Molly Mogren Katt is a writer, entrepreneur and mom who launched HeyEleanor! on Substack to document facing her fears. She is a regular contributor and lives in the Wedge.
“It’s our first time performing with backup dancers,” said Chris Watson of pop punk band, Atomic Lights, between eardrum-blasting songs played as fast and loud as possible.
Those backup dancers? My kids, standing atop our living room’s radiators rocking out behind the picture window, who can now say that their first concert happened on their own front porch.
On Saturday, August 16, the third annual Uptown Porchfest showcased 87 bands across 35 porches and yards. From Americana to Neo-South Asian Sufi groups, full brass bands and singer/songwriters, a walk around the Wedge felt like turning the dial on your radio. You know, back when people did things like turn a dial on a radio.
Minneapolis resident Lisa Martelly launched the Uptown Porchfest in 2023, modeling it after the Boston event of the same name. “I went to Porchfest every year when I lived in Boston, and it was my favorite way to experience the city.” She craved more involvement with her Minneapolis neighborhood and felt like the Wedge could support its own Porchfest.
The event is free to attend, and fully volunteer-run. Martelly, along with a small core team of neighbors, reviewed well over 100 band applications, curating a diverse musical lineup, then paired bands with homeowners. “It’s a massive balancing act coming up with a schedule that meets everyone’s needs, preferences, and fits within the space that we have,” says Martelly. “It takes a lot of time connecting all of these people, and if one thing changes there are so many ripple effects.”
This year, Porchfest organizers ended up with more bands looking to participate than porches — prompting a neighbor to ask about ours. Visions of Madison’s Mifflin Street Block Party (IYKYK) danced in my head, picturing drunk college students littering empties on the lawn and asking if they could pleeeeease use our bathroom. But then I remembered this is Minnesota, not Wisconsin, and after conferring with a few neighbors who’ve hosted in previous years, we said sure.
Atomic Lights, a three-piece pop punk band founded by high school friends in 2012, arrived at noon, helping my husband move our dilapidated porch furniture to the yard. We placed a handful of chairs in the street, both to block off parking and offer seating to whomever might like to hang out. At 1 p.m. on the dot (right on time, not very punk!), 19 bands simultaneously kicked off the festival. Organizers placed bands far enough from each other to ensure that there’s not sonic competition. It worked. When I needed a break from the face-melting sounds at my address, I meandered a block south on Colfax to find Dee Langley and the Masked Accordions, an ensemble of 13 accordion players mid-”Edelweiss.” The juxtaposition felt equal parts surprising and charming.
“I love how much fun musicians have playing for such a big crowd,” says Martelly. “I love seeing the neighborhood come alive and seeing our public streets used like this. There’s something delightful for everyone.”
Biking, public transit or parking a few blocks outside of the neighborhood and walking makes for a more enjoyable experience. I will admit that stepping out the front door to four hours of back-to-back bands whilst lounging in my own yard had me feeling like Travis Kelce at a T-Swift show; a bona fide VIP. A few food trucks set up around the area, but you wouldn’t have regretted bringing a snack (of course Babas, Leaning Tower and Tender Lovin’ Chix are so close). Oh, and did I see you discreetly carrying around a beer in a can koozie? No I didn’t, and even if I did, we mind our own business in the Wedge because snitches get stitches.
I grew up in Stillwater but moved to Minneapolis 20 years ago. Friends and family (let’s not forget perfect strangers, too!) ask why I’d live in such a so-called hellscape, with all the crime and drugs and construction and other unsavory things they hear about on the news. I love living somewhere with a true sense of place — where people don’t all look the same, practice the same religion, speak the same language — but when someone says, Hey, let’s dedicate an entire afternoon to celebrating local bands playing all sorts of music on our front porches, the neighbors say, Sounds fun, what can I bring? Thousands of people show up ready to party respectfully. It’s fun for adults and kids, and with the main event wrapping by 5 p.m., you can still barbecue in a neighbor’s backyard and be in bed by 10.
Neighbors turned porches into stages at the third annual Uptown Porchfest on Aug. 16, with 87 bands across 35 yards filling Uptown with music ranging from punk to brass to accordions. Thousands came out to enjoy the afternoon of free, local performances. (Images: Courtney Cushing Kiernat)
