Though a small market, Dayton is known for having a tight-knit and diverse music scene. Acts of all genres from jazz to rock can be seen playing local venues like Blind Bob’s, Yellow Cab Tavern, and The Brightside.
But as Peter Benkendorf stated in a phone interview, it can be difficult to truly see and experience everything the Gem City has to offer. The clubs in particular may not suit everyone, he said – which is part of the reason why he created Dayton Porchfest.
Benkendorf is the founder of The Dayton Collaboratory, a space for people to bring ideas to life that will make Dayton a better place to be. And that’s exactly what Porchfest is about – “community and collaboration.”
While he does not have experience within the music space, Benkendorf’s desire to facilitate the “celebration of music” has fed the Porchfest initiative since 2017.
What are Porchfests?
Porchfests are what they sound like: music festivals taking place on the front steps of everyday homes. The very first Porchfest sprouted in Ithaca, NY, just ten years earlier, when two citizens were enjoying the sounds of ukuleles outside. The organizers of Ithaca Porchfest have this to say about the purpose:
“It’s intended to be a showcase of our amazing creative community, not a tour stop for bands from other cities / states.”
Benkendorf took notice of a Porchfest popping up in Cleveland, his hometown, in 2009. He later moved to our region and assisted with Drum Dayton in 2013. However, when he began to see other forms of Porchfests pop up on social media, he became serious about creating one of his own. He had conversations with people he knew in the area – including Libby Ballengee, owner of Venus Child Productions – about what it would look like.
He said that putting on something like Porchfest has “lots of moving parts and pieces.”
Over the years, he has built a team to help him both plan and execute the event. Accepting and reviewing applications, creating the schedule, and viewing possible locations are only just a few of the things on their to-do list. And as Dayton Porchfest has grown, the work has become more rigorous.
The team must consider, for example, the environment. Benkendorf explained that heavy or loud music is usually avoided due to the festival taking place in a neighborhood where people live. While Dayton Porchfest began on 5th Street, this year it will take place in the historic St. Anne’s Hill District.
Porchfest’s Growth in Popularity
Fortunately, though, the increase in popularity has brought strength to Benkendorf and his colleagues. They were able to find a web developer to build a website that they could use to promote artists and house information about the event. This opened many doors for them, including giving them the tools to prepare QR codes for acts to be tipped during their sets.
Since Dayton Porchfest’s birth, other Porchfests have popped up in cities such as Bowling Green and Troy. Benkendorf expressed excitement about the spread of the concept and its overall purpose.
The 2023 festival will feature over 50 bands and artists, 40 percent of which have never played Dayton Porchfest before. It is designed to be a family-friendly place for people to enjoy music and get involved in the community.
Benkendorf highlighted the aspect of choice – attendees can move about as they please and not feel tied down to one area, act, or genre.
In addition to the main occasion, which will run from 12:15 to 6:45 p.m., the group also planned Afterfest, a one-hour bonus set from “folkadelic” group Nasty Bingo.
When is Dayton Porchfest 2023?
Dayton Porchfest 2023 will take place on Saturday, August 19, and is completely free to the public. Among the sponsors are Dayton Metro Library and Little Fish Brewing Company. All donations and proceeds will go to The Collaboratory.
To find out more about this year’s festival, including set locations, visit the Dayton Porchfest website.
Carly Webster
Staff Writer