steppin’ out We Recommend: Culture, News + Reviews

Out on the Front Porch

By Abigail Morici

Rascal Flatts once sang of sitting on the front porch, drinking ice-cold cherry Coke, but this weekend nearly 40 front porches in Cooper-Young will be for more than those cherry Cokes — they’re going to be stages for nearly a hundred bands putting on free concerts at the third-ever Cooper-Young Porchfest.

Since the inaugural festival in the spring of 2021, Porchfest has clearly grown from the 40 bands volunteering to perform on 20 porches. Its inception is not an original idea, with more than a hundred cities holding porchfests of their own since 2007, says Amanda Yarbro-Dill, Cooper-Young Community Association’s executive director. For Memphis, though, its rst Porchfest came at just the right time when freshly Covidvaccinated people were buzzing to get out and about. “A lot of bands hadn’t really gotten back to playing a lot,” Yarbro-Dill says, “so I think there was a lot of enthusiasm because of that.” But she didn’t expect that the next year the number of volunteer bands would double and that it’d even increase for this year’s fest.

“It feels like Cooper-Young Festival Junior,” Yarbro-Dill says of the event. “But it’s an entirely music-focused day instead of an arts and cra s fest day.” e acts, each lasting around an hour, range in their genres from Americana to environmental crybaby punk. You can also catch some family-friendly drag performances, including a Disney-inspired show with Taco Belle at 3 p.m. and a show with Magical Miss Mothie & Friends at 5 p.m. Since all the performers are volunteers, tips are encouraged, with most accepting Venmo or Cash App.

“It’s like if you wanted to come and spend the whole day in Cooper-Young, you can,” Yarbro-Dill says, adding that before the fest begins, the Cooper-Young Community Association will host its annual Community Yard Sale. “You could start out in the morning, and go to yard sales. Go to lunch somewhere here in the neighborhood; patronize our businesses. Come by the gazebo, where we’ll be selling T-shirts and then we’ll also have the map for all the shows. en you can go to however many shows you want.”

Following the festival, for the rst time, there will also be an a er-party presented by Young Avenue Sound, Memphis Whistle, and Underground Art. “ ey’re gonna actually shut the street down there to have a street party and have bands play,” Yarbro-Dill says. Cyrena Wages, Jombi, Joybomb, and DJ Kaz will perform.

A full lineup of the day’s events and a map can be found at cooperyoung.org/porchfest. Porchfest is sponsored by Memphis Made Brewing Company and Steve Womack’s State Farm Insurance Agency.

COMMUNITY YARD SALE, COOPER-YOUNG HISTORIC DISTRICT, SATURDAY, APRIL 15, 9 A.M.-1 P.M., FREE.

COOPER-YOUNG PORCHFEST, COOPER-YOUNG HISTORIC DISTRICT, SATURDAY, APRIL 15, NOON-6 P.M., FREE. PORCHFEST AFTERPARTY, PARKING LOT AND GARAGE OF YOUNG AVENUE SOUND, SATURDAY, APRIL 15, 6 P.M., FREE.

Memphis International Auto Show

Renasant Convention Center, FridaySunday, April 14-16, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., free e Memphis International Auto Show returns to Memphis with the latest cars, trucks, crossovers, SUVs, electric vehicles, exotics, and more. is is the place to sit behind wheels, inspect engines, experience new technologies, and even take a test drive of a plethora of 2023-model vehicles in a nonselling environment.

Drag Rocks

Evergreen eatre, Friday, April 14-22, $27-$60

Get ready for an unforgettable night lled with rock-inspired comedy and drag at Friends of George’s production of Drag Rocks. e original comedy/variety/drag show will have you laughing all night with sketches, live entertainment, and fantastic performances from some of your favorite Memphis entertainers.

In addition to having a blast, you will also be supporting a great cause — proceeds from this event will go towards Choices: Memphis Center for Reproductive Health. Don’t miss this fun show — get your tickets at friendsofgeorges.org.

Performances are Friday-Saturday at 8 p.m. through April 22nd, with a 2 p.m. performance on Sunday, April 16th, and an 8 p.m. performance on ursday, April 20th.

Taste the Rarity

Wiseacre Brewing Company, Saturday, April 15, 3-7 p.m., $70-$115

Featuring breweries from all over the country, Taste the Rarity is a specially curated festival dedicated to beer, fun, and weirdness. Your ticket gets you a wristband, taster glass, and four hours of unlimited drinking. ere will also be live music, food trucks, and other nonsense for you to enjoy.

To stay up to date on event details, follow Wiseacre on Instagram (@wiseacrebrewingcompany).

30th Annual Rajun Cajun Craw sh Festival

Riverside Dr., Sunday, April 16, 11 a.m.-7 p.m., free is festival features live music from nationally known Louisiana zydeco bands and local award-winning artists in Memphis. Enjoy games including craw sh bobbing, eating, and racing; arts and cra s vendors; and the kids area for children ages 12 and under. Visit rajuncajunmemphis.org for more information.