Americana

90-Mile Portage is a collaboration between singer-songwriter Jamie Kallestad and multi-instrumentalist/composer Ben Cosgrove.

The pair originally conceived of 90-Mile Portage as a break from their day jobs: Jamie regularly tours with a bluegrass band, while Ben has a career as an independent composer/performer. The music of 90-Mile Portage is an engaging fusion of the two members' distinct musical styles. Set to Cosgrove's lush and unconventional arrangements, Kallestad's songs take flight, his lake-clear vocals and needlepoint lyrical observations carried aloft on strange and beautiful instrumental layers.

 

Husband and wife duo performing acoustic Folk and Americana covers...perfect for the Porch, or in this case the backyard (between 31 and 33 Winter St).  So come on by and relax to a few tunes to accompany what should be a great afternoon in Somerville!  

Hello! We are a household of five who likes to hang out, eat things with cumin on them, and sing songs together. Our favorites include tunes from Rising Up Singing, a stiring rendition of Barrett's Privateers, and this sweet mash-up of Primadonna and Viva la Vida we've been working on. If you want to come jam with us, come on down! One of us plays passing guitar, so if you have a song suggestion, she will try to make it happen. Or if you yourself play any kind of instrument, that would be lovely, as well! Come for five minutes, come for an hour, sing along or just listen. We will be happy to have you either way.

Jono and Brad share the song writing and trade off on banjo, slide guitar, mandolin, and bass. Their songs encompass a wide range of Americana styles, including blues, bluegrass, rock, folk and country.

The duo's debut album was written and recorded at home and in a cabin. Sessions were squeezed in late at night and after school. Editing took place on trains to and from work. Album art was penned on scrap paper.

Jeremiah Birnbaum is a "rootsy, soulful troubadour" (Time Out, London) with his own brand of "raucous alt-country...a rabbi's son with a touch of whiskey burning his soul" (New York Magazine, Critic's Pick). His most recent release is "Lucky," recorded stripped-down and mostly live in the studio. By January 2013, the record reached #31 on the Roots Music Report charts for New York artists, receiving spins coast-to-coast on many independent folk radio stations, including WFUV in New York.

McJoy and the Saxy Buke Sunshine brings happiness and rainbows to all of its listeners. The combination of two baritone instruments, Baritone Ukelele and Baritone Saxophone, is simply irresistable. We like David Bowie... and folk songs.

Three boys creating a blend of roots, bluegrass, blues, fiddle tunes, and whatever old songs we can find.

Fiddle tunes and songs about chickens and whiskey and murder- acoustic music right at home on the porch.

The Pennies have been playing Porchfest since the beginning, bringing their Americana infused tunes to Prospect Hill Park. This year, they'll be playing down in Winter Hill with a larger amalgamation of musicians from around the city known casually as the Pennies and Friends. We've got piano, guitar, banjo, mandolin, dobro, drums, electric guitar, harmonica and more, and will be playing tunes by Otis Redding, Grateful Dead and of course, The Pennies. 2-4pm!

sorry, we had to cancel :(