---

A group of residents, headed by Asbury Park Housing Association board member Jordan Modell, are organizing the city’s first annual Porchfest.

Founded in 2007 in Ithaca, NY, Porchfest quickly spread across North America. The annual events feature local bands playing music on the porches of their neighbors to foster community spirit. Today over 20 US and Canadian communities host Porchfest celebrations, including Napa, Calif., Salt Lake City, Ut., and Kansas City Mo.

The music buff said Asbury Park is a perfect location because it’s been welcoming community with an incredible amount of artists.

“Asbury Park’s passionate connection to music along with its idyllic homes and porches make it an ideal town for our own annual PorchFest,” he said. “And it seemed like the most ideal fit of any community I’ve ever been in; and I’ve been to four Porchfests.”

A special welcome came on Monday, by way of Downtown Julie Brown and Village People members Bill Whitefield and Felipe Rose.

AP Porchfest will be held from noon to 5 p.m. Oct. 21 [Oct 22 rain date], Modell said. A kick off will be held at Booskerdoo Coffee & Baking Co, located at 1321 Memorial Drive, with porch performances running from 1 to 5 p.m.

To date, 43 bands and solo artists have signed on to perform on 15 porches across the city, Modell said. Event T-shirts, made by a local resident, will be sold for $15 on the website and at each location in support of Asbury Park Environment and Shade Tree Commission and to hurricane victims.

“We made a real effort to go all across Asbury Park,” Modell said. The event will feature themed porches, including Drag Queen, Karaoke, Classic Music, and Jazz stops.

“We are trying to celebrate the diversity of Asbury Park music and Asbury Park,”

For more information, apporchfest.org.

————————————————————————————————————

Follow the Asbury Park Sun on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

The Asbury Park Sun is affiliated with the triCityNews newspaper.

---