Aermotor performs during the seventh annual Historic Athens Porchfest in Athens, Georgia, on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. Porchfest 2025 featured 262 performances spread across seven historic neighborhoods. (Photo/Emily Laycock)
Athens Porchfest helps bridge the gap between younger and older generations
By Emily Laycock
Steve Gibson, drummer for the Athens rock band Aermotor, stood at the top of a steep staircase leading to a quaint wooden porch, calling down to family and friends, “Come on up, the box seating is still available.”
His daughter, Lucy Gibson, a fourth-year parks, recreation and tourism management student at the University of Georgia, quickly met him with laughter and a hug. She was accompanied by her mom, sister, roommates, and several of her dad’s friends.
“All of his friends love to come and support him because they know that he does this and they don't care about publicity or money,” Lucy Gibson said. “It's just three guys getting together and having a lot of fun because they're really good at what they do.”
Aermotor's performance at Sunday's seventh annual Historic Athens Porchfest drew a familiar crowd of family and friends, as well as an unexpected group of audience members. A group of about a dozen young men in baseball caps and flip-flops watched from across the street as the band performed on their porch in the Reese Hancock neighborhood.
Steve Gibson said these types of unexpected interactions make the festival not only a chance to connect with family and friends but also “has potential to build community” between different groups.
"I mean, the reality is, we're an older group of guys, and we're here on the porch of a group of frat guys. That's cool to be able to connect with people in that way,” said Michael Key, bassist of Aermotor. “I think, how else are you going to build community. Obviously, we're going to tend to hang out with people that are like us until there's an opportunity to spend time with somebody who's not necessarily like us simply because, ‘Oh, this happens to be my porch.’”
Steve Gibson, drummer for Aermotor, plays the drums during the seventh annual Historic Athens Porchfest in Athens, Georgia, on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. Aermotor is a local Athens rock band. (Photo/Emily Laycock)
Lead vocalist and guitarist of Aermotor, Ken Dover, recalled being at the grocery store when he first received a text message from their host Charlie Long, a fourth-year student at The University of Georgia. He almost blocked the number, mistaking it for a spam message. Since then, the two groups have gotten to know each other through email chains discussing logistical concerns, such as where to plug in music equipment on a porch that has no electrical outlets.
The answer? Go through doors and windows.
Andrea Lawson, a friend of Steve Gibson from church and familiar face in Sunday’s crowd, moved to Athens two and half years ago after marrying her husband Ludlow Lawson. She says Porchest has been a unique way for her to feel more connected to the younger Athens community.
“I like that it (Porchfest) is inclusive because, you know, of course I'm not a college student. But I feel like the younger generation has accepted this type of music (rock) and, you know, we can really connect,” Lawson said. “And especially for someone like me who's coming to Athens a little bit older and trying to be a part of a college community, I like that it bridges the gap.
Why I Wrote The Story
This story helped me build confidence in on-the-spot reporting by teaching me how to find a story naturally rather than relying so heavily on a set plan or preconceived narrative. I discovered the band Aermotor simply because they were steps away from my house in downtown Athens. Within minutes of striking up a conversation, it became clear there was a larger story to tell—their small porch performance seemingly captured the spirit of Porchfest, with friends, neighbors, and people of all ages gathered together enjoying music.