The Swim Drink Fish music club, part of Lake Ontario Waterkeeper, a group working to protect waterways, is offering free one-year music club memberships to everyone who attends.

The front porches of a number of Waterloo homes will be turned into mini-stages next month for a unique neighbourhood event.

Called the Grand Porch Party, the event will feature an eclectic mix of songwriters and musicians who will play on the porches for people walking by.

Organizer Tenille Bonoguore said the idea is to offer a fun, relaxing day for anyone who wants to hear some good music while enjoying a walk in the tree-lined neighbourhood behind Waterloo Towne Square.

The neighbourhood is bordered by Euclid, William, Roslin and Dawson streets.

Bonoguore was inspired by the annual winter art walk in the Frederick Street neighbourhood in Kitchener.

“I loved that idea. I thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be awesome to have something similar in the summer?’ she said.

“But no one wants to be indoors. I imagine it to be a really nice, relaxing afternoon.’’

Bonoguore is managing editor of a national environmental magazine in Waterloo called Alternatives Journal. Its first music and environment issue is coming out this summer and she decided to tie the two events together.

It’s also Canadian Rivers Day.

Already, 11 musicians and bands have signed on. They’ll play from 3 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, June 12.

One band is Lucky Stabb, described by Bonoguore as a Waterloo Region rock band “with hints of rowdy southern rock.’’

Band member Marco Pedrosa is looking forward to the event.

“The fact that this is a community event in our home area, sponsored by an insightful and thought-provoking publication, just makes it all the more exciting for us,’’ he said in an email.

“If we can entertain some people, and also help turn the community on to the thriving, but perhaps under-exposed music scene in K-W, then all the better.’’

Pedestrians will be invited to sit on residents’ front lawns if they want to stop to hear a particular band.

It will be mainly an acoustic affair, although musicians will be allowed a small amplifier.

“It’s not going to be a raucous thing,’’ Bonoguore said. “We don’t want to annoy the neighbours if they’re not keen.’’

She and husband Tony Reinhart just moved into their Alexandra Street home last October.

“I just started hitting up my new neighbours,’’ she said. “They love the idea. Most people that hear about it, they light up and get on board.’’

She’s still looking for more porches and more musicians.

She also plans to decorate sidewalks and create a music garden for children on Roslin Street, with homemade instruments they can bang around on.

So far, the lineup includes local rock band Lucky Stabb, the Billie Hollies, a female quartet from Toronto who meld jazz, folk, classical and opera; Childebeast, a local indie folk rock and power pop duo, Lazu Lie, an indie pop-rock quartet, Alex Machidon, an acoustic reggae-soul influenced singer-songwriter, Jesse Maranger, a Waterloo-based folksinger, Sam Nabi and Tynan, two singer-songwriters, and Carol and Friends, a four-piece steel drum band.

Julia Hambleton of the Billie Hollies will be playing her clarinet, “hopefully drinking a cool glass of lemonade and singing songs on a hot June day while the people of Kitchener walk by.

“Much like Halloween, you have an excuse to go door-to-door and meet your neighbours,’’ she said in an email.

She was impressed with Bonoguore’s “enthusiasm and desire to bring her community together around music and the environment.’’

The Swim Drink Fish music club, part of Lake Ontario Waterkeeper, a group working to protect waterways, is offering free one-year music club memberships to everyone who attends.

More information can be found at grandporchparty.wordpress.com.

via TheRecord – Grand Porch Party offers healthy fun and good music.