Porchfest returns to Somerville on May 9, the city’s Arts Council announced Wednesday. The annual event featuring free miniconcerts hosted by residents on porches and in yards citywide enters its 15th year (though the Covid pandemic years of 2020 pivoted to a “CouchFest”). Launching with around 60 bands in 2011, Porchfest has grown to last year include almost 500 performers.

Residents are invited to apply at somervilleartscouncil.org/porchfest through April 21 to host a band. (Performance locations need to be at least eight houses apart.) Volunteers are also invited to apply to be Porchfest ambassadors and help visitors to the festival.

Applications to host Porchfest block parties are open March 17–April 20 at somervillema.gov/citizenserve.

“Porchfest is one of Somerville’s most awaited events for good reason. Not only is it a sign that spring is truly here, but there’s nothing quite like seeing porches transform into stages and hosting a citywide jam fest,” mayor Jake Wilson said in an email.

Somerville is divided into three city zones for the event, with each getting two hours of playtime: The zone west of Willow Avenue hosts bands from noon to 2 p.m.; the central zone between Willow Avenue and Central Streets, from 2 to 4 p.m.; the zone east of Central Street, from 4 to 6 p.m. (It was in the central zone that indie rock band Guster played in 2024 – on Aberdeen Road in Spring Hill – and drew an estimated 30,000 people.)

Cambridge held its first Porchfest July 19-20 focused on the Cambridgeport and Central Square areas. With the success of that pilot, organizer Cambridge Arts planned to expand into additional neighborhoods this year. No dates have been announced; a voicemail left Wednesday at the agency wasn’t returned immediately.