World

Mike Rivard (Club D'Elf), Eric Freeman (Honey Circuit) & Allison Stamiris (Agbekor) combine the drums & rhythms of West Africa - primarily Mali, Guinea & Ghana - with the sound of the Moroccan sintir, a 3-stringed bass lute made of camel skin and used by the Gnawa people in their trance ceremonies. Fusing the ancient with the contemporary, the sound of the group is trance-like and mesmerizing with a groove that captivates. Rhythms such as Cha'abi, Sungurubani and Take played on kalimba, balafon, sabar drum & djun djun, mesh with deep bass grooves on the sintir to inspire ecstatic dancing.

Faculty and Students from the Somerville Public Schools will be getting together to play music from all types of genres and cultures. The group will be led by Rick Saunders, Director of the Somerville Public Schools Music Department.

The Kevin Barry Pipes and Drums is one of the oldest bands of its type in the state. The band's focus is to educate the members of the community in traditional Irish and Scottish music as well as the instrument itself. This year at Porchfest a small group of pipers and drummers from the band will be participating to help inform people of the riches of traditional music.

The Kevin Barry Pipes & Drums is one of the oldest pipe bands in the state. The band plays traditional (and not so traditional) Irish and Scottish tunes on the Great Highland Bagpipe. One of the main functions of the Kevin Barry Pipes and Drums is to educate the public in the riches of traditional music. Come and enjoy a contingent of the band perform at this years Porchfest!

Afro-Cuban and Brazilian rhythms and melodies visit Somerville courtesy of this Latin Jazz Ensemble Class of the John Payne Music Center.

Quiche-n-Tunes is not a band-- we're a group of musicians mainly from Medford, Somerville, and Cambridge who get together informally to play Irish traditional music. Once per month, someone in the group hosts a kid-friendly brunch session at their home; thus the name "Quiche-n-Tunes."

Original world, rock, reggae, West African and Cuban music with 3 part harmonies. The band is made up of Conor O'Brien on guitar, electric mandolin and lead vocals, Chris Chitouras on acoustic and electric guitar and vocals, and Keith Kirkpatrick on electric, and upright bass and vocals. Some influences include Paul Simon, Fela Kuti, Bob Marley, Peter Gabriel, Buena Vista Social Club, Al Dimeola, Baaba Maal, Grateful Dead and Zani Diabate. For more info and band mp3's, go to http://somervilleartscouncil.org/node/454.

SheBoom began in January, 2010 as a Brazilian drumming class that was meant to last four weeks. Four weeks turned into a few months, then stretched out over the summer and beyond. We meet once a week to compose, practice, and learn new rhythms and beats from our teacher, master Brazilian drummer Marcus Santos. Our compositions are mash-ups of the music that has been a big part of our lives, and all our compositions are a collaborative effort. Sheboom is Janet Axelrod, surdo; Adria Steinberg, surdo; Lesley Bannatyne, surdo; Julie Schneider, repique, Deborah Pacini, snare; Lisa Doyle, snare/conga; Candyce Dostert, conga; Janine Fay, agogo.

“It’s a pun,” says Rob Rudin, explaining why his band is called Half-Jewish. “Some of the members happen to be Jews, some don’t. The music is part of my Jewish experience & the musical influences come from everywhere. We play Jewish music differently. The response from audiences AND the musicians says we’re onto something.” So far it’s taken them from a non-denominational mass at Boston’s Cathedral of Saint Paul to performances at the Lily Pad, Johnny D’s, & an invitation to contribute to the Boston Jewish Music Festival CD. Musicians include Mark Chenevert saxophone/clarinet,) Paul Dilley (bass), Danny Heath (trombonist/singer), Mimi Rabson (violin) & Ted Roland (woodwinds).

All vinyl DJ set: 60s Soul, Reggae & Funk