Pickin' and Grinnin'

Get ready to tune up the guitar and pull out your banjo. “Play Music on the Porch Day” returns to Morganton on Saturday, Aug. 30, and everyone is encouraged to join in as a listener, a singer, a musician, or all three!

The city-wide event encourages everyone, from professional musicians to amateurs, to celebrate music by playing and singing on front porches, sidewalks, and in businesses. Local organizer Jay Brandt has announced a day-long calendar of performances across the city, throughout the day.

The Play Music on the Porch Day movement began 11 years ago, when Brian Mallman, a Los Angeles-based artist, decided to share an idea with the world. He wanted to use music, in all its shapes and forms, to promote peace and community across the planet.

“What if for one day, everything stopped, and we all just listened to the music?” Mallman mused. His mission caught fire, and now, musicians in more than 70 countries and in upward of 1,000 cities participate in the event, always held on the last Saturday in August.

“The idea is, if we can stop for one day and put all our differences aside, which we know are considerable right now, if we can do it for one day, then we could do it for two,” he said. “If we can do it for two, maybe we could do it for a week, and then maybe we could just learn to get along, in spite of our differences.”

Morganton’s Play Music on the Porch Day will begin at 9 a.m. at the Farmers Market at 300 Beach St., and will continue at a variety of locations until 9 p.m. All performances are free. The public is invited to bring chairs, coolers, and beverages of choice.