Grand Porch Party 2013–music+community for the win!

You start with a band and a porch.
Like the Ever Lovin’ Jug Band and 25 Avondale Ave S.  Then you add community, amazing sponsors who totally get the vision, a hard-working volunteer crew, and absolutely unbeatable weather.  Then multiply by 34 acts and 22 porches.  So went The Grand Porch Party on Sunday.  I said it at last year’s event and I’ll say it again this year: *this* is my Waterloo.

Click through for a completely unreasonable number of photos…

Best venue anywhere.

It was great catching up with all of you who called me out from behind the camera for a chat.  That really made my day.  Dozens of great conversations.  I’m usually so busy thinking of creating a photograph, “I want to compose like this” or “how best to expose for both the sun *and* shade?”, that I could look right at you and not realize it without a shout.

Perfect.

Liked the symmetry here.

Had to shake a leg.  Lots of acts to see.

But…

These guys are so damned good.

As is the lemonade.

Meta!  Finally, someone else shooting Nikon.

Dave and Laura.

All sorts of alternative wheels.

Ian Reid.

I do.

Then over on Alexandra Ave…

the Skalywags…

drew a large…

and shorter crowd.

Great cooperation between cars, people, bicycles, and rollerblades today.

Down Menno I saw Lawrence.  But only later in post-processing the photos.

Roberta Hunt.

Colin and watchful friend.

Ian!

Sponsors made it happen.  Go Words Worth Books!

These sponsors made it possible to pay and feed the musicians.  Bravo!

Special thanks to The Tamarack Institute for Community Engagement for helping me to connect my BlackBerry Proud2Be volunteer dollars to the GPP. 
High five to Team BlackBerry for supporting my volunteer work in the community.

Coloured Marshmallow Brigade.

Dave and Alla.

Thad, Camille, Audrey, Jessica, and Beck made it out.

All kinds of wheels.

Phil Lehmann.

Dave Rozell Band in transit.

Mike’s foot.

Roller dogging.  In the forest, apparently.

Friends.

A Grand River New Horizons ensemble.

Arden spotted me.

Tons of people.  There were a lot last year and this is probably (2 x a lot).  I saw Sarah and Gavin in frame, fresh from getting hitched on Saturday.

Tony!  Had a hand in making…

beautiful Mae.

Joanna, Mae, and Tenille.

Sponsor!

All kinds of wheels.

Dan Root and Laura Dyck.

On the bench.

The Short Films.

These guys were awesome and…

drew a big crowd.  I see Marty.

C-dub, aka Calder.

Panorama in 3, 2, …

to the left, and…

left, …

left, … (Phil and Andrea)

left, …

left, …

left, …

and stop.

Dave and Alla.

Lisa and Arden.

Uncalled Four.

Street level.  Jeremy spotted me!

Only got to half the venues, but loved every one.

Shade Valley Citizen Band.

The Dancing Plague.  Thanks for the Hendrix!

Hanna + Phil, in the dense woods.

YEAH!  Waterloo Mini Maker Faire is next Saturday (June 15).  Come by Kitchener City Hall and check out my project: Son of a Monkey, another makebright gig. 
Noisy toys + amps == fun

Love it when bikes congregate.

Meta!  Another Nikon shooter.

Dave Rozell Band and Guests.  Givin’ ‘er.

Heading for shade.

Crossroads.  Councillor Melissa.

The Jinks.

Meta!

Brian said he doesn’t post his shots, but…

I bet this one is awesome.

Bikes!

And finally in the homestretch…

full circle, back to Avondale Ave…

Young Neils.

Gotta wrap with a pic of the drummer.

Sad to see 5pm come around, but happy the whole thing happened.  It was great connecting with Tenille, Anna, and the other volunteers this year.  Great group to work with.  Big thanks to the musicians for putting it all out in the neighbourhood.  You transported us.

See you next year.
DW