ABOUT Front porch music

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Front Porch Music is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Lafayette, California. Our mission is to uplift two groups of acoustic musicians often overlooked in the broader music ecosystem—adult hobby musicians and emerging artists—by providing a supportive community and meaningful opportunities to grow. Though their paths may differ, the two groups naturally complement one another: adult musicians are inspired by watching emerging artists stretch into new territory, while emerging artists flourish in the encouragement and appreciation of seasoned hobbyists. Both thrive when given space, connection, and community.

Front Porch Music is a welcoming and inclusive platform that celebrates a diverse range of mostly acoustic genres—folk, Americana, bluegrass, blues, country, jazz, and traditional. We serve as a home for musicians and music lovers from Contra Costa, Alameda, Marin, Solano, and San Francisco counties, valuing and celebrating their unique contributions. Our commitment to diversity ensures that everyone feels included and appreciated, regardless of ethnicity, musical preferences, age, or physical abilities.

Adult musicians seek connection, encouragement, and a place to express themselves creatively later in life. Emerging artists, meanwhile, seek visibility, performance experience, and community support as they move into the professional sphere. By bringing these two groups together under one umbrella, Front Porch Music cultivates a vibrant, intergenerational, mutually supportive musical community—not just a set of programs, but a creative ecosystem where everyone contributes and everyone grows.

Our flagship program, Front Porch Open Mic, was launched six years ago by co-founders Austin and Andrée Hurst (pictured) on their front porch in Lafayette. The series, held on the third Saturday of each month, has preserved its intimate, welcoming charm and continues to thrive—outdoors on the Hursts’ porch in fair weather and indoors in Lamorinda Music’s Big Room during the winter. We are proud of our grassroots beginnings and inspired by the steady growth we’ve experienced.

In 2023, Austin and Andrée partnered with the historic Town Hall Theatre in Lafayette to produce Front Porch Presents—a quarterly public concert series showcasing accomplished musicians from the Front Porch community alongside emerging artists. These dynamic performances are preceded by lobby entertainment and social time, creating a lively gathering place for musicians and music lovers. Presents shows are now scheduled through 2026 in partnership with Town Hall Theatre.

In 2025, Front Porch partnered with West Coast Songwriters to create a monthly Songwriter Session. The five-month pilot was so successful that it has been extended indefinitely on the fourth Sunday of each month.

Thanks to support from the California Arts Council, we are launching Front Porch Connects—an online platform designed to strengthen connections between local musicians, nonprofits, and community partners.

In the spring of 2024, Front Porch Music transitioned to a formal nonprofit structure to further its charitable mission and expand its reach. Since then, the organization has earned support from the Community Foundation of Lafayette, the Zellerbach Family Foundation, the California Arts Council, and many generous individual donors and in-kind service volunteers.