By ROBIN STANTON GERROW
BG Independent News
In the early spring of 2020, COVID-19 had most people stuck at home, yearning for human contact, and maybe a little entertainment as well.
The residents of Eberly Avenue took to sitting on their porches in the evenings and were treated to a surprise one night when Blazey Rose showed up with flags and Rollerblades, the first entertainer of what became the annual Bowling Green Porchfest.
“I used to be in the color guard, and I still like to practice with my flags,” Rose said. “Mary Cassidy (an Eberly resident) saw them in my car and told me her neighbors would be expecting me that night. I decided to throw on the Rollerblades just because I had them. It was the first time I tried doing both to ABBA’s ‘Dancing Queen.’”
That first year was a casual rotation of musicians on a porch nearly every weekend where neighbors could pull up lawn chairs and performers could do what they love best.
Rose, with her flags, will still be one of the first acts you see when she opens the free neighborhood event this year, marching with the BGSU Samba Band at 1:45 p.m., Saturday, May 31, on Hankey Ave.
In its fifth year, BG Porchfest is presented by Eberly Entertainment Group, founded by Bowling Green residents Brian Young, Mary Dennis and Bob Midden. The event has grown from around 150 attendees to about 500 last year. This year, there are 19 bands scheduled on 14 “stages” that include porches, garages and a brewery.
Young said there are a number of improvements this year along with more bands and more stages.
“We have three food trucks this year, spread throughout the festival area,” he said. “There are six new bands that haven’t played Porchfest before, and we will have more—and improved—bathroom facilities thanks to Visit BG’s sponsorship.”
Another new addition this year is a partnership with WBGU Falcon Media which helped with social media and ran a special radio series on Tuesday afternoons with music from Porchfest bands.
“As this is our first time performing for Porchfest, I can’t begin to tell you how excited we are to play this event,” said Ruben Arreguin of the CBR Trio, one of the new additions to the lineup. “The event itself has gotten bigger and bigger every year. We are very honored to have been asked to perform with all the other amazing bands and we’re really looking forward to playing. You can feel the anticipation building, so let’s get this year’s festival going.”
Many of the changes this year are due to an expansion in business sponsors including Brewing Green/Jack & Do’s Pizza, For Keeps, Newlove Realty and Visit BG.
“We’re big on supporting free live music in town,” said Tyler Householder of Brewing Green and Jack & Do’s Pizza. “We’ve been a sponsor over the last couple of years, and it made sense to bump the sponsorship up.”
This year’s performers are:
1:45 p.m. – Samba Bateria, Hankey Avenue.
2 p.m. – The Illegal Smiles, 200 Eberly Ave.
2:15 p.m. – Corduroy Road, 707 W. Wooster St.
2:30 p.m. – Head Movie, 250 Eberly Ave.
2:45 p.m. – Tom Gorman & Friends, 223 Gorrell Ave.
3 p.m. – Sam Shaba & the Band, 161 Eberly Ave.
3:30 p.m. – The Scottish Mile, 255 Eberly Ave.
3:45 p.m. – The Joe Baker Band, 221 Eberly Ave. in alley garage.
4 p.m. – Ramblin’ Rhythm, 707 W. Wooster St.
4:15 p.m. – Mark Poseler, Arlyn’s Good Beer, 520 Hankey Ave.
4:30 p.m. – it’somewhat humanoid!, 254 Eberly Ave.
4:45 p.m. – CBR Trio, 223 Eberly Ave. in alley garage.
5 p.m. – Cigar Box Scott, 204 Eberly Ave.
5:15 p.m. – The Black Swamp Polka Collective, 140 Gorrell Ave.
5:30 p.m. – Brass City Funk, 707 W. Wooster St.
5:45 p.m. – Ginger & The Snaps, 221 Eberly Ave. in alley garage.
6 p.m. – Papa Teague, Arlyn’s Good Beer, 520 Hankey Ave.
6:15 p.m. – Freight Street, 208 Eberly Ave.
A map of all of the festivities, including public parking is available at https://bgporchfest.com/home/map.
