Dancing in the Streets: Local music comes alive at Old West End Festival

Listen Up Toledo  |  05/28/2012

Old West End Festival is one of the most magical times of the year in Toledo. The OWE is a local treasure, boasting 25 blocks of gorgeous mansions and giant homes, featuring an eclectic mix of architecture, including one of the largest collections of Victorian homes in the nation, as well as Tudor, Arts & Crafts, and Spanish-style homes. Each year, the neighborhood celebrates its beauty and heritage with a sprawling festival featuring historic home tours, an art fair, children's activities, classic car show, local vendors, endless yard sales, live music, food, porch parties, and much more. The festival kicks off with Toledo's funkiest parade, the King Wamba Carnival Parade ? an homage to Toledo's 1909 “Mardi Gras of the North” party ? on Saturday at 10 a.m. This year, the Wamba parade features very special guest performers from Cirque du Soleil: Members of the cast of Quidam!! Celebrating 103 years, enjoy an odyssey of unique floats, eccentric entertainment, and much more. After that, hold on tight, because Festival is in full swing!

Old West End Festival takes place on Saturday, June 2 & Sunday, June 3, 2012. Come enjoy it. Here's a guide to where to catch great local live music throughout the weekend. For more information, visit www.toledooldwestend.com

Never been to Festival? Our friend UPSO made this awesome video of the 2011 Festival, which provides a pretty well-rounded guide to what you're in for. 

OWE Fest Music at the Arboretum ~ presented by Toledo.com

Toledo.com is pleased to present a showcase of some of our favorite local performers in a wide range of genres, including bluegrass, rock 'n' roll, funk, hip-hop, Americana, and more.

Saturday, June 2

Noon- Blowing Grains (bluegrass)
1 pm - Clark Brooks & Tim Tiederman (blues/jazz)
2 pm - JW Carlson (folk/country)
3 pm - Joey & The Traitors (rock)
4 pm - People Being Human (rock)
5 pm - Elevated Thinkin' (hip-hop)
6 pm - GOLD (funk/rock)
7 pm - Jack & The Bear (folk/rock)
8 pm - Fairly Handsome Band (folk/Hawaiian) 
9 pm - Mighthaveben (jazz/funk)

Sunday, June 3
Noon - Rachel Richardson (folk)
1-3 pm - Any Wednesday Community Drum Circle (open jam - all are welcome!) 
3 pm - Old State Line (Americana)
4 pm - Black Book Theory (hip-hop)
5 pm - N.Mattimoe (electronic)
6 pm - Chavar Dontae (soul/rock)

OWE Festival Main Stage

Saturday, June 2
Noon - Aegele, Middle Eastern Dancers
1 pm - The Gray Devils
2:15 pm - Hemline Theory
3:30 pm - Backwoods Revival
4:45 pm - Tom Drummonds

Sunday, June 3
Noon - Toledo School for the Arts
1 pm - Stranger Danger
2:15 pm - Laura Lawrence and Leslie Lane
3:30 pm - Bad Wolf
4:45 pm - Refuge

Festapalooza Stage at 2041 Parkwood

Saturday, June 2
Noonish - Raq the Casbah world cabaret (world/dance)
1 pm ? Flamtronic (rock)
2 pm - Johnny Reed and the Houserockers (blues)
5 pm - Jack and the Bear (folk/rock)
6 pm ? WEe (experimental rock)
7 pm - 33 1/3 (psychedelic blues rock)
8 pm - Zimmerman Twins (blues/rock)
9 pm - Boogaloosa Prayer (blues/rock)
 

Sunday, June 3
Noon - Minglewood Labor Camp (rock)
1 pm - What's next. (jazz/experimental)
2 pm - Jeff Stewart (folk)
5 pm - People Being Human (rock)
6 pm - Estar Cohen Project (jam/rock)

Rave-up on Robinwood Stage ? 2317 Robinwood

Saturday, June 2

1 pm ? Blind Bobby Smith (blues)
2-4 pm ? Kentucky Chrome (rockabilly)
4 pm ? Gashes (rock) 
5 pm ? People Being Human (rock) 
6 pm ? She Bears (indie) 

OWE Porch Party at 2242 Glenwood ~ sponsored by Ottawa Tavern

Saturday, June 2
2 pm - Dirty Damn Band (rock)
3 pm - Lightening Love (indie) 
4 pm - Street Light People (Journey Tribute Band) 
5 pm - TBA 

Porch Party at 2130 Scottwood

Sunday, June 3
4 pm - Jason Quick (rock/blues)
5 pm - Blayer Pointdujour & The Rockers Gallore (rock)  
6 pm - GoLab (electronic/experimental)  
7 pm - Dinosaur Feathers (indie) 

Mighthaveben (The Band) performs at the 2011 Festival with a hoola hoopin' fan