Twenty years ago, Kevan Taplin (guitars, harmonica, and vocals) and Steve ‘Bluesboy’ Bennett (vocals, harmonica and assorted percussion) played their first gig together which included in the line up, the raw talents of jazz guitarist Jasper Smith ( www.jaspersmith.com ). Bennett went on to front a number of local bands including Bazooka Joe and Phondue, whilst Taplin went off to pursue an alternative career, writing and performing only the occasional gig.

The three were briefly re-united to great acclaim on stage at the Thuxstock Jazz and Blues Festival in 2006. From this meeting, Bennett and Taplin went into the Thuxstock studios to record Trouble In The Big House (see Music page) as part of a 'poetry with music' series, recording some of Taplin’s poems which had been published. The direct outcome of this was an appearance at the Sainsbury's Centre for Visual Arts, which included original work by Taplin as well as work by the Liverpool poets Mcgough and Henri whom Taplin had worked with briefly some years before.

This collaboration led to the formation of Front Porch, playing an eclectic set based around their love of Delta Blues - hence the name Front Porch. The set also includes some folk-style numbers, along with a few classics which have been given the Front Porch treatment, and compositions written for the band by Taplin.

Front Porch were invited to play at the Dereham festivals and have already been booked to play at the Acoustic Showcase at the Norwich Arts Centre in July 2009 (see Gigs page). Also in 2009, Front Porch are keen to play at venues with a multimedia approach, and are currently negotiating to play at two art galleries - one in Norwich, and one in north Norfolk. Further, Front Porch are researching the possibility of playing at one of the Open studio events for a local Artist, and hopefully appearing at several local festivals in the coming year, including a possible appearance at the Norwich Beer Festival in November.