The Front Porch: A Day of Music on Ferndale Porches is Back!
By Sara E. Teller
THE MUCH-ANTICIPATED FRONT PORCH EVENT is coming to Ferndale’s streets once again Saturday, June 23rd, from 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM. This annual “day of music on Ferndale porches” will be set along Woodward Avenue and in the neighborhoods just south of Nine Mile. Dozens of bands will be featured on the porches
of pre-selected area homes.
The 2018 festival will be bigger than in 2017, when it originally came to life, according to Michael Benghiat, the founder and executive producer of the event. “We are expanding from 25 porches last year to 30 for this year’s event, which will allow us to add even more performances. Last year we were only west of Woodward. This year we will expand to the east side of Woodward. A map, and one integrated with Google Maps, will be available before the event.”
There will be an eclectic mix of performances this year, even more so than in 2017. “While the platform of 
this event plays well for the acoustic folk /Americana / roots / country performer, it is our goal to offer a diverse mix of music,” Benghiat explains. “With the addition of more porches we hope to achieve that even more than last year. We look to have an even wider array of music offerings including gospel, psychedelic rock, R&B, hip hop, classical and more. That’s important to us, to expose as much great music as possible for those who choose to come out.”
Last year, a film crew was also present, and bands were interviewed in order to develop a pilot for an ongoing music television show titled The Front Porch. The idea was pitched to Detroit Public Television and the network gave it the green light for production. “We are in the early stages of exploring production for that,” Benghiat confirmed.
Sponsors are sought each year in order to cover The Front Porch costs. “We are finalizing sponsors for this year,” Benghiat said.
He added that the response was so positive in 2017, those involved just knew it had to be bigger this year. “The event was such a huge success,” Benghiat said of 2017. “It went beyond our expectations. The interest was so great which led us to expand to the east side of Woodward this year and to add additional porches.”
He contributes this success to the area’s talented musicians and Ferndale’s homeowners willing to share their space. “Of course, we have all the great porch hosts and fabulous musicians to thank for helping us to bring this event to life. With it being our first go-around last year we wanted to make sure we got the event under our feet and to provide the best possible experience for attendees,” Benghiat said.
Those interested in attending can find more information at http://thefrontporchmi.com or on Facebook at
facebook.com/pg/FrontPorchMI.
weekend of BBQ, bands, and family fun in downtown Royal Oak. Rib Fest will showcase an unparalleled selection of unique cuisine, food trucks, and BBQ – along with a selection of adult beverages. More than a dozen food vendors will be offering up mouthwatering fare that’s sure to please even the most discerning palate. With a list of bands as long as the food vendors, Michigan Rib Fest presents a carefully crafted entertainment lineup that’s fit for all ages. The event will feature some of the state and region’s most impressive local talent with a range of musical genres and styles performing all day that will please any crowd! Admission is free all weekend, with festivities running Friday, July 6 – Sunday, July 8.
anticipated summer celebration with the Pig & Whiskey! BBQ, booze, and live music set the tone for the 8th annual Pig & Whiskey. Feast on a steady diet of the areas most mouthwatering barbecue offerings. Sample a towering whiskey selection, and enjoy over 30 varieties of craft beer! Gorge your-self on a foot-stompin’ musical backdrop the likes of which comes along only once a year. Bring your appetite and leave your inhibitions at home! 80+ whiskeys, bourbons, & scotches. 18 BBQ joints & restaurants. Barrels of beer. Bands Galore. All ages, free admission. 
opportunity to sample their way through the event. Offering beer from dozens of breweries from around the world, across the state and down the street, each brewery has the opportunity to showcase their unique libations. The focus of Royal Oak Beer Fest is the promotion of craft beers and the brewers that create them – and furthermore, how much everyone loves drinking them! This event is the perfect opportunity for beer aficionados, beer lovers and even the casual beer drinker to speak to company representatives and brewers responsible for some of their favorite brews. And it’s an opportunity to discover and taste new brews, special “limited re- lease” beers and ales, and special seasonals – all within a fun, themed social event just right for the season!
Birmingham, both starting from the Ferndale City Hall at 300 E. Nine Mile Road. Help us promote the Sierra Club principles of exploration, enjoyment and protection of the Planet through joining this non-fossil fuel event! For more information contact event chairmen, Jerry Hasspacher, (586) 604 5781, or Dave Cottrill, (248) 635-88152 or 
own signature family-fun events: Ferndale Emergency Vehicle Show, Lights & Sirens Cruise, Official Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, Mustang Alley and the return of the Kids Play Zone. Plus— the Rockn’ Live Entertainment stage with performances by American Band, City Beat, Crewsade, The Favorites, Full Tilt, Lookin’ Back (a Bob Seger Tribute Band) and Shout! (a Beatles Tribute Band).
100 pieces of donated art from mostly local artists available for live and silent auction, musical entertainment, appetizers, a fashion show and a cash bar. Contact Monica Mills, 
everyone realizes it, but there are actually two separate, but equally fun and funky events. For more than 15 years, the Funky Ferndale Art Fair has celebrated the funky side of fine art; a serious, juried art show, with a focus on edgier art. “It’s every bit as competitive for artists to participate as many of the traditional art fairs, but what we are looking for is a little bit different,” explains the event’s founder and coordinator, Mark Loeb. “We want work that will invite conversation, not just sit on the wall blending in.”
performers and other surprises. Loeb states that “We try to throw in a few twists each year to keep it interesting. We’ve done everything from having a painter work while hanging from a crane to working with the City to create the world’s longest comic strip.”
and national artists with distinct, one-of-a-kind works and wares on display and for sale. The artists are selected through a carefully juried process, where the DIY Artistic Committee chooses a wide array of original, handcrafted, quality art and products from the area’s most talented makers.
Avenue Brewers! Ferndale Oktoberfest is the only Metro Detroit celebration where you will enjoy a focus on authentic German food options, live music, dancing, games, biergarten, kids crafts, souvenirs and some of the highest rated biers from around the world! Ferndale Oktoberfest incorporates the beer-loving culture of Woodward Avenue Brewers, the festive outdoor beer garden of PORT, and The Loving Touch will be trans-formed into a German-style beer hall. Prost! 
5-8pm! Downtown will be on when Fido Does Ferndale! This DDA event – to help raise funds for a doggy drinking fountain – will have downtown hopping with canine activities, vendors, and tons of doggone good fun and adventure for everyone and their pooches! With event headquarters set up at W. 9 Mile & Planavon, the event will feature the popular K-9 Treasure Hunt, featuring free doggy treats, at more than a dozen participating businesses, the Pooch Parade, dog contests, and lots of other cool stuff.
will be available! Don’t have a Fido (or Fluffy) of your own? Don’t worry – there will be many opportunities to meet and make a new best friend via several local pet rescues and adoption agencies at the event.
7:00 PM for the annual Fall Fling celebration. This year, it’s a costume party theme! Guests are encouraged to wear their most creative costumes to ring in the Fall season with Metro Detroit’s LGBTQ+ community. Enjoy an evening with a raffle, auction, appetizers, dessert, drinks and live entertainment. Tickets can be purchased by calling (248) 398-7105 or by visiting 
observance is still in the planning stages as of press time. A bell will be rung eleven times, and there will be a guest speaker (to be determined.) Following the observance, there will be an open house, with refreshments, at the Ferndale Fire Station on Livernois, next to the Memorial Mall. All are welcome to attend.
for each year’s celebration of traditional and new blues music.
James and the Flame Throwers, Al Hill and the Love Butlers, Johnnie Bassett and the Blues Insurgents featuring Alberta Adams, Madcat Ruth, Harmonica Shah, Gary Rasmussen, Larry Mc-Cray and many many more! In 2000 the event featured the beloved Pinetop Perkins, may he rest in peace.
Blues & Music Festival. This great, nine-day event has been held every year since 2001. Founded by Craig Covey along with Monica and Larry Mills, the event was created to bring music to the community in the dead of winter, to promote the downtown and its businesses, and to raise money for important local youth programs.
Ferndale’s nightclubs, restaurants, comedy clubs, coffee-houses, churches, schools and community centers are all invited to be part of the event. More than 25,000 people attend each year and more than 500,000 people see the promotions and news coverage. The festival runs the last week of January to the first weekend in February. Watch for details about 2018.
with the South Oakland Warming Center. Located in the RenVC building at 1841 Pinecrest (at 9 Mile, behind the Payless), the Warming Center is truly a community-wide effort, providing loving help to any homeless who come – typically ranging from 75-100 women and men. Our goal is to serve our guests with hospitality and dignity, providing a friendly smile, hot meal, and a safe place to sleep with warm blankets. We also offer access to a free clothing closet, and other kinds of limited services when available. We usually open our online volunteer sign-up as Thanksgiving approaches. To learn more about the program and how you can get involved, please call the church office at 248.545.4664 or visit 
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