It’s that time again. The porch lights are on, the amps are humming, and the Front Porch Blues Bash is ready to crack open. This ain’t no stiff concert hall deal—it’s one big-ass open mic, where the whole world feels like it’s pullin’ up a chair. Folks fly in from near and far, and every October it sneaks up on us quicker than a payday gone wrong.
I’m honored they having me back to host again. Been doin’ this five, six years now, and every time feels like a family reunion. But this year? This year feels different. Like maybe it’s time to shake the tree a little.
See, I’ve been thinkin’—what if we build the night like a blues song? Start with a night of delight, slide into a night of defeat, stir in a little sweet, then pass the baton. Let new blood hit the stage first, let ‘em flex their groove, stumble, shine, whatever they got in ‘em. That’s the magic of an open mic—it’s raw, it’s real, it’s unpredictable.
Then later in the night, if there’s still juice left in the bottle, we let the old heads climb up and lay down that seasoned fire. Respect for the roots, but room for the sprouts. Times change. We can’t play the same twelve bars forever without bending the strings a little.
The Front Porch Blues Bash has always been about community—about that circle of sound where anybody can step in and testify. But this year, I want it to be more than just another jam. I want it to be a mirror. A reminder that change ain’t the enemy—it’s the rhythm that keeps the blues alive.
So yeah, we’re gonna do it different this time. Not just on stage, but maybe in life too. Switch up the set. Find the blues in places you never thought to look.
What about you—where in your life do you feel it’s time to flip the script and play a different tune?