George Porter Jr. may only be on the bill to perform with his solo band, Runnin’ Pardners, but the legendary bassist of The Meters is plotting to make several more appearances at the Catskill Chill Music Festival. Porter has made a habit of popping up on stage during other people’s sets in the past, and the bassist says festival-goers can expect the tradition to continue at this year’s event.

“One of the things I’ve been having fun doing in the last few years is I’ve been traveling a day earlier than I need to be on the site, and instead of playing with the usual suspects, I go out and see if there’s some new musicians that I can sit in with,” he reveals. Porter’s plan is to do “extensive research” on all the artists performing at the Chill, and then will offer up his services to a number of groups. “I’m not at the point where my head is so big that I feel I don’t have to introduce myself to new people,” he declares. “I’m definitely gonna get there early on Friday and Saturday and sit in with a few bands.”

In addition to forging new friendships at this year’s Chill, Porter is looking forward to reconnecting with the artists he’s gotten to know over the years. “We all have a common backstage area, so the groups tend to gather and talk about things,” he asserts. “There are some serious jam sessions that the audiences never get to see that’ll be happening in the backstage area. It’s great when all the guys gather in the same place, because usually when we’re not at a festival we’re all in different towns playing against each other.”

Porter hs big plans for his set with Runnin’ Pardners at the Chill this year, noting he will be throwing in a few new tracks. “I released an EP recently, which is four brand new songs that I collaborated with some different artists: Anders Osborne, Tony Hall, Denise Sullivan, and a few other people, and also with the Runnin’ Pardners band,” he explains. “Three of these four new songs we will definitely be performing. I still need to learn one of them.”

His performance will also feature some classic tracks from The Meters, and a variety of cuts on which he played bass for other artists. “We’ll do songs from Earl King and Snooks Eaglin that I recorded with them,” he reports. “We’ll also do the Robert Palmer song, ‘Sneakin’ Sally Through the Alley,’ that I recorded with him.” Porter adds he may be performing a track the Grateful Dead were fond of covering. “I like to do a Bobby Bland song, ‘Turn on Your Lovelight’,” he divulges. “I’ve always liked that song, so every now and then I’ve been known to end my shows with it.”

While we’ll have to wait to see which artists Porter will join on-stage, you can definitely catch his set with Runnin’ Pardners at the festival. Check out the full lineup and purchase your tickets for the festival at CatskillChill.com.

You can read the full Q&A with L4LM contributor Evan Levy below:

What do you love about playing at the Catskill Chill Music Festival?

My idea of a good time musically is when we play spots like the Chill where the production is class A. Naturally, when the artist feels like they’re being placed in a class A situation, you can only do your absolute best. You’re not sweating any problems. The two times I’ve performed at the Chill, I felt that we were treated really, really well and I think both performances were excellent. I also love the camaraderie of the musicians. We all have a common backstage area so the groups tend to gather and talk about things, and there are some serious jam sessions that the audiences never get to see that’ll be happening in the backstage area. It’s great when all the guys gather in the same place because usually when we’re not at a festival we’re all in different towns playing against each other.

You’ve played the Chill with The Meter Men, and as part of Grateful Dead drummer Bill Kreutzmann’s 7 Walkers. Are you excited to bring your solo band to the festival this year?

I’m very excited about bringing Runnin’ Pardners to the Chill. Runnin’ Pardners has been my solo project for close to 30 years, and over the last 15 years I’ve been playing mostly my own original instrumental music. Two or three years ago I put out a recording of 16 original Meters songs that I recorded with the original band, The Meters, which was never performed live with that band. I will also play a couple of songs in my set that were written by my guitar player Brint Anderson, and then we’ll do songs from Earl King and Snooks Eaglin’s that I recorded with them. We’ll also do Robert Palmer song, “Sneakin’ Sally Through the Alley,” which is a classic, that I recorded with him.

Are you working on any new music? Will we hear any new tracks during your performance at the Chill this year?

I released an EP recently, which is four band new songs that I collaborated with some different artists: Anders Osbourne, Tony Hall, Denise Sullivan, and a few other people, and also with the Runnin’ Pardners band. Three of these four new songs we will definitely be performing. I still need to learn one of them. I found out after recording these songs that I had a little more trouble playing bass and singing that one particular song, but maybe by the time that show comes around I may know it by then. When I released that EP I had been working on doing a whole album, but just didn’t have the time to complete it. Hopefully by the end of the year I’ll be recording at least 14 or 15 more of those songs.

Will you be playing any covers during your set?

At this point I am not doing any covers. The music that I play is either the music I recorded on my own with this band or with one of my other bands throughout the last 47 years. I do like to do a Grateful Dead cover of a Bobby Bland song, “Turn on Your Lovelight.” I’ve always liked that song, so every now and then I’ve been known to end my shows with it.

You’ve been known to sit in with other artists during their sets at the Chill. Will you be doing that again this year?

One the things I’ve been having fun doing in the last few years is I’ve been traveling a day earlier than I need to be on the site, and instead of playing with the usual suspects, I go out and see if there’s some new musicians that I can sit in with. I’m not this person at this point where my head is so big that I feel I don’t have to introduce myself to new people. I’m willing to meet and greet and play with other artists. I think very highly of the young artists that are bringing it to the table and are presenting themselves really well. I’m definitely gonna get there early on Friday and Saturday and sit in with a few people.