On Saturday, April 12th, the Cooper-Young Community Association (CYCA) held their fifth annual Cooper-Young Porchfest. At 70 degrees under sunny blue skies, it was perfect weather for the 130 bands that performed on 46 porches and patios. Hundreds of Memphians walked around the neighborhood in shorts, summer dresses, and short-sleeves, listening to original music, classic covers, DJ sets, and even a comedian at 2034 Evelyn Avenue.
Reflecting on Porchfest’s founding in 2021, CYCA executive director Amanda Yarbro-Dill says, “We had about 40 bands sign-up.” Five years later, Porchfest has more than tripled the musical artists involved. “I opened up registration in February. At the end of the week, I had 80 bands signed up, so I had to take down the form,” says Yarbro-Dill. Fifty additional bands were then booked by Cooper-Young residents and businesses who took matters into their own hands.
Some even scheduled “secret shows”: A house on York Avenue had a pop-up show that drew a great crowd. I asked Yarbro-Dill if this spontaneity complicated her job: “It doesn’t belong to me, just because I organize it,” she said. “If you live in the neighborhood and you want your friend to play on your porch, go ahead!”
Yarbro-Dill spent the first half of the day selling shirts at the gazebo outside Margarita’s. Acts like Alexis Jade + The Gemstones and The Eastwoods performed nearby on the patio outside Mulan Asian Bistro. After that, Yarbro-Dill joined the masses and bounced from porch to porch, reaping the benefits of her work. After the six hours of music, her day was capped off with a drag show.
The bands she saw included Jeff Hulett and The Hand-Me-Downs on Felix Avenue. Hulett, a five-year Porchfest veteran, has been performing at the same house every year. To him, the residence has “become a second home. … We show up and they’re like, ‘What kind of beer you want?’” The homeowners are Joel and Lindsey Alsup. Hulett remembers meeting them at the first Porchfest during peak Covid. “Fast friends, immediately. … Every time Porchfest has come around, I’d have no choice. They were like, ‘We want you.’”
Hulett’s been playing shows around Memphis for over 20 years, but Porchfest is something special. “Huge crowd, beautiful weather. … Seeing the neighborhood so activated … people riding bikes, walking around, people meeting each other.” Hulett and The Hand-Me-Downs were the “headliners” at Felix Avenue and played an hour-and-a-half set of originals. “It’s special,” he said. “The only change I’d wanna make is being able to see more music.”
For Yarbro-Dill and Hulett, Porchfest is about accessibility and community. “I’ve never said no to a band before,” says Yarbro-Dill. “I saw a Flyer article about a band who said their first show was Porchfest.” It’s much more than free live music. Porchfest is a community event that shows Memphis’ love of and commitment to the arts. If you missed it this year, don’t fret. Yarbro-Dill assured me it will continue in 2026.
