3YB: How a Backyard Party Became a House Music Festival

Twelve years ago Joseph Porter (aka Pepe) and his neighbors envisioned a summer soiree in their backyards, with DJs, dancing and lots of food.

The elements weren’t much different than your ordinary backyard barbecue, but 3 Yards Banging was on a slightly larger scale, with hundreds of people in attendance. Founded by Pepe along with his wife Monica, her sister Connie and their neighbors Terry and Gisele Morris, the event became bigger and bigger every year, taking up more space and gaining a wider audience. My memories of it? Several years ago I stumbled in around 9pm and it blew my mind… I was walking around in circles trying to figure out whose backyard was whose and who was DJing and where. I would occasionally walk into someone’s house and chat with a group of people, grab a drink and get my dance on. And I distinctly remember getting a foot massage and pedicure from a salon of shirtless men. I was in heaven.

“The beauty of this event was that we never had a single incident in spite of attracting literally a thousand people each year. House Music spreads love and peace,” Pepe says.

This August 20, 2016, that backyard party will become 3YB House Fest, with three streets sectioned off for two stages and multiple vendors. The fest will take place on South Anthony Avenue between 84th and 87th Streets and will go from 12pm through 11pm at night. (There is free parking along South Chicago Avenue and Anthony Avenue.) There will be food trucks, a gumbo booth, jerk tacos and more food than you can imagine.

So far the lineup features the “Groove Stage” with Gene Hunt, Mike Dunn, Hugo H. and four time Grammy-nominated artist Steve “Silk” Hurley, along with a performance by singer Sheree Hicks. The “Move Stage” features DJ Cheez, Fiddy Millz and Czboogie. Admission is $20, and the organizers are asking everyone to bring any pair of lightly worn shoes to donate towards the organization called Que’s got Sole, who are collecting to give to Haiti and three African countries.

And prospective vendors can call (773) 649-1099 or email 3ybevents@gmail.com for more info.