100-plus musicians in Fresno to play Tower District on same day. A Porchfest breakdown

As a concept, Porchfest seems ready-made for Fresno’s Tower District.

For one, there’s no shortage of homes in the area with great porches, and at least a few weekends each spring when the weather isn’t blazing hot (or windy cold). Plus, a day of walkable (or bikeable) outdoor community concerts, curated and hosted by those in the community, just fits the general vibe of the Tower.

Tower Porchfest debuted last year as a salve against the ongoing pandemic, which had shuttered most of Fresno’s music venues. It had more than 30 porch “stages” and more than 45 performers sign on to play slots throughout the day (from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. or so).

The event returns on Saturday almost doubled.

There were more than 100 bands signed on at last count (and more being added) playing on more than 50 porches (and some more traditional stages) across the Tower District, aka that large hip swath of Fresno from Shields to Belmont and Fruit to Blackstone.

The festival also became a nonprofit this time around, and picked up a few official sponsors. There is a day-of info booth (on Van Ness Avenue south of Home Avenue) and commemorative T-shirts with the names of all the performers taking part. The names are small, it’s a loooong list.

For planning purposed, organizers have also put together a series of interactive maps to help people navigate the vast number of performers. It’s searchable by porch address, or by the performer.

Here is The Bee’s breakdown of some of those choices.

Who is playing Tower Porchfest?

Those unfamiliar with the Tower District, or those looking for easiest access point for the day, would do well to start with one of this year’s business sponsors.

Ragin Records, Spokeasy Public House, Hi-Top Coffee and G7 Farms have each put together a pretty stellar lineup of acts.

Ragin Records is probably the highest-profile of these venues, as it managed to put together an eclectic lineup that includes hip-hop heavy hitter Fashawn, plus grindcore band Elder Devil, San Francisco punk rockers Party Force and Fresno indie band Bad Springs. Bands start at 1 p.m.

Porchfest happens to coincide with Spokeasy’s 10th anniversary weekend. The whole weekend is going to be a party, but Saturday gets the bands. The lineup includes Judah, Danielle Rondero and the Nitty Gritty, Bald Pony, Great Northern, Daze Baby and The Sleepover Disaster. Of special note here is Great Northern. The Los Angeles band, which features guitarist Solon Bixler, recently relocated to Fresno. Bands start at 4 p.m.

The Hi-Top Coffee porch will actually be around the corner from the shop on Hedges Avenue. The lineup is curated by Nick Kennedy, who will play with his new project Long Forgotten, along with Kenna, Deep Forrest Drive, O Henry, Amanda Hammit, RMS Olympic and country singer Ted Nunes. Bands start at noon.

The Fresno cannabis brand G7 Farms is sponsoring a porch at 923 E. Bremer Ave.

This is the Club Fred porch, because it is hosted by Fred Martinez, the one-time owner of the iconic Tower nightclub. Fred has managed a lineup that would be a draw on any night, at any venue: The Dying Suns, Don Heflin’s side project the Cleavers, Roger Perry and Friends, John Clifton Blues Band, Blake Jones and the Trike Shop Blake, and Santana tribute Heavy Weather. Bands start at 10 a.m.

Like last year, a large number of this year’s neighborhood porches are clumped north of Olive Avenue , between Olive and McKinley, between Van Ness and Palm Avenues. Some of the lineups will be louder (there’s punk and ska at 1335 E. Olive Ave. and 1360 N. Echo); others more “chill” (1325 N. Roosevelt Ave. starts off with a yoga DJ session).

Libota Mbonda Fresno African Drumming Group will be set up at 364 N. Roosevelt. You can listen or join in. There will be drums available and experience is not required for playing. Performance starts at 1 p.m.

Tower celeb and one-time Central Valley Buzz host Chuck Leonard has put together a Porchfest Mega Party at 1296 N. Lucern. It’s a lineup of friends, including Pieter Lawrance Moerdyk, Tweed S. Jefferson ‘s Electric Funk Explosion, Pamela Henri and the Big Boss Band, and Vince Warner.

BenSmokin BBQ will be on site all day.

The porch at 801 N. Safford Ave. has scheduled eight hours of acoustic rock and county, classic Americana and folk music from guys that are known to play around town. The lineup includes Bill Reiland and Atomic Jackrabbit, Mike Alexander, Brad Dudeboy Rogers, Mikal Sandoval, Pieter Moerdyk, Roger Perry, Will Bollman and A.s. Angelo

Lincoln Pub n Grub will be on site with food.

Bands start at noon.

Fist Bump is a band that exists because of Tower Porchfest. The band formed to play its debut show at last year’s event. This year, they perform at 1105 N. College Ave. with Hard Maybe and the Morning Drive. The band plats at 2:30 p.m.

Porchfest Do’s and Don’ts

Tower Porchfest isn’t a block party and organizers don’t want it treated as such. The event is designed a few ground rules for those planning to attend.

Do not drive from porch to porch. This is a walkable, bike friendly event. Those coming from outside the neighborhood should find a centralized place to park (along the Olive Avenue corridor for example) and adventure out from there.

That said, be aware of surroundings and don’t obstruct street traffic. Keep to the lawns and sidewalks.

Do bring tip money. Most of the performers are doing this for the community of it. But it never hurts to get paid. Each porch should have a tip bucket available, but you can also Venmo the performers directly. Just ask.

This shouldn’t have to be said, but don’t leave trash laying around. These are people’s houses. If you can’t find a trash can, take it with you when you leave.

This isn’t FresYes Fest, where’s it’s totally cool to stroll around with a beer in your hand. Do not openly consume alcohol or drugs. If you want to drink, there are any number of bars and restaurants in Tower that would love the business.

Because you’ll ask: The sponsor business will have bathrooms available and there will be porta potties at the event’s info booth on Van Ness Avenue. See online map for details.

FML (Food, Music Laughter) Fest, also on Saturday

While on the topic of free music events in the Tower on Saturday, the Artourage is bringing back Kyle Gass, one half of the Tenacious D (the other half being Jack Black). He’ll be playing as Kyle Gass and Electric in what is being billed as a “debut show.”

The event, dubbed #FML Fest 2 (that’s food, music, laughter) happens at 3 p.m. at the Tower Theatre with a lineup of local openers that includes Leather Serpent, Pryograph, For the Record, Iwanaga, Used Salesman and We Hunt Like Wolves.

The event coincides with the Tower Classic Car show.