Big voices and string virtuosity will take center stage when the Black Swamp Arts Festival returns to downtown Bowling Green Sept. 11-13 for a weekend celebrating visual art, community, and live music.
The 33rd annual festival brings together emergent local, regional, national, and international performers across multiple genres and is one of Ohio’s signature annual arts events, according to Cole Christensen, Black Swamp Arts Festival performing arts chair.
“The 2026 Main Stage lineup captures what Black Swamp Arts Festival does best—bringing together original music across genres and creating space for established artists he 2026 Main Stage lineup reflects the festival’s spirit of embracing original music with a roster that moves from country and bluegrass to funk, soul, indie rock, blues, Afro-funk fusion, and gypsy swing—giving audiences multiple entry points into original music while spotlighting both established acts and rising artists.
The Main Stage is located in the parking lot behind the 100 block of South Main Street. See full Main Stage schedule below.
All performances are free.
The headliners hail from some of the most vibrant music scenes in the country.
Friday night features, Silverada, an acclaimed Austin, Texas- based country band, closes Mike Harmeier was still in his early 20s when he formed Mike and the Moonpies, now Silverada. From the start, the were the definition of a workingman’s country band, cutting their teeth with five-hour sets on Austin’s dancehall circuit before spreading their music to the rest of America with global forays.
Magoo, a progressive bluegrass quartet based in Denver, will also perform Friday. Rooted in respect for the legends of bluegrass, Magoo pays homage to the genre’s rich history while fearlessly exploring its modern evolution. Their sound is a vibrant fusion of tradition and innovation, combining heartfelt storytelling with virtuosic instrumentation.
Exponents of “Indiana Newgrass” Debutants will add their blend of bluegrass, indie folk, and Americana.
Funk masters The Motet will cap the Saturday show. The Denver-based band founded in 1998 by bandleader Dave Watts and featuring the soaring soulful voice of Sarah Clark, delivers a mix of soul, funk, and jazz.
Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears return to the festival after their 2011 appearance. Lewis music brings together strains of blues, funk, and soul.
Alabama-bred southern rocker Paul McDonald and the Mourning Doves will get the Saturday night show rolling.
Local favorites Miller and the Other Sinners will close out the festival on Sunday afternoon. The band has played several house shows as well as Sunday brunches at Juniper Brewing.
The festival will also showcase a number of local and regional acts. The festival opens with funk rockers from Columbus Austin & the Syd Experience. The Go Rounds, a psychedelic pop-rock group from Kalamazoo, Michigan, will perform Saturday.
Saturday’s show opens with the BG-based Afro pop band Sankofa Sounds with Toledo rockers Leadfoot Granny playing later.
Also on the Main Stage Saturday will be The Go Rounds, a Kalamazoo, Michigan band that brings together psych-pop, Americana and twang-rock and Brother Wallace, a soulful voice channeling the spirit of Motown.
Sunday’s show opens with Third Coast Swing, a band inspired by the early jazz stylings of Roma guitarist Django Reinhardt. Virtuoso fiddler and multi-instrumentalist Grant Flick from Bowling Green will join the band’s line up.
Detroiter Chris Canas follows with a set of blues, funk, soul, and electronic dance music.
BSAF Main Stage schedule:
Friday, Sept. 11
- 5 p.m. — Austin & the Syd Experience
- 6:30 p.m. — Debutants
- 8 p.m. — Magoo
- 10 p.m. — Silverada
Saturday, Sept. 12
- Noon — Sankofa Sounds
- 1:30 p.m. — The Go Rounds
- 3 p.m. — Leadfoot Grann
- 4:30 p.m. — Brother Wallace
- 6:15 p.m. — Paul McDonald and the Mourning Doves
- 8 p.m. — Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears
- 10 p.m. — The Motet
Sunday, Sept. 13
- Noon — Third Coast Swing
- 1:45 p.m. — Chris Canas,
- 3:30 p.m. — Miller & the Other Sinners
The festival also features music on the Community Stage on Main Street and the Family Stage in the Kiwanis Youth Arts Village.
The music, the juried art show, and concessions run: Friday 5 p.m. to midnight; Saturday 11 a.m. to midnight; and Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. With Youth Art and the Wood County Invitational Art Show on Saturday and Sunday.
