It’s August in Akron, which means it’s once again PorchRokr season.

More than 100 musical acts will converge on Highland Square on Aug. 15 to perform on porches throughout the neighborhood. Now in its 14th year, this year’s festival is 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.

Performances start at 11 a.m. and happen every hour on the hour until 6 p.m. Closing out the festival is headliner Rent for Cheryl, who will take the main stage at Elmore Avenue and South Portage Path at 7:30 p.m.

Avoid the traffic and take the Metro RTA for free to PorchRokr. Beginning at 6 a.m., vehicles may be parked at the Akron Public Schools’ Administrative Building parking lot (10 N. Main St.). The bus stop is located on West Market Street in front of the parking lot and will be specially marked for PorchRokr. Buses will arrive approximately every 10 to 15 minutes. Watch for the bus with a Route 1 destination sign. 

Jenna Seeman of the band Girl Cologne sings during the 2025 Akron PorchRokr music festival in Highland Square Saturday, Aug. 16. The band was performing on Highland Avenue.
Jenna Seeman of the band Girl Cologne sings during the 2025 Akron PorchRokr music festival in Highland Square Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025. The band was performing on Highland Avenue. (Susan Zake / Signal Akron)

The bus will drop passengers off at the intersection of West Market Street and North Portage Path. To return to the APS lot, go to the bus stop near the corner of West Market Street and South Portage Path (in front of the Walgreens parking lot).

While music is the main draw of PorchRokr, the festival will also feature a beer garden, a kid’s zone, karaoke, a silent auction, food trucks and vendors.

Check out the complete 2026 PorchRokr lineup below

Each number in front of the band name corresponds to the venue number on the map above.

11 a.m.

1 A Band Named Ashes (progressive folk)

3 Britney Redpath (indie folk)

5 Cool Blue Planet! (classic, alt and original rock)

7 Vayne (rock)

9 Akron Derbytown Chorus (barbershop, a cappella)

11 Zach Angeloni (alt rock, folk rock)

13 Wreck Like Me (folk rock)

15 Freez-R-Burn (classic rock and originals)

17 It’s About Time (rock, pop, folk, R&B)

19 Blue Hour (indie, alternative rock)

21 Upstream Drifters (folk rock)

23 Zoloft (indie rock)

25 Big Void (synth-pop, rock)

27 BAJA Thunder (classic rock)

29 Duer Court Rhythm Section (jazz funk fusion)

31 Alina Remains (singer-songwriter)

33 Frog Books (rock, ambient, country)

35 1402 (indie rock)

37 Da Land Brass Band (jazz)

39 PorchRokr Guitar Orchestra (orchestral rock)

The horn section from the hip-hop neo-soul band Black Voltron lights up the porch of the Wendell L. Wilkie American Legion Post during their performance at PorchRokr 2025 in Highland Square.
The horn section from the hip-hop neo-soul band Black Voltron lights up the porch of the Wendell L. Wilkie American Legion Post during their performance at PorchRokr 2025 in Highland Square. (Michael Francis McElroy / Signal Akron)

Noon

2 Sweet Ignition (alt rock)

4 Dashiel & Av (jazz, soul pop, R&B, hip-hop)

6 Morning Star Bluegrass Band (bluegrass)

8 Eleni Naomi (soul jazz)

10 Lilac Heart (hyperpop, electronic)

12 Adult Human Chicken (pop-punk)

14 Wo Hop Madness (experimental funk)

16 Resolve (jazz, fusion, R&B)

18 Jupiter 2 (instrumental surf)

20 Akronauts (rock)

22 Lovely Weather (shoegaze, indie, alternative)

24 A.B.C.D. (singer-songwriter)

26 Roxxymoron (rock)

28 Bewarewolves (hard rock, shoegaze)

30 Braininavat (screamo)

32 Ed Amann (oral tradition folk)

34 Amateur Saboteur (punk rock, alternative)

36 Velocity Stax (rockabilly)

38 Empty Kodiak (indie rock)

40 Craig Rich (alt psychedelic rock, dream pop)

A guitarist for the band Talk Less plays during their set at PorchRokr 2025 in Highland Square. The band was on the front porch of the Wendell L. Willkie American Legion Hall, Post 19, on West Market Street.
A guitarist for the band Talk Less plays during their set at PorchRokr 2025 in Highland Square. The band was on the front porch of the Wendell L. Willkie American Legion Hall, Post 19, on West Market Street. (Michael Francis McElroy / Signal Akron)

1 p.m.

1 DaLo and the Band (pop, soul)

3 Eaten by Kittens (rock and roll, old-school punk)

5 Flock of Moons (heavy psych rock)

7 Grave Ridden (metal)

9 Rubber City Ukes (100 years of popular music)

11 Rachel Roberts (singer-songwriter)

13 Don Darko (rock, experimental hip-hop, indie)

15 The Twanglers (Americana)

17 Anna Beau (singer-songwriter, alt, folk, pop)

19 Dearest Friend (pop-punk, punk rock)

21 So Nectar (alt, emo, post hardcore)

23 Supercop (instrumental)

25 Fast & Backwards (silly punk)

27 [Redacted] (post nu metal)

29 Soulshine (blues, rock)

31 Ashley Gulla (indie pop, Americana)

33 All Who Wander (indie folk, Americana)

35 Shame Chamber (indie rock)

37 Charity Shoal (alternative rock)

39 Steel Academy (steel drum band, multigenre)

2 p.m.

2 3 Starz (rock)

4 Emigrants Wake (Irish rock, American folk)

6 F5 (classic rock and originals)

8 Joe Rangel (neo soul, dream pop, jazz)

10 Samjhana Band (rock, fusion, covers)

12 Soleo (Middle Eastern prog rock)

14 SweetSour (rock)

16 Marcus Smith & The Rapscallions (hip-hop, rock, funk)

18 The Mickeys (Celtic rock)

20 The Delta Hand (electric blues)

22 Counting Butterflies (emotional rock)

24 Arms & Armour (electronic, sludge)

26 Late Light (Americana)

28 Glass Bones (alternative)

30 Miss Dreadful (folk)

32 Librarians With Hickeys (power pop)

34 Bad Hooks (alt, blues, rock)

36 Matthew Alec & The Soul (electric jazz fusion)

38 Eighty-Sixed Kid (alt punk, emo)

3 p.m.

1 Dj Xay & Mr Rashaad (hip-hop)

3 Comb Walker (alt, noise rock)

5 The Tenants (twang rock)

7 Lake District (alt rock)

9 Buffalo Ryders (alternative, riff-rock)

11 Jinari Kemet & The Black Jackets (hip-hop, rock)

13 Haren & Thoria (synth rock)

15 Zach Beaver Band (pop-funk)

17 Ahn (no wave)

19 Rockin’ Rabbits (rock)

21 Dave Rich & His Enablers (rock)

23 Girl Cologne (bubblegrunge)

25 Friendship Bracelet (pop-punk, emo)

27 One Piece Puzzle (rock)

29 The Brown Brothers (country folkgrass and roll)

31 Dany Elias (rap, pop, rock)

33 Compass (indie pop-rock)

35 Damnagedkids (hip-hop)

37 Twin Atomic (rock)

39 Tyler Bohinc (bluegrass)

Bert Franco of The Modernes performs.
Bert Franco of The Modernes performs songs from the band’s EP’s during PorchRokr, Saturday, August 17, 2024, in Akron, Ohio. The band will play at 4 p.m. in 2026. (Signal Akron / Matthew Brown)

4 p.m.

2 The Modernes (Americana, y’alternative, surf)

4 Brian Lisik (Rock)

6 One Fine Day (girl groups of the ’60s and beyond)

8 Judelynn (indie folk, pop)

10 Missingno (alternative hip-hop)

12 Smoke Face (fusion hip-hop, funk)

14 Goodmorning Valentine (rock)

16 Easton Union (soul-soaked rock and roll)

18 The Drecking Crew (rock)

20 Dr Fang & The Bats (garage rock, synth punk)

22 Funeral Proposals (rock)

24 Dennis Van Crash (original rock)

26 Cat Stanley (alt rock, Midwest emo)

28 Empty Coats (indie rock)

30 I Hate It Too (alternative rock)

32 Wendy Darling (folk, soft rock, indie, classic)

34 Ataraxis (alt rock)

36 I’d Like To Go Home Now (folk rock, indie)

38 Dreamstates (maximalist pop)

40 Mick & Rick (classic rock, soul, blues)

5 p.m.

1 The Sweet Spot (indie, rock, pop)

3 Breathe In Stereo (indie rock, alt rock, post emo)

5 Blind Boxing (punk, emo)

7 Hand + Noise (alt, indie, rock)

9 Massive Hotdog Recall (trash can horn rock)

11 Esther Fitz (pop, rock, soul, jazz)

13 Skeleton Drive (folk-emo)

15 Brave Arrows (electronic rock)

17 Lucky Crayfish (alternative rock)

19 Shelby Olive (indie pop)

21 Wake Magnolia (alt rock)

23 Betzler (indie rock)

25 The Cabin Sound (indie rock)

27 City of Invention (roots rock)

29 Dynamo Love (alternative funk rock)

31 Ashley Brooke Toussant (atmospheric folk)

33 Daniel Drouhard (rock, alternative)

35 Wednesday Demonstration (punk rock)

37 12 O’Clock Tribe (Reggae)

39 Pitch Blend Barbershop Quartet (traditional, doo-wop)

6 p.m.

2 B-Rando (hip-hop)

4 West Akron Fadeaway (Grateful Dead covers)

6 By Light We Loom (indie rock, pop)

8 Black Wolf & The Thief (alt, rock, R&B, pop)

10 Blue Phase (electronica)

12 Red Rose Panic (dynamic hip-hop)

14 Death Mattress (folk-punk)

16 Benny Lava & The Guavas (soul, doo-wop, pop)

18 The Crones (’80s female alt-pop)

20 Kevin Ballard & The Detonators (rock)

22 Time Cat (rock)

24 Carolina (singer-songwriter, indie pop, soul)

26 Grumpy Plum (pop-rock)

28 Wolves For Walls (soulquake rock R&B)

30 Ghost Slime (slime rock)

32 Chanilla (pop, indie pop)

34 Boyd & The Monkeys (punk rock, emo)

36 Van Arjo (Americana, indie rock)

38 1052theband (rock, blues)

40 Perfect Sunday (jam band)

7:30 p.m.

Main Stage Rent for Cheryl

Culture & Arts Reporter (she/her)
Brittany is an accomplished journalist who’s passionate about the arts, civic engagement and great storytelling. She has more than a decade of experience covering culture and arts, both in Ohio and nationally. She previously served as the associate editor of Columbus Monthly, where she wrote community-focused stories about Central Ohio’s movers and shakers. A lifelong Ohioan, she grew up in Springfield and graduated from Kent State University.