Before Porchfest existed in Somerville and Cambridge, five Cambridge musicians, their husbands, and passersby gave their own porch performances on Cameron Street.
With windows wide open to release the piano strokes from the living room, the group played guitars, wax paper, combs, and anything else that made noise.
The five women, then all solo acts, turned their porch shows into a permanent gig by forming a band, the Porch Party Mamas.
The Americana folk group — now a trio — is celebrating their 20th year of performing original protest songs and instrumental ballads with their fourth album, “Spin,” and a Mother’s Day show at Club Passim.
The group formed because “playing together was so much more fun than doing solo gigs,” said Felicia Brady-Lopez, who plays the accordion and piano.
Over the last 20 years, the band’s sound has become more “malleable” because they bring “half-baked” ideas to rehearsal to work on together, said Ksenia Mack, who plays guitar and banjo.
All three women, who are also all music teachers, sing vocals accompanied by a guitar or banjo, piano, or accordion, and hand percussion.
The group’s “genreless” sound comes from “arrangements of what we can do with our instruments,” said Brady-Lopez, whose newborn son slept underneath the kitchen table they rehearsed around in the 2000s.
On May 10, the Porch Party Mamas will perform two sets at Club Passim: the first featuring songs from “Spin” and the second with former band member Jane Grondin.
The Mamas are most excited to perform their new songs “Mass Ave Protest,” an entirely instrumental tune, and “July 3rd,” about a loving embrace.
“When we get on stage together … [we] find the beauty, find the good, and also express the frustration and hurt” from the state of the world, said Brady-Lopez. “We’re just really thinking about the experience of life and how music is a way to express that and share with other people.”
“We play music that is fun for us,” said Katrin Peterson, who plays percussion and piano.
For Mack, the best part of performing is noticing the “little sparkles” the others throw in to embellish their songs, such as singing a line differently or adding in a new rhythm or instrument. “That’s the best part of live music,” she added.
Porch Party Mamas will perform at Club Passim at 47 Palmer St., Cambridge on Sunday, May 10 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $35.
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