The Origin Story

Black Rock PorchFest began in 2016 with a simple but powerful idea brought home by Nicole Cassidy after experiencing PorchFest in Somerville, Massachusetts—one of the only events of its kind at the time. In many ways, it arrived at just the right moment—following the conclusion of the beloved Gathering of the Vibes festival in 2015, PorchFest helped fill a cultural void by bringing live music back into the heart of the community in a more intimate, neighborhood-driven way. It didn’t take long for Black Rock PorchFest to carve out its place in the broader PorchFest movement, becoming a standout example of what the format could be.

From the outset, a small but deeply committed group of organizers helped bring the vision to life, including Nicole and Steve Cassidy, Marni Lindquist, Laura and Scott Hurwitz, Abby and Peter Slywka, Catherine Conroy, John Torres, and others who contributed in those foundational years. What started as a grassroots effort quickly grew into a cherished annual tradition, powered entirely by volunteers, generous hosts, and the musicians who gave the event its soul.

In its early years, PorchFest was intentionally kept low-profile. Behind the scenes, the team worked tirelessly to build something meaningful while navigating the realities of producing a large-scale event independently. The effort was anything but small, but the focus remained on the experience itself—neighbors connecting, artists performing, and the neighborhood coming alive.

Following the 2019 event, Catherine Conroy stepped into a lead organizing role after years of involvement, helping guide PorchFest through a pivotal period. When the pandemic halted in-person gatherings in 2020, PorchFest adapted with a live-streamed performance by The Swamp Hogs. The event returned with a bang in 2021, continuing to grow in both scale and impact while expanding its footprint in the following years. During that period, the final performance moved to St. Ann’s Field, creating a larger communal ending to the day.

That growth was made possible by an extraordinary network of volunteers and collaborators. Key contributors included longtime team members like Catherine Conroy, Marni Lindquist, Laura Hurwitz, and John Torres, as well as Maureen Hart, Bridget Daley, Beau Greer, Matt Smith, and many others who played vital roles in logistics, sponsorships, community partnerships, and event operations. Their collective effort transformed PorchFest into not just an event, but an institution in Black Rock.

To ensure its long-term sustainability and continued growth, leadership of Black Rock PorchFest continued under Park City Presents, a Bridgeport-based nonprofit dedicated to music education and accessible arts programming, with Tracy Jo Recalde leading the festival’s planning and execution in 2024 and 2025, helping guide the event into its next chapter.

Building on the foundation laid by countless volunteers, Park City Presents now carries PorchFest forward into its next chapter, preserving its spirit while expanding its reach. Today, the event directly supports Park City Presents’ AMP’T program, helping train Bridgeport youth in live event production while strengthening the festival’s community impact.

Black Rock PorchFest also helped inspire and strengthen the PorchFest movement across Connecticut, with similar neighborhood festivals taking root in other towns in part because of the energy, visibility, and example set here. Today, there are more than 250 PorchFest events annually across the United States, with additional gatherings in Canada and beyond.

As PorchFest celebrates its 10th anniversary, it stands as a testament to what can be created when a community comes together around a shared love of music, place, and each other.