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wenty-six performers took over the village porches of Oriental last weekend, October 3 & 4. The weather, dry and mid 70s – low 80s, was near perfect.

The annual free music festival featured familiar faces like Moores Creek Bluegrass, The Dust Parade, and Harbor Sounds. Crowds were also introduced to festival newcomers on the Riverfront Stage: Acisse Jay, Rissi Palmer, and Sweet Megg.

The Wildmans are siblings Elisha and Aila Wildman of Floyd, Virginia.

Fiddler Dixie Gatlin of Harbor Sounds.

Vendors lining South Avenue sold clothing, jewelry and home good. A blacksmith from Louisburg, NC demonstrated his trade for fascinated visitors.

The Gospel Ensemble and friends used to perform once a festival on a porch. Now they perform twice inside the Methodist church.

The Jeff Little Trio played the main stage in the morning and the Brewery in the evening.

The festival has been going strong for over a decade. It began when a few enterprising townsfolk (Dottie Osmun and Leslie Kellenberger) took inspiration from the Ol’ Store owned by the late Billy and Lucille Truitt, on whose porch musicians would gather and jam.

The casual Harbor Sounds Experience, without their signature red shirts.

Rissi Palmer

It has since grown from a four hour jam fest in 2014, to a two-day multi-stage event in 2026.

Rain or shine, the Ol’ Front Porch Music Festival happens every year on the first weekend in October. The date for next year has already been set: Friday & Saturday, October 2 & 3, 2026.

Using a solar light as microphone, a young girl watches (and mimics) Rissi Palmer.

The Rissi Palmer scene.

Clockwise from top: One-third of the UHOOS, Mike Bramble, and The Wandering Hours.

Sweet Megg put on a workshop on Western Swing.

Blacksmith Shaun Best of Wood-n-Metal Designs.

Clockwise from top: Acisse Jay under the lights at the Brewery, Claudia Bemis of the UHOOS, Mark Tesh sining Irish drinking songs.

Mom and daughter dance near the Riverfront Stage.

Trombones mutes rest on stage at the Sweet Megg set.

Sweet Megg.

Sweet Megg and her band rock out on the Riverfront stage.

A decorated instrument case lies on stage.

The official Ol’ Front Porch Music Festival information tent.

Two-man band Mild Goose Chase.

Regular performers on the Oriental circuit (clockwise): The Dust Parade, Terra Tones, and Ken Belangia.

It gets tiring riding a scooter all day.

The men of Daniels Sound keep the levels in check at the Riverside Stage.

Two dulcimers, a fiddler and drummer make up the Down East Dulcimers.

Summer in the City plays the porch on the corner of 3rd Avenue and Mildred Street.

This dog may have the most comfortable seat on the lawn.

Scott Finch of Hoff ‘n’ Finch plays Jimmy Hendrix.

Clockwise from top: Mark Hoff of Hoff ‘n’ Finch, Shawn Aldridge, Noah Cobb.

Moores Creek Bluegrass banjo.

Even adults were dancing.

Clockwise from the top: Moores Creek Bluegrass, The Mad Fiddler, and Perry Cheatham of Brant Island Strings.

Kids play near the main stage.

Listening from the lawn of the Stallings House.

Posted Wednesday October 8, 2025 by Allison DeWeese