Photo essay: West Philly Porchfest fills the neighborhood with cool tunes and good vibes

The neighborhood’s annual DIY festival didn’t disappoint, with dozens of performances dotting the neighborhood Saturday.

Listen
Artists of various genres dotted streets, sidewalks and, of course, porches during West Philly Porchfest on Saturday. (Cory Sharber/WHYY)

From Philly and the Pa. suburbs to South Jersey and Delaware, what would you like WHYY News to cover? Let us know!

West Philly Porchfest brought people together to enjoy the summer weather, time with friends and, of course, streets filled with some cool tunes.

The annual, free DIY festival didn’t disappoint — and for the thousands who trekked through the neighborhood Saturday, they were treated to artists across various genres meant to highlight the neighborhood’s diversity.

Porchfest, first held in Ithaca, N.Y., in 2007, has grown to over 100 U.S. cities. Philly’s iteration was launched in 2016 by five neighborhood residents, according to the festival’s website.

  • WHYY thanks our sponsors — become a WHYY sponsor

Anyone could play or host a show. A map helped attendees navigate the jam-packed list of performers.

Porchfest attendees watch a band
Artists of various genres dotted streets, sidewalks and, of course, porches during West Philly Porchfest on Saturday. (Cory Sharber/WHYY)
Porchfest attendees
Thousands of people walking the sidewalks during West Philly Porchfest got to witness bands all around the neighborhood during their Saturday travels. (Cory Sharber/WHYY)
Merritt playing guitar and singing
Merritt connected with the crowd watching them right off of Baltimore Avenue through angelic vocals and a solid rhythm section backing them. (Cory Sharber/WHYY)
Porchfest attendees
Thousands of people walking the sidewalks during West Philly Porchfest got to witness bands all around the neighborhood during their Saturday travels. (Cory Sharber/WHYY)
Porchfest attendees
Thousands of people walking the sidewalks during West Philly Porchfest got to witness bands all around the neighborhood during their Saturday travels. (Cory Sharber/WHYY)
a folk music trio plays
A traditional folk music trio gathered next to the front door of a house in West Philly for their performance. (Cory Sharber/WHYY)
a person plays guitar and sings
Artists of various genres dotted streets, sidewalks and, of course, porches during West Philly Porchfest on Saturday. (Cory Sharber/WHYY)
a person plays guitar
Artists of various genres dotted streets, sidewalks and, of course, porches during West Philly Porchfest on Saturday. (Cory Sharber/WHYY)
a band plays guitar and drums
Artists of various genres dotted streets, sidewalks and, of course, porches during West Philly Porchfest on Saturday. (Cory Sharber/WHYY)
Porchfest attendees watch someone play guitar
Artists of various genres dotted streets, sidewalks and, of course, porches during West Philly Porchfest on Saturday. (Cory Sharber/WHYY)
Porchfest attendees watch two people play guitar and drums
Thousands of people walking the sidewalks during West Philly Porchfest got to witness bands all around the neighborhood during their Saturday travels. (Cory Sharber/WHYY)
Porchfest attendees watch someone play guitar
Thousands of people walking the sidewalks during West Philly Porchfest got to witness bands all around the neighborhood during their Saturday travels. (Cory Sharber/WHYY)
Porchfest attendees watch a band
Thousands of people walking the sidewalks during West Philly Porchfest got to witness bands all around the neighborhood during their Saturday travels. (Cory Sharber/WHYY)
a band plays in a yard
Punk band Chewy tore it up at West Philly Porchfest right next to MilkCrate on Baltimore Avenue this past Saturday. (Cory Sharber/WHYY)
Batala Philly playing drums
Batala Philly pounded their drums on the front lawn of a house in West Philly connecting the neighborhood with their samba stylings. (Cory Sharber/WHYY)
Batala Philly playing drums
Batala Philly pounded their drums on the front lawn of a house in West Philly connecting the neighborhood with their samba stylings. (Cory Sharber/WHYY)
Batala Philly playing drums
Batala Philly pounded their drums on the front lawn of a house in West Philly connecting the neighborhood with their samba stylings. (Cory Sharber/WHYY)
Artists playing guitars and drums and singing
Artists of various genres dotted streets, sidewalks and, of course, porches during West Philly Porchfest on Saturday. (Cory Sharber/WHYY)
a person plays a viola
Artists of various genres dotted streets, sidewalks and, of course, porches during West Philly Porchfest on Saturday. (Cory Sharber/WHYY)
Quality Living playing guitar and keyboard and singing
Quality Living provided a relaxing soundtrack Saturday during West Philly Porchfest. (Cory Sharber/WHYY)
a band plays two guitars and sings
The Naked Sun performed on a porch in West Philly for two hours in the bright Saturday sun. (Cory Sharber/WHYY)
a band plays in a yard
Punk band Chewy tore it up at West Philly Porchfest right next to MilkCrate on Baltimore Avenue this past Saturday. (Cory Sharber/WHYY)
a woman sings as people walk by
Thousands of people walking the sidewalks during West Philly Porchfest got to witness bands all around the neighborhood during their Saturday travels. (Cory Sharber/WHYY)
a person plays guitar
Artists of various genres dotted streets, sidewalks and, of course, porches during West Philly Porchfest on Saturday. (Cory Sharber/WHYY)
a person plays a wind instrument
Artists of various genres dotted streets, sidewalks and, of course, porches during West Philly Porchfest on Saturday. (Cory Sharber/WHYY)
a guitar
Artists of various genres dotted streets, sidewalks and, of course, porches during West Philly Porchfest on Saturday. (Cory Sharber/WHYY)

If Saturday’s performances weren’t enough music for the weekend, trap superstar 21 Savage will perform Sunday evening at the Freedom Mortgage Pavilion in Camden. On Tuesday, the Rolling Stones will perform at Lincoln Financial Field. Pixies and Modest Mouse will team up for a show at The Mann Center on Wednesday.

  • WHYY thanks our sponsors — become a WHYY sponsor

Saturdays just got more interesting.

  • WHYY thanks our sponsors — become a WHYY sponsor

WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today.

Want a digest of WHYY’s programs, events & stories? Sign up for our weekly newsletter.

Together we can reach 100% of WHYY’s fiscal year goal