Porchfest 2026: The Interview With Organizer Melody Kiser

1. Tell us a little about your musical background.

I grew up in a musical family, so I’ve been a musician for most of my life. I’m the lead singer and guitarist for my band, HeyDreamer, and music has really shaped almost every part of who I am. I have a Master’s degree in Music Business from Berklee College of Music, and I’ve spent years performing, writing, booking shows, producing events, and working with other artists.

My band is currently working with Will Turpin of Collective Soul and Brian Collins through Real People Music, and we’ve been recording our new concept album at Real 2 Reel Studios. So, I come at Porchfest from both sides: as an artist who knows how hard musicians work, and as an organizer who wants to create meaningful opportunities for them to be heard.

2. How did the whole idea of Porchfest come about?

I’ve played larger music events for years. I’ve performed on music cruises with artists like Melissa Etheridge and Nancy Wilson of Heart, and I’ve toured around the U.S. and played with artists from bands like Journey, Santana, Boston, and others, so I’m familiar with how successful music festivals are run and what makes an event feel good for both the audience and the musicians. Melody headshot Melody and HeyDreamer

HeyDreamer, my band, played at the Virginia Highlands Porchfest in Atlanta, and while it was a great experience, it was also a really difficult day logistically for the musicians. That got me thinking about what a Porchfest could look like if it was designed with the artists’ experience in mind from the very beginning.

So, I called Kris Youmans and Steve Quick and asked if they’d want to be part of creating an event that felt tailored to the local musicians here in Newnan. We’re known as “The City of Homes,” so the idea of turning front porches into stages felt natural. It gave us a way to celebrate Newnan’s historic neighborhoods, local music, local artists, small businesses, and the community spirit that already exists here.

I wanted to create something accessible and joyful, where families could walk from porch to porch, hear completely different styles of music, discover local artists, and experience Newnan in a way that feels personal and unique. Porchfest felt like the perfect way to bring all of that together.

3. Everyone thought Porchfest 2025 was a big success. What were the positives you took away from that inaugural event?

The biggest positive was seeing how much the community embraced it. We hoped people would come, but the response was honestly beyond anything we expected. Thousands of people showed up, and what stood out most to me was how happy everyone seemed to be. People were walking, dancing, sitting in front yards, supporting local vendors, discovering new bands, and just enjoying being together.

I also loved seeing the impact on the artists and small businesses. Musicians were gaining new fans, vendors were making sales, and several downtown businesses had incredible days. It proved that an event like this can be fun and meaningful, but also have a real economic and cultural impact.

And honestly, one of my favorite takeaways was how peaceful and positive the whole day felt. For an event that large, especially in its first year, it was amazing to see people show up with such respect for the neighborhood, the homeowners, and each other.

4. Reviewing Porchfest 2025, what didn’t quite work the way you hoped?

The biggest challenge was that we were prepared for a much smaller crowd than we actually got. We were hoping for around 3,500 people, and we ended up with more than 10,000. That is a wonderful problem to have, but it definitely showed us where we needed to improve.

The map was one of the biggest pieces of feedback. People loved the event, but the single-page map was a little hard to navigate once they were actually out walking around. We also learned that we needed more signage, more facilities, more security, and better crowd flow.

So, nothing “failed” exactly, but 2025 taught us a lot. It showed us that if this event was going to grow, the infrastructure had to grow with it.

5. Biggest changes from 2025 to this year?

This year, we’ve made major improvements to the event infrastructure. We’re adding more security, more facilities, better signage, and a much more user-friendly map booklet instead of a single-page map. We’re also working to spread the crowd out more thoughtfully so that people can move through the festival more comfortably.

We also have more participating homes, more music, more vendors, and more community partners. Another big change is that we’ve added even more to our VIP experience, hosted by the Newnan-Coweta History Center! The VIP experience now includes complimentary beer and wine at the museum, character-actor guided historic garden tours, specialty Historic Garden cocktail stops, and more! That gives people a really special way to experience Porchfest while also supporting the organization the event benefits.

Overall, the goal is to keep the charm and magic of the first year, but make the logistics stronger and smoother for everyone.

7. How many bands?

We had an incredible response from musicians this year. We received more than 150 applications, which is amazing and also really difficult because we only have so many spaces available. Newnan Porchfest is hosting over 80 bands and acts this year!

This year’s lineup includes dozens of bands and artists across porches, downtown partner locations, and special performances throughout the day. The exciting part is the variety. You’ll hear rock, country, folk, jazz, blues, singer-songwriters, alternative music, student bands, and more. There really is something for everybody.

8. How many volunteers and what all do they do?

It takes a lot of people to make an event like this happen! Volunteers help with everything from check-in and information booths to helping vendors, supporting musicians, assisting with the kids’ area, passing out maps and signage, answering questions, selling t-shirts and posters, and helping people find their way around the festival.

They are really the heartbeat of the event day. A lot of what makes Porchfest feel welcoming comes from having friendly people throughout the festival who are willing to help. We could not do this without them.

If anyone’s interested in signing up to volunteer on May 30, head over to our website at www.newnanporchfest.com and fill out our volunteer application. Shifts are 2-hours long, so you can still enjoy the festival while helping the cause!

9. Proceeds from the event go where?

Proceeds benefit the Newnan-Coweta History Center. That partnership is really important to me because Porchfest is not just about music. It’s also about Newnan, our history, and our community.

We’re bringing people into one of Newnan’s historic neighborhoods and inviting them to experience these beautiful homes, streets, and stories in a new way. Supporting the History Center helps preserve and share the history that makes Newnan so special.

10. Anything you want to add?

I just want to say how grateful I am. Porchfest only works because people believe in it. Homeowners say yes to turning their porches into stages. Musicians say yes to sharing their art and donating their time and talents. Volunteers, sponsors, vendors, city staff, local businesses, and community members all come together to make it happen.

That is what makes this event special. It is not just a music festival. It is a love letter to Newnan. It’s a celebration of creativity, history, and community, and I feel really lucky to be able to bring this to our community.