Akronauts, last year's headliner at the Akron PorchRokr music festival, perform during the 2026 PorchRokr. (MIchael Francis McElroy / Signal Akron)
The annual music festival, 2026-style, took over Highland Square with performances from 160 acts, including this year’s headliner Rent for Cheryl.
Porches, and the surrounding streets and sidewalks, were packed throughout the neighborhood bordered by West Market Street and South Rose Boulevard to the north; South Portage Path to the east; Elmore Avenue to the south; and West Exchange Street to the west.
Independent underground rap artist, executive, and CEO of Global Mogul LLC, based out of East Akron, King Locust performs with A Band Named Ashes on the main stage during the 2026 PorchRokr music festival. (MIchael Francis McElroy / Signal Akron)Music lovers gather to watch last year’s headliners Akronauts during the 2026 PorchRokr music festival in Highland Square. (MIchael Francis McElroy / Signal Akron)Music lovers gather to watch last year’s headliners the Akronauts perform on Everett Avenue during the 2026 PorchRokr music festival in Highland Square. (MIchael Francis McElroy / Signal Akron)Lindsay Thomas, left, on dobro guitar performs with the rest of the Morning Star Bluegrass band during the 2026 PorchRokr music festival. (MIchael Francis McElroy / Signal Akron)Amine Ourabah of the Blues/Rock band Amine’s Soulshine Band performs during the 2026 PorchRokr music festival. (MIchael Francis McElroy / Signal Akron)Nate Vail of A Band Named Ashes performs on the main stage during the 2026 PorchRokr music festival. (MIchael Francis McElroy / Signal Akron)A large crowd of music lovers gathered to watch the Post Nu Metal band [Redacted] during the 2026 PorchRokr music festival. (MIchael Francis McElroy / Signal Akron)Indie-Pop/Americana artist Ashley Gulla performs her set at 1 p.m. during the 2026 PorchRokr music festival. (MIchael Francis McElroy / Signal Akron)[Redacted] lead signer Jude Samman performs during the 2026 PorchRokr music festival. (MIchael Francis McElroy / Signal Akron)Matt Shultz and his daughter Matilda watch a Band Named Ashes perfom on the main stage during the 2026 PorchRokr music festival. (MIchael Francis McElroy / Signal Akron)The Akron Derbytown Chorus performs during the 2026 PorchRokr music festival. (MIchael Francis McElroy / Signal Akron)Insturmental Surf rock band Jupiter 2 performs during the 2026 PorchRokr music festival. (MIchael Francis McElroy / Signal Akron)Lead vocalist and guitar Thomas Kincaid performs with his band Charity Shoal at Ray’s during the 2026 PorchRokr music festival. (MIchael Francis McElroy / Signal Akron)Gregory Guarneri, center, of All Who Wander, performs outside Mustard Seed during the 2026 PorchRokr music festival. (MIchael Francis McElroy / Signal Akron)Guitarist Wes McCraw with A Band Named Ashes does some last-minute tuning before they perform on the main stage during the 2026 PorchRokr music festival. (MIchael Francis McElroy / Signal Akron)[Redacted] lead signer Jude Samman performs during the 2026 PorchRokr music festival. (MIchael Francis McElroy / Signal Akron)Nancy Peters with the band Velocity Stax carry a drum to the stage at the Wendell L. Willkie American Legion Post 19 on West Market Street in Highland Square. The band was set to go on at noon during the 2026 PorchRokr music festival. (MIchael Francis McElroy / Signal Akron)Noah Gfell, lead vocalist and guitar for the band Bewarewolves performs during the 2026 PorchRokr music festival. (MIchael Francis McElroy / Signal Akron)Lead vocalist and guitar Thomas Kincaid performs with his band Charity Shoal at Ray’s during the 2026 PorchRokr music festival. (MIchael Francis McElroy / Signal Akron)
Editor-in-Chief (she/her)
Zake has deep roots in Northeast Ohio journalism. She was the managing editor for multimedia and special projects at the Akron Beacon Journal, where she began work as a staff photographer in 1986. Over a 20-year career, Zake worked in a variety of roles across departments that all help inform her current role as Signal Akron's editor in chief. Most recently, she was a journalism professor and student media adviser at Kent State University, where she worked with the next generation of journalists to understand public policy, environmental reporting, data and solutions reporting. Among her accomplishments was the launch of the Kent State NewsLab, an experiential and collaborative news commons that connects student reporters with outside professional partners.
![A large crowd of music lovers gathered to watch the Post Nu Metal band [Redacted] during the 2026 PorchRokr music festival.](https://i0.wp.com/signalakron.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/procker81526q.jpg?resize=780%2C520&ssl=1)
![[Redacted] lead signer Jude Samman performs during the 2026 PorchRokr music festival.](https://i0.wp.com/signalakron.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/procker81526m.jpg?resize=780%2C520&ssl=1)
![[Redacted] lead signer Jude Samman performs during the 2026 PorchRokr music festival.](https://i0.wp.com/signalakron.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/procker81526n.jpg?resize=780%2C520&ssl=1)
