Episode 41 of Music Festivals Podcast, I’m back with a solo recap from the Poe Rd. Music Sanctuary season opener—an event that kicked off the year in Grand Rapids, Ohio with real hometown energy and a few musical surprises.
This week’s stop at Poe Rd. offered plenty to talk about, from the history-packed riverside town to the dedication of music lovers who have turned a patch of cornfield into a live music destination.
This episode pulls you into the heart of Grand Rapids—a small Ohio town with only 932 residents and a median age of just 32, making it surprisingly youthful for small-town Ohio. The area brims with restored architecture, artsy spots, and culture-driven events like Apple Butterfest and the Rhythm on the River concert series, all of which add to the magnetic pull for musicians and festival fans alike.
At the center of this live music community is Wayne Barger, founder and owner of the Poe Road Music and Art Sanctuary. Wayne’s lived in Grand Rapids for years, transforming his property since 2003 into a true grassroots venue. He works really, really hard to make sure that everybody who visits Poe Road is having a good time, has what they need. And he's super passionate about fostering the local music scene.
Poe Road Music Sanctuary isn’t your average festival spot—it’s literally an island of trees surrounded by cornfields, complete with a main stage, camping space for up to 400, a giant fire pit, and a community spirit that’s tough to match. Last year brought a major step forward for the venue as it achieved 501(c)(3) nonprofit status.
This season opener featured standout performances from The Funk Factory, a genre-bending Toledo band with a party-ready set, and jam legends ekoostik hookah (look out for their full set on our YouTube channel soon). The closing set by Columbus indie rockers Top Scrub even included a glow-in-the-dark show that carried into the early hours—proof that Poe Road’s laid-back backyard atmosphere doesn’t mean the music ever stops.
If you’re curious about discovering new festivals in hidden-gem towns and festival venues, you'll dig the video. Catch venue footage, exclusive performance clips, and find out how festival fans like you can win free tickets to some great music festivals.
Watch the episode on YouTube for all the visuals, or subscribe to the podcast for the next round of festival stories—you might just find yourself planning a trip to this Ohio diamond in the rough.
Watch the full episode on YouTube or grab the audio podcast wherever you listen—and be sure to check out how to win free festival passes on musicfestivalspodcast.com.
We have a winner! Congratulations to Jessica Topper — winner of the ticket package to Hookahville 60! 🎟️
I'm thrilled to send Jessica off for an unforgettable weekend of music, camping, and good community vibes at Roost on the River Music Centre in Newark, Ohio.
Huge thanks to JSG Production and ekoostik hookah for making this giveaway possible and continuing to keep the vibe of of this long-standing Ohio-grown music festival going for 30 years.
Jessica is also a drummer herself previously playing kit with Sumthin Wonky, and now playing percussion and signing in an acoustic group called Mill Creek. Congrats on the win Jessica!
We still have ticket packages available for other great festivals including the Pickin' on Picknick in St. Clair, MO (July 10-13), and Inkcarceration Music & Tattoo Festival (July 18-20) in Mansfield, Ohio. In the next few weeks, we'll also drop a drawing for a GREAT full family ticket package to the 21st Watermelon Pickers' Festival that will be held in September in Berryville, VA! Don't miss your chance to hit some great music festivals this summer on us!
We’re continuing our coverage of the Pickin' on Picknick with a band preview of Armchair Boogie.
This Wisconsin-based Jam Grass quartet has been gaining a lot of steam in the past few years in the festival scene and will be playing at all over the place this summer including this month’s Dark Star Jubilee at Legend Valley, Cave Jam at The Caverns and Grassfire at Nelson Ledges Quarry Park to name a few.
My guest will be guitar plater, Ben Majeska so make sure not to miss that episode.
This week’s featured performance is an outstanding full-set video of ekoostik hookah’s face-melting LIVE performance of "Ecstasy" during their April 2025 show at the Poe Rd. Music & Arts Sanctuary in Grand Rapids, Ohio.
There is a Steve Sweeny guitar solo towards the end of the song that is absolute fire 🔥, so grab a beverage and your green and stream this to your TV in 4K. While you're there, make sure to subscribe to the channel and look for the full performance and others from Poe Rd. Music Sanctuary to drop later this weekend.
Video Credit: NRMedia Group, LLC—ekoostik hookah LIVE at Poe Rd. Music Sanctuary 04.26.2025 — "Ecstasy"