Page 30 - 2024 Cortland Travel Guide

LIVE MUSIC

Backyard Beats

Long before written language, songs held the history of humanity. From drum circles to ballads, music brought people
together, often uniting cultures and ideas across generations. Cortland County has kept this tradition alive with home-
grown annual music festivals. Created to help carve out a space to cultivate community in an ever-more disconnected
world, Cortland County invites you to share in these grassroots festivals.

PORCHFEST CORTLAND SEEDSTOCK MUSIC FESTIVAL
Ain’t no party like a Porchfest party! In 2015, thanks to musically Nestled in the hills above downtown Cortland, within a century-
minded local artist Molly Reagan, porches became stages, lawns old working farm, lies a picturesque natural amphitheater. Since
became venues and strangers became friends at the first-ever 2008, this has been the home of Seedstock—once a house party
Cortland Porchfest. What began as a small gathering of friends featuring a handful of local bands and a couple hundred friends,
and neighbors grew into an annual event attracting over 5000 now a unique, family-friendly overnight festival. Seedstock keeps
visitors, with a parade, crafts and games, delicious eats and lots of the tunes going non-stop across two stages, featuring over a dozen
live music. Featuring more than 30 live performances spanning local, regional and nationally touring bands spanning acoustic,
folk to rock, and bagpipes to banjos, the diverse lineup captivates bluegrass, rock, folk and funk. The Main Stage rests at the foot of
everyone throughout the day. The merch booth, staffed by incred- the historic farmhouse, while the Forest Stage, reached through a
ible volunteers from the Cortland High School Student Council, wooded trail, is nestled between looming art sculptures and illumi-
boasts a line the length of Van Hoesen Street, as Molly’s cheerful nated by a kaleidoscopic light show. Festival-goers stake out spots
merch has gathered a bit of a cult following. August 2024 marks with hammocks, blankets and coolers on the lawn, while camping
the 9th Annual Cortland Porchfest, rain or shine. So, strap on your atop a knoll offers a night of dancing under the stars. Don’t miss
dancing shoes and get ready for some front porch pickin’, it’s going the quintessential Cortland County festival on the farm!
to be a beautiful day in the neighborhood.

5 TO TRY:
SUMMER CONCERT SERIES
Discover the sounds of summer at these
annual outdoor concert series’ around
Cortland County—all free!
1. Cortland Main Street Music Series
2. Courthouse Park Summer Concert Series
3. Homer’s Music on the Green
4. Lime Hollow’s Red Oak Music Series
5. Virgil C.O.V.E Concert Series

30 30 Photo Credit: Allison Marie Photography