MOUNT VERNON — The Summer Front Porch Concert Series returns to East High Street on Friday, June 20, from 6 to 9 p.m.
Six homes in the 500 to 800 blocks of East High Street offer their porch as a venue for musicians.
Parking is available at Snyder Funeral Home, accessible via Monroe Alley off Chestnut Street.
The Kokosing Valley Arts Alliance organizes the Front Porch Concert Series.
“We’re thrilled to see the community embrace this event,” said Sarah Goslee Reed, KVAA board member. “What started with just three porches in 2023 has now grown to six performance spots each evening.”
In addition to Reed, board members include Courtney DeCoskey, Joseph Bell, Mindy Francisco, Chuck Rogers, Jeff Williams, Ethan Kellner, and Kevin Mishey.
Bell said the heart of the series is community.
“We think community is important, and we think that the arts are important,” he said.
“We think that the neighborly communion that we have through music and through the arts is vital, and we simply want to maintain it and keep it going.”
“It would be such a waste of a beautiful historic district to not show it off the way we do.”
Ethan Kellner, KVAA member
Food trucks are a staple at each event. Those attending are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, blankets, dancing shoes, and an appetite.
Additional concert dates are July 18 and August 15. For the full June concert lineup or to sign on as a sponsor, visit www.nelliesix.com/june-2025-concerts.
“I think it’s really cool that we’re throwing this,” Kellner said. “From an outsider’s perspective, and honestly at heart, it is a huge production, and it looks like it would cost money to attend.
“But it’s free for everybody, and I think that’s an amazing thing.”
Dynamic lineup of local and regional musicians
Now in its third year, the concert series celebrates Mount Vernon’s vibrant arts scene by featuring a dynamic lineup of local and regional musicians. From folk to funk and everything in between, there’s something for every musical taste.
The series features new performers each month and offers a variety of genres.
“We’ll have just over 130 musicians for the whole summer, and it’s different acts every single month,” Jeff Williams said.
“We have six porches total each month, 18 performances each night on average. No duplicates.”
New to June’s lineup is the Emerging Artist Porch, showcasing talented musicians aged 18 and under.
“It’s a great way to nurture young artists and give them a semi-professional performance experience,” Reed said.
DeCoskey noted that emerging artists have the opportunity to perform more than one song, organize a 20-minute set, and experience a real show rather than a one-off event, such as a talent show.
“It’s been really fun. I think it’s going to go very well,” she said.
The alliance found the young talent through recruiting, local choir directors, and youth involved with the Mount Vernon Music & Arts Festival.
DeCoskey also reached out to some of her voice students.
“Next year we hope to have an emerging artist stage for all three events, and we will have that form for submission on the website,” she said.
Dancing in the streets
Whether you’re a veteran line dancer or a first-timer, join in as local dancers lead the way. The street becomes a stage where everyone’s welcome to strut, sway, and stomp along.
Another new feature for 2025 is providing a means for community members to move.
“I like the visual arts as well as the performing arts,” Bell explained, adding that while many people like to sit and listen, others are tapping their toes.
“So let’s get them out of their seats,” he said. “We just want people up and moving. It’s an exciting time, not just to hear music, but to get into it.”
The June, July, and August concerts will feature line dancing. August’s event features flash mob dancing.
While the line dancing will likely move around to different porches, Bell said anyone can stand up and dance at any time at any porch.
“That’s the beauty of the arts; if you feel so moved, then move,” he said.
“It’s a real organic event. People just mosey around all over the place, so it’s not like we have these little audiences. It’s one big audience,” Mishey said.
The magic distance
The artistry of the Front Porch Concert Series doesn’t end with the diverse array of vocals and dance. A talented tech team lends its skills to ensure an enjoyable experience for the performers and community.
The magic distance between porches is three homes and two alleys (503 E. High to 601 E. High).
The alliance has used those porches every event so far, and as DeCoskey put it, “it just works.”
“When we plan the porches for each month, that is a core consideration of having at least a minimum distance so we can have a sound buffer there,” Williams added.
As one might suspect, there’s more to it than that.
The alliance has sound techs on all of the porches to ensure uniform quality in what the audience hears.
“They all work together to say, you guys need to turn down a little bit or you need to come up a little bit,” Williams explained.
“They’re in communication, so we moderate that as we have to.
Sound quality also depends on the performers. The range from a solo performer with an acoustic guitar is different from a full band with drums and other instruments.
“That placement, yes, seriously plays into it,” Williams said.
The genres featured at each porch and concert depend on the artists who submit and when they are available.
“Once we have the availability set, then we try to group porches together a little bit, like these folks would complement each other on the porch,” Williams said.
House hosts play a vital role
The alliance starts planning its March benefit concert in January and the summer series in May.
“It is a major production, and we’re able to pull off the size and scale of it, but that’s really because of the house host,” Williams said.
“It’s because of the homeowners who are excited to volunteer and put their porches in there.”
Mindy Francisco is serving as a porch host for the first time.
“I contacted the group and said could I possibly serve as the community liaison, to host the meetings, talk to neighbors about it, put the door hangers on their doors when it’s time to let them know they can’t park on the street on that certain day,” she said.
Francisco previously asked to serve as a host, but the alliance declined because a shade tree obstructs the audience’s view of her porch.
Alliance members reconsidered when temperatures reached the mid-90s last year.
“Yes, I have an obstructed view of the porch, but I also offer shade,” Francisco said amid laughter.
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