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For the second consecutive year, musicians, residents and businesses in San Juan Bautista will join the Play Music on the Porch Day celebration on Aug. 30. Held in more than 1,000 cities in 70 countries, this worldwide event was founded in 2013 by Los Angeles-based artist and musician Brian Mallman.
Starting at noon at 1190 Vista Way, the home of San Juan Bautista City Councilmember Jose Aranda, and ending across town around 4:30 p.m. at Luna Gallery on The Alameda, 12 venues will be hosting live performances of music and dance, culminating in a crowd performance of the Jackie Wilson 1967 hit, “(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher.”
“I’m very excited and ready to rock and roll,” Aranda said. “I enjoyed being a part of it last year, and it brings a lot of positivity to the people of San Juan. I’m not going to miss it for the world.”
Play Music on the Porch Day is organized much like a traveling block party. Starting at Aranda’s home, local favorite Cisco Jim will perform for about 15 minutes. At the conclusion of his set, the crowd will walk (or in Aranda’s case, take a golf cart) to the next stop, where another performer or group will be waiting to play.
The entire route is roughly a mile long, and the event will include a tour of the Native Daughters of the Golden West adobe at 203 Fourth Street.
The second stop, at 9 Via Serra, will feature a performance by local artist Cindy Couling and musician “Diamond” Dan Clifford. This is Clifford’s second time taking part in the event, having performed at a stop at Rosa’s House last year.
“It’s a really fun time for everyone,” he said. “You play for a while, then everyone moves to the next place. All the musicians get exposure and, as a performer, it really gets your adrenaline going.”
Many of the musicians taking part are also regulars in the city’s thriving open mic scene, which Clifford said has helped the town develop a cohesive musical community.
“There are so many amazing musicians here,” he said. “We’ve grown to where we all support each other, and we play with each other and we write songs together. It’s just created amazing friendships that are going to last forever.”
Musician and event co-organizer Steve Harris will be performing with members of his band, The Dead Cowboys, at 705 First Street, the sixth stop of the day. He began taking part in Play Music on the Porch Day four years ago when, along with San Juan musician Bruce Gilsenan, they informally played outside their homes.
“I had talked to a few friends up and down the West Coast,” Harris said, “and we all did it at the same time just to be part of the whole worldwide thing.”
Last year, working with then-city recreation assistant Caitlin Brady, he helped to formalize San Juan’s participation, which resulted in 20 musicians playing at 10 different stops.
“It was just kind of from the hip,” Harris said. “We looked at where everybody lived, and we wanted to make it easy for people to get to and from. So, we kind of drew up a little map and we got it going.”
Participating homes will be marked with large vinyl signs with sequential numbers to indicate their place in the order. According to Harris, all of the expenses were raised through donations; no city funds were used.
“We kind of wanted to keep it loose,” he said. “It’s going to be a good, wholesome time and very family oriented. There’s a whole bunch of different musicians so you’re going to get a little bit of everything. And you’re going to have a fun day.”
Music on the Porch in San Juan Bautista
- Noon-12:15: Cisco Jim at 1190 Vista Way
- 12:25-12:40: Cindy & Dan at 9 Via Serra
- 12:45-1:00: Sej at 907 First Street
- 1:05-1:20: Dance Party! at 1106 Third Street
- 1:30-1:45: Rudy Salcido and Sylvia at 801 Second Street
- 1:50-2:05: Dead Cowboys (half band) at 705 First Street
- 2:10-2:25: Sam, Joe, & Co at 601 Third Street
- 2:30-2:45: Richie & Katie at 30 Polk Street
- 2:50-3:05: Richard Primont and Graciela Serna at 310 Third Street
- 3:15-3:30: Native Daughters Tour at 203 Fourth Street
- 3:35-3:50: RedTail at 203 Fourth Street
- 4:00-4:15: Bella & Luke at 111 Third Street
- 4:20-4:35: Team Uncoordinated at 107 #B The Alameda
- 4:35: Everyone sings “(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher” at 107 #B The Alameda
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