indie folk

With a knack for smart songs with depth and charm (and sharp harmonies):

Chicago songwriter Heather Styka is not afraid to go where others fear to tread. Beneath “sweet, soulful vocals” (Portland Press Herald) and “nimble fingerpicked guitar” (Dispatch Magazine) lie narratives of vulnerability, strength, and wanderlust, drawn from extensive touring. www.heatherstyka.com

Sorcha, of Portland, Maine, composes stirring music steeped in folk, blues, jazz and soul and performs with a voice of unexpected power. From haunting ballads to funk grooves, her songs unveil “wide-ranging songwriting ability. . . witty verses with smart rhymes.” (Portland Phoenix) www.sorchastudio.com

The instructors of the WholeTone Music Academy are about to crystalize into the WholeTone Family Band. Jessica Smith (Flute), Hayes Cummings (Guitar/Bass/Ukulele), Alejandro Castellano (Oud/Nay/Bass/Drums/Guitar), Mariia Gorkun (Violin), and Nora Maynard (Voice/Violin) will take the porch by storm! We will be bouncing between jazz standards, original tunes, & classical chamber music, as well as offering a whole set of open jam session for YOU to join us! A limited number of free 15min lessons on your instrument of choice will be offered, or bring your own instrument and jump in! Open to all ages & styles.

Folk Rock, Indie Folk, Experimental Folk

Similar Artists: Fleet Foxes, Father John Misty, Red House Painters, The Modern Lovers

As the Sparrow - Folk-influenced, rock-swing band based around the songwriting of Mark Damon and Crystal Araiza. Described as “instantly appealing, slightly edgy, and undoubtedly unique” by Indie-Music.com, they were nominated for Best in Massachusetts by The 2015 New England Music Awards.

Noble Dust - A motley collection of reformed band geeks, Noble Dust charms audiences with horn-powered lyrically-driven progressive folk pop. The group received an Iguana Music Grant from Club Passim to record their first full length album, due out in mid-2017.

The Wolff Sisters - The three sisters, Rebecca, Rachael, and Kat, create haunting harmonies that only siblings can manage to do.

Strangers by Accident are an indie-folk band hailing from Boston, MA. They mix bright harmonies and acoustic bass with suitcase-drums and electric guitars, along with raw lyrics and songwriting from the heart.
"Strangers By Accident’s self-titled first EP debuted earlier this year, with five songs of forlorn, post-breakup folk full of the heartbreak and uncertainty that colored Sousa’s move to Massachusetts." - Scout Cambridge

Snow and Keiffer combine forces to produce evocative melodies, vocals, and guitar to form their own brand of indie-folk. With influences such a Neko Case, Radiohead, and Neil Young, and drawing comparisons to Cowboy Junkies, the duo draws their audience into a dream-like space, rich with feeling. As a follow-up to their debut EP, Come With Me, in 2015, be on the look-out for their sophomoric album release in winter 2016/2017.

Audrey Ryan is a singer-songwriter multi-instrumentalist best known for looping a la one-man-band style. Her music has been featured on various TV shows, she has toured internationally and shared the stage with Suzanne Vega, They Might be Giants, Glen Hansard, Beth Orton, Josh Ritter, Ra Ra Riot (www.audreyryan.com).

Will Dailey's latest album, National Throat, has been met with stellar reviews, over 2.5 million spins on Spotify, top 20 on Billboards Heat Seekers chart and won Album of the Year in the Boston Music Awards. Dailey, who is already a three-time winner of BMA's for Best Singer/Songwriter also won Artist of the Year in 2014 (www.willdailey.com)

Join us at Bloc, at 11 Bow Street in Union Square as we celebrate our first year participating in Porchfest! We will welcome a handful of awesome local bands to our beautiful outdoor courtyard. Grab a seat at a picnic table, sip on an iced coffee or fresh lemonade, and enjoy the music!

Music is from noon to 2PM.

This year, we are stoked to have sets from some of our favorite local musicians and cafe regulars!

Dan Blakeslee (www.danblakeslee.com)
Miss Geo (www.missgeomusic.com)
The Grownup Noise (www.thegrownupnoise.com)

Playing original folk music, Hello Ghost focuses on lush harmonies and unique arrangements. Influences include Fleetwood Mac, Bon Iver, Bowerbirds. Jonathan: vocals, acoustic guitar Cara: vocals, melodica Steve: electric guitar, clarinet, vocals Amy: flute, vocals. https://soundcloud.com/helloghost -|-|-|-
Opal Puckett is made up of Jonathan and Cara of Hello Ghost. You can usually find them busking outside of Harvard Square playing an eclectic/all natural/totally organic/gluten free mix of indie folk and doo-woppy oldies. Setlist will include songs of old: Everly Brothers, Bob Dylan, Beatles, etc. AND songs of recent memory: Beach House, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, Low Anthem, etc.

The Loft is a rehearsal space in Union Square, Somerville where some bands rehearse and other bands perform on occasion. This will be an acoustic performance of some of these musicians that are part of the collective that is "the Loft" scene.