure to the music scene in the city is limited, according to Melissa Forsythe, president of the Original Music Association of Delaware. Most local shows are subjected to basements and record stores, so accessibility for both the bands and for people who want to get into the scene is a challenge.
This event took inspiration from a Porchfest in West Philadelphia, with the hope of bringing the city’s music into the daylight.
“There’s plenty of people that want to go to shows and people that play shows,” she said. “It’s kind of making the pieces fit together.”
OMAD’s former president Pete Romano has been planning this event for six months, using his experience booking shows at nearby Kelly’s Logan House. He was hopeful that they could get it all in before the heavier rains of an incoming nor’easter hit the area. He thanked Newark’s Rainbow Records and Wilmington’s Brandywine Coffee Roasters for being some of many vendors that pulled up to the busy 1500 block of Rodney St.
He said the city was cooperative throughout the process.
Melanie Watt, 28 years old, volunteered her porch to be used as a stage. She said it was a painless process and sat with her friends at a table watching a show being played by her front door.
“It’s pretty cool,” she said.
Shane Brennan covers Wilmington and other Delaware issues. Reach out with ideas, tips or feedback at slbrennan@delawareonline.com.
Wilmington Porchfest rocks Trolley Square, Cool Spring neighborhoods – The News Journal
