“Ponderosa” Headlines Front Porch Presents at Town Hall Theatre
🎶 Front Porch Presents: Summer Bluegrass & Folk Festival at Town Hall Theatre 🎶
Friday, July 11 | Lobby Party 6:00 PM | Concert 7:00 PM
Town Hall Theatre, Lafayette, CA
Front Porch Music returns with its second show of the 2025 Front Porch Presents series — a joyful showcase of homegrown talent and regional stars in the heart of Lafayette. Now in its third year, the series has welcomed more than a thousand audience members to celebrate live music at the historic Town Hall Theatre.
Headlining the evening is Ponderosa, a UC Berkeley-based acoustic Americana band rooted in bluegrass and branching into the musical worlds of the Grateful Dead, Billy Strings, Tyler Childers, Béla Fleck, and more. Led by Jasper Manning (mandolin) and Spencer Krenz (guitar), with a rotating cast of top-tier Bay Area musicians, Ponderosa blends traditional bluegrass instrumentation with harmonically rich, fully acoustic arrangements. The result: a sound that’s reverent of roots and alive with innovation.
The first half of the evening will spotlight exceptional local artists from the Front Porch Music community:
🎸 Steve Smulian – A master of nylon-string guitar, Steve fuses classical, folk, big band, blues, and rock into intricately fingerpicked originals. His warm, powerful voice delivers poetic, personal, and political reflections.
🎤 Eric Smith with Robert & Chloe Gilmore – Gorgeous three-part harmonies evoke The Beatles, Beach Boys, and Crosby, Stills & Nash. A retro spirit meets modern soul in every tune.
🤠Thick as Thieves (Jim Wiant & Jeff McMoyler) – A beloved Bay Area duo delivering heartfelt originals and clever storytelling, blending country, folk, pop, and blues.
🌾 Tales of Whoa (Lorna Kollmeyer, Dave Tilton & Matt Gil) – Soulful storytelling, tight harmonies, and vibrant acoustic arrangements from this dynamic local trio.
“This lineup is a celebration of the Bay Area’s incredible acoustic talent,” says Andree Hurst, Executive Director of Front Porch Music. “With our summer festival, we’re combining heart, harmony, and a whole lot of fun.”
ABOUT FRONT PORCH MUSIC
Front Porch Music is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Lafayette, CA, dedicated to supporting adult and emerging musical artists. Through concerts, songwriter sessions, and community events, Front Porch nurtures artistic growth while bringing people together through the power of music.
Learn more at frontporchmusic.org. Front Porch Presents is made possible in part by a grant from the Zellerbach Family Foundation.
ABOUT TOWN HALL THEATRE
Town Hall Theatre is Contra Costa County’s oldest theatre company and a beloved Lafayette landmark. A home for the performing arts, the theatre is committed to radical hospitality and creating space for artists, audiences, and students to build empathy, connection, and lasting community impact.
Learn more: townhalltheatre.com
🎟️ EVENT DETAILS
What: Front Porch Presents: A Summer Bluegrass & Folk Festival
When: Friday, July 11, 2025
Where: Town Hall Theatre, 3535 School Street, Lafayette, CA
Time: Lobby Party at 6:00 pm | Concert from 7:00–9:00 pm
Tickets: $20 in advance | $25 at the door
Tickets available at: townhalltheatre.com/front-porch
