Highland Square porches will once again be the stages for local musical acts when PorchRokr takes over the neighborhood for the 12th year Saturday, Aug. 17.
The annual outdoor music festival will feature performances from more than 150 artists across 37 stages, playing everything from math rock and rockabilly to experimental funk and electric blues.
“We try to be as Akron-centric as possible when we’re picking those bands. I would say a good 95% of them are from Akron at least,” said Cody Stanley, a volunteer with the Highland Square Neighborhood Association, the group that produces PorchRokr.
The music starts at 11 a.m., and each act will play an hour-long set. This year’s headliner, Free Black, will perform at 7:30 p.m. on the main stage — located in the parking lot behind I Promise HealthQuarters at 527 W. Market St.
While music is PorchRokr’s main draw, the event will also feature more than 100 vendors, as well as food trucks and tents, a photo booth, live demonstrations from Akron Glass Works and karaoke in the beer garden.
Stanley’s go-to karaoke song? “Piano Man” by Billy Joel.
“I’m not gonna toot my own horn, but I did kill it,” he said, referring to his karaoke performance at last year’s festival.
Those who would rather watch karaoke than perform can enjoy a pint of Kölschrokr, the festival’s signature beer created by the Cincinnati brewery Rhinegeist.
Parents of little ones can stop by the Kids Zone on Hawthorne Avenue for activities from Summit Metro Parks, PBS Kids and Akron Children’s Museum.
Early risers can start their PorchRokr experience with a free outdoor yoga class at 9:30 a.m. at The Merriman (209 Merriman Road), courtesy of Yoga Squared. More of a night owl? Stick around after the music ends for a silent disco at 9 p.m. at House Three Thirty. Headsets will be available to rent for $5.
Attendees are welcome to bring chairs and blankets to the event, which takes place rain or shine. Stanley also encourages people to bring reusable water bottles to refill at hydration stations throughout the festival. Parking is tight on a normal day in Highland Square, and even more so during events. Stanley recommends attendees carpool, use Uber or Lyft, bike or take the METRO RTA, which is free this month on Saturdays and Sundays.
Credit: (Photo courtesy of Cody Stanley)
United Disability Services will also provide shuttle service around the festival, Stanley said.
Stanley said the event is still in need of volunteers, especially in the beer tent. Those interested in helping should fill out PorchRokr’s volunteer sign-up form.
Check out PorchRokr’s complete lineup below. The schedule is subject to change, so check porchrokr.org for updates.
Each number in front of the band name corresponds to the venue number on the map.
11 a.m.
1 Apostle Jones (blues/rock/soul/funk)
3 The PorchRokr Guitar Orchestra (pop classical)
5 The Mickeys (Celtic rock)
7 Hand + Noise (folk, rock, blues)
9 Girl Cologne (grunge/pop-punk)
11 Flock of Moons (hard rock, psychedelic)
13 Bot N Soul (rock)
15 Chanilla (pop)
17 SweetSour Rock (’70s-’90s)
19 Axon-Neuron (rock)
21 Mr. Jeff (children’s music)
23 Brian Lisik (rock)
25 St. Thomas Collective (folk rock)
27 Wo Hop Madness (experimental funk)
29 Glass Shadow (darkwave)
31 Lilac Heart (hyperpop, electronic/emo pop)
33 So Nectar (rock/alternative)
35 Dome Test (emo, punk, indie)
37 COOP & a Guitar (acoustic rock)
Noon
2 A Band Named Ashes (progressive folk)
4 Other Mother (rock)
6 Kevin Ballard (rock, Americana)
8 Zach Beaver (pop, funk)
10 1402 (indie rock)
12 Guy Randall (indie folk, blues rock)
14 Twin Atomic (rock)
16 Josee McGee (indie, jazz, pop fusion
18 Judelyn (indie pop/folk)
20 [REDACTED] (rock)
22 The First Days of Spring (rock)
24 Fuzzy Vandelay (rock, heavy rock, alt metal)
26 Brave Arrows (electronic rock)
28 Black Wolf & the Thief (jazz-influenced rock)
30 Lovely Weather (indie rock, shoegaze, funk)
32 The Modernes (American, rock, surf)
34 Da Land Brass Band (funk, brass band, jazz)
36 Yacobucci (alternative pop/punk)
38 Disco Dreams (indie pop/electronic)
1 p.m.
1 Curtains (indie, punk, surf, pop)
3 Rubber City Ukes (eclectic, 100 years of pop)
5 Cool Blue Planet! (alternative rock)
7 Toby Danger (comedy rock)
9 Fawx (independent punk)
11 Dr. Riffs (rock, heavy metal)
13 Karta Stella (alternative rock)
15 Miss Dreadful (dark folk)
17 Compass (pop-rock)
19 Community Shoe (progressive folk/world)
21 Slam (rock)
23 Outdated View (indie blues rock)
25 SeanTom (country, rock)
27 Moy Do(o)m (stoner rock, slowcore)
29 The Velvet Gentlemen (alternative rock)
31 Christopher Soulsby (blues)
33 SOLEO (Middle Eastern prog rock)
35 Duo Decibel System (indie pop)
37 Talmadge (jam band, live looper)
2 p.m.
2 The Fifth Wheel (rock)
4 Super Culture (psych rock)
6 Cheap Heat (rock ’n’ roll)
8 Frameshifter (progressive metal)
10 I Hate It Too (rock)
12 Arthur Treacherous (DJ/electro/boogie funk)
14 Urban Honey (hard rock/blues)
16 People In The Daytime (funk, electric jazz, crust pop)
18 Detention (pop-punk)
20 Xtra Crispy (future blues)
22 Pink Maskerade (pop-punk)
24 The Applewhites (rock)
26 Annadale (indie rock)
28 Blue Hour (indie rock)
30 Evy Liz (folk, pop)
32 One Fine Day (girl bands ’60s through ’80s)
34 Jinari Kemet (rock, rap, jazz)
36 Ghost Slime (rock)
38 Grumpy Plum (indie/rock)
3 p.m.
1 The Buffalo Ryders (rock, alt, indie, riff rock)
3 Pitch Blend Quartet (barbershop harmony)
5 A Band Called Applesauce (alt indie rock)
7 Gosinicc (rock, punk, industrial)
9 Perfect (avant-prog/math rock)
11 Fakerealmiles (electronic)
13 Honeyland (rock)
15 G-Blakk (hip-hop)
17 The Cabin Sound (indie rock)
19 Esther Fitz (pop, rock, soul)
21 Grave Ridden (rock)
23 The Woovs (Ohio original rock)
25 Hogan’s Last Smash (ska-punk, emo)
27 Zotorious (pop, rap, indie)
29 Supercop (instrumental, avant-garde)
31 Madison Cummins (acoustic, indie)
33 Timi Funk (soul, R&B)
35 Eaten By Kittens (porto-punk/garage punk)
37 Walt Hayes (Americana)
4 p.m.
2 Benny Lava & The Guavas (soul, doo-wop & pop)
4 Funeral Proposals (rock/alternative)
6 GoJo (classic rock/blues/’80s)
8 Victor Samalot Duo (Latin, jazz, world, rock)
10 Funeral Commercial (rock, shoegaze)
12 Kenny Black (outlaw country)
14 Friendly Faux (alt-rock psych grunge)
16 Rent For Cheryl (blues, indie-alt, pop, jazz)
18 The Whiskey Drinks (Americana/bluegrass)
20 Towers (indie rock)
22 Empty Coats (indie rock)
24 The Moe-Rons (rock)
26 Trip Kit Opus (rock)
28 Rachel Roberts (indie folk rock)
30 Eleni Naomi (soul jazz)
32 Morning Star (bluegrass)
34 Grimestone (unique rock)
36 Santamuerte (punk-blues)
38 Velocity Stax (rockabilly/surf)
5 p.m.
1 Massive Hotdog Recall (horn rock)
3 Rye Valley (eclectic Americana)
5 Easton Union (Americana)
7 Wake Magnolia (alternative rock)
9 Shame Chamber (shoegaze)
11 The Baker’s Basement (indie folk rock)
13 Craig Rich (psychedelic, lo-fi, dreampop)
15 LoLo Knows (house, disco, Latin house)
17 DreamStates (maximalist pop rock)
19 Hunter Skeens & The Forerunners (newgrass/bluegrass)
21 Out of Pocket (rock/pop)
23 The Twanglers (Americana)
25 Wonderhead (Rock)
27 The Skoolies (rock, alternative)
29 The Delta Hand (electric blues)
31 Candace Campana (rock/country)
33 12 O’Clock Tribe (21st Century reggae)
35 The Super Babes (iconic goddess rock ’n’ roll)
37 Erie Street Troubadour (original bluesy Americana)
6 p.m.
2 Counting Butterflies (indie)
4 Goody & The Gospel (swampy psych blues rock)
6 Chloe & the Steel Strings (Americana)
8 Mick and Rick (rock, soul, blues)
10 Glass Bones (alternative)
12 Noah Benitez-Lee (Americana/folk)
14 ASAVA (rock)
16 Truss (rock)
18 Red Rose Panic (dynamic hip-hop)
20 Akronauts (rock, punk, grunge, funk)
22 Aka & Co (R&B/rap fusion band)
24 Dave Rich & His Enablers (rock)
26 Time Cat (rock)
28 Shelby Olive (indie pop/singer-songwriter)
30 The EffanGee Band (rock, blues, Americana)
32 F5 (classic rock and originals)
34 The Kahuna Kings (instrumental surf)
36 Wednesday Demonstration (punk rock)
38 Wreck Like Me (folk rock)
Correction: The photo caption of the lead image was updated to reflect the correct band.
