9-11 a.m.: Morganton Farmers Market, 300 Beach St.
The Irish Twins featuring John will be playing old-time bluegrass and folk tunes.
10 a.m. to noon: The Burleson House, 200 Lenoir St.
Morganton Ukulele Society invites everyone to bring their ukes and join the jam — or just bring a chair or blanket and enjoy.
10-11:30 a.m.: 517 Lenoir St.
Be amazed by the talents of the JAM Kids. JAM (Junior Appalachian Musicians) is a program for youth, ages 7-18, teaching traditional, old-time mountain music. Students from the Morganton and Caldwell Jam programs will be playing.
11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.: Burke Arts Council, 506 S. Sterling St.
Synchro-Tonic Swag is four-piece powerhouse that blends R&B, soul, funk, and rock 'n' roll.
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11 a.m. to 6 p.m.: 512 Lenoir St.
Hootenanny: An all-day lively mix of musicians, including gospel, rock, traditional, and more.
11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.: 306 Avery Ave.
Velvet & Steel is a duo play rock acoustic classics, blending classic songs with fresh energy and harmonies.
1-3 p.m.: 510 S. King St.
The Nuther Brothers play folk-rock music, from lighthearted humor to thought-provoking reflections, with original songs and popular favorites.
1-2:30 p.m.: Burke Arts Council, 506 S. Sterling St.
Brittny Charity and Friends. Brittny is a ukulele player and singer who writes soulful originals, and covers fan favorites with a fresh, worldly sound.
1-2:30 p.m.: 514 Lenoir St.
R.W. Roldan is an Americana and alt-country singer-songwriter based in Topanga, Calif., blending folk, country, and blues to tell stories about his life.
2-4 p.m.: 206 Davis St.
Bring a blanket or lawn chair and join acoustic guitarist Jim Struble playing tunes we love from the '60s & '70s on his front porch.
2:30-4 p.m.: 512 Lenoir St.
Buffalo Cove is an Americana band playing traditional, bluegrass, and Irish music on acoustic instruments. The band focuses on tight harmonies and lots of upbeat music.
3-4:30 p.m.: 208 S. College St.
Community song circle led by singer/songwriter Melissa Sparks. Join in singing simple, uplifting songs, all learned by ear. All ages are welcome.
4:30-6 p.m.: 523 Lenoir St.
Centerpiece Jazz will play classic jazz and blues with a mix of timeless tunes from the Great American Songbook.
5-6:30 p.m.: 121 W. Union St.
Hailing from the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, The Red Dirt Revelators draw from deep Delta blues roots and rock music backgrounds.
6:45-7:45 p.m.: West Union Art Studios, 113 W. Union St.
Eutectic is a dark synthwave project with expressive and rich synth lines mixed with hard-hitting heavy grooves and metal-influenced breakdowns.
What began with a simple question — what if, for one day, everything stopped and people listened to music? — has grown into a worldwide celebration involving musicians in more than 70 countries.
This year marks Morganton’s fifth annual celebration.
“Whether you’re jamming with old friends, playing a solo acoustic set, or just soaking it all in from a lawn chair, join in and enjoy a day of music, community and friendship,” said Jay Brandt, who organizes Morganton’s event.
Music begins as early as 9 a.m. at the Morganton Farmers Market, with the last concert beginning at 6:45 p.m. at West Union Arts Studios.
Artist Brian Mallman founded Play Music on the Porch Day in 2013 and introduced it as a global event the following year. Mallman initially used social media to connect with musicians and learn about instruments and musical traditions from around the world. By 2018, thousands of performers were participating. The event now reaches more than 1,000 cities annually.
The event’s mission is to use music as a universal language that can bring people together across differences and promote peace and connection. Participation is open to everyone, regardless of age, experience, musical style or instrument.
Play Music on the Porch Day is held on the last Saturday in August, which falls on Aug. 29 this year. Musicians may perform alone or invite others to join them, and performances can be as simple or elaborate as participants choose. Despite the event’s name, a porch is not required — any outdoor setting will do.
Participants also may share videos on social media using the hashtags #PlayMusicOnThePorchDay and #morgantonplaymusicontheporchday, allowing people worldwide to hear one another’s performances.
— AKC
