August Musician Bios

Feature Porches

  • New Mother Nature is here and they're taking over - succumb to the sounds! NMN is an electric alternative rock band with a comfy jam and energizing groove! The four central Ohio band members started playing together in October of 2024 and have been producing great vibes on stages in the area ever since. Lead vocalists/songwriters Jess Crook-Collins and Haley Blasing lead the band in a growing list of a originals, with the support of Luka Brkljacic on bass and Maddy Lambrix on drums. The band's covers include Grateful Dead, The Rolling Stones, Nirvana, Eilen Jewell and other artists from a slew of different genres - all songs point to fun live performances and improvisations!

  • Playing a wide range of songs from the past and present with a acoustic twist. Tom Cat Ramble have been down an ally or two. They have been playing together for almost 20 years, under various names.

  • Duo Side Effects consists of Kevin Mishey and Rick Keaton, been together since 2019. Influences are Marshall Tucker Band, George Strait, The Beatles, Byrds, Allman Brothers and Dwight Yokam, we have at least 50 years of live performances for each of us. We are blessed to be able to perform to this day! Our main purpose is to hopefully please the people that come and hear us, for without them it’s just noise! We love getting them involved!

  • The Blue Cats are veteran blues/rock/jazz musicians: Rick Collura (elec. guitar), Terry Finneran (keys, vocals, blues harp, flute), Scott Bach (electric bass), Eric Synder (Saxophone) and a selected percussionist (e.g. Shane Willis, Jerry Powell II, Andre, Louis Tsamous, etc.).  This ensemble unites to bring you energy intensive, yet volume controlled original “blues-infused” arrangements of favorites from their musical hip pockets including straight blues, Traffic, Clapton, Dylan, Santana, Van Morrison, et al.

  • “Sawmill” Joe Cheves is a singer-songwriter formerly based out of Denver. His unique style was developed in the rowdy beer joints and biker bars of Colorado's Front Range and central mountains. The sawmill moniker he uses comes from his thirteen years working at and eventually managing a rough cut pine and fir lumber mill in between Boulder and Golden, CO. Joe currently lives in Gambier with his wife, Lindsey, son, Milo, and daughter, Sunday, and is training as a commercial electrician with Buckingham Electric in Mt. Vernon.

  • Born from a conversation at a Black Flag show in 2023, The Sutures blend raw punk energy with their own creative twist. With Tom, Jason, Josh, Dustin, and Brad, they’ve carved a sound that’s loud, fast, and full of life. Based in Columbus, Ohio, they play for the fun, the crowd, and the rush of making noise together, and helping to keep to local scene alive.

  • The Handsome Devils are a roots-driven band that’s been bringing their unique blend of bluegrass, folk, and Americana to stages for over a decade. With a sound steeped in tradition and carried by strong harmonies, the group features the combined talents of Patrick Gilligan, his daughter Halle (Gilligan) Krajenski, Jon Tazewell, and Gage Kuhlman.

    Their music draws from the spirit of back porch jam sessions and old-time mountain melodies, blending heartfelt storytelling with infectious rhythms and an easygoing charm. Whether performing original songs or breathing new life into classics, The Handsome Devils bring a warm, high-energy presence that gets feet tapping and hands clapping.

    With years of shared experience and a deep musical bond, the band has crafted a sound that’s authentic, soulful, and unmistakably their own. At every show, The Handsome Devils celebrate the power of tradition, connection, and the joy of making music together.

    Their music is as much about heart as it is about talent—built on family, friendship, and a shared love of bringing joy to the community through song."

  • With the voice of an angel, Mary's song choices draw the audience in and make a heart connection that lasts long after her performance.

  • You’ve probably never heard them play before. You might never hear them play again! A band of Knox County natives, Chaga Raga turns your favorite classic radio hits into epic medleys with a groovy twist. Chaga Raga blends elements of blues, reggae, and folk rock into timeless jams sure to win over music lovers of any age.

  • Once upon a time, 2 guys were born and gifted with 1 guitar….they tried to play the guitar together but found it very difficult, so Stephen Michael Clark, being the more instrumentally talented of the two took the burden upon himself to play the guitar alone and majestically so that Keven Curran could focus more on perfecting his powerhouse vocals, by the time they were infants they began to cover 90s Rock, including such bands as Stone Temple Pilots, Alice In Chains, System of a Down, Nirvana, Blind Melon and beyond. As time continued on they grew more in their sacred bond and rockdum, and vowed to always melt faces and rock crowds with their mighty musical abilities bestowed upon them by the very muses of heaven while only using……2 Guys 1Guitar!!!!!

Songwriters’ Porches

  • Sarah loves science, nature and the outdoors. She grew up on a healthy diet of folk and classical music plus a lot of Beatles songs. All these elements led her to become a microbiologist and a songwriter, and her songs zoom in on small things as though viewed through a microscope. Sarah has numerous recordings and has performed for many school children in Ohio and neighboring states in the past 30 years. She is a bluebird monitor, a founding Board Member of SPI, the Oak Street Foundation and Kokosing Valley Arts Alliance, and a violinist and Board Member of the Knox County Symphony. Sarah spends her free time gardening, knitting, reading and traveling with her husband and family.

  • Galgozy & Ingersoll blend rich vocal harmonies with guitar and double bass to perform original music as well as covers ranging from pop and folk hits to big band sounds from the early 20th century. Their infusion of humor and dialogue make for an enjoyable evening devoid of politics and repetition.

  • Kacy Sommers is a singer-songwriter whose music blends folk influences with heartfelt introspection, drawing inspiration from artists like Gillian Welch, Damien Jurado and Paul Simon. With a style rooted in simplicity and raw emotion, his acoustic guitar and honest lyrics delve inward, finding words for unspoken emotions through personal storytelling.

Community Porches

  • What happens when you combine a software developer, a choir teacher, and a disability service provider? You get the musical stylings of Two Plus One. While typically these three careers have little in common, the three musicians of Two Plus One are united by their love of singing, performing, and of course- musical theater. Bringing an eclectic mix of groovy alternative and folksy pop to downtown Mount Vernon, Two Plus One is a musical group comprised of Alex Diehl, Mary Harris, and Kylie Stadler. While each member of the group is a Mount Vernon native and Alex and Mary have performed as a musical duo together in the past, the three did not start playing all together until late 2025. Between the three of them, they play a total of 12 instruments with their favorites being keyboard, guitar, and of course, vocals.

  • Chris Cline is a lifelong Knox County resident who is passionate about great music that tells a story. As a child he remembers his dad playing in local county, rock, and bluegrass bands. So, it’s no surprise that these styles of music make up what he loves to listen to and play. As someone who took up playing and singing much later in life, Chris loves to share and perform songs that have impacted his him through the years. Come along for the ride as he plays an acoustic mix of classics we all know, a few deep tracks, some newer tunes, and several originals.

  • Kamryn is a sophomore at Mount Vernon High School who loves to sing and play music. She enjoys singing all styles, but especially pop and broadway music. She is a strong pianist and also plays guitar. She loves Adele, Nickel Creek, Celine Dion, as well as the broadway music of Wicked, Hamilton, and Cinderella among others.

  • StevenStanleymusic.com

  • Whitney Llewellyn is a native to Mount Vernon. She grew up listening to her father, Dave, play and sing music, and from a young age, she developed a love for melody. She currently resides in Lakeview, OH, where she has performed in bands and maintains her love of singing in a community choir as well as karaoke shows throughout her area. She is currently the branch manager of a finance company in Lima, OH, and has a cat named Taco.