A friendship forged in Nashville songwriting circles two decades ago will come full circle at PorchFest OBKY on June 13 when former Brasher Bogue bandmates Andy Brasher and Dustin Bogue reunite in Owensboro — this time with Bogue’s 17-year-old son taking the stage.
The story is one of many connections that have grown out of PorchFest, the community music festival that transforms the porches of Griffith Avenue into stages and draws an estimated 10,000 to 12,000 people each year.
Brasher said he met Bogue shortly after both moved to Nashville and quickly discovered a shared passion for songwriting.
“I moved to Nashville around 2000 and started getting with a lot of different writers, and I really hit it off with Dustin Bogue,” Brasher said. “We started writing together a lot and built a huge catalog.”
The duo initially had no plans to become a performing act.
“We were mainly putting songs together to pitch to publishers and get song pluggers interested in the music,” Brasher said.
Bogue said their musical chemistry became obvious almost immediately.
“Every time we got together, we came out with a song that we were proud of,” Bogue said. “The blend of our styles, we were just coming up with cool songs.”
After accumulating enough material for a record, the pair decided to perform a handful of shows for their respective fan bases. Those performances exceeded expectations and eventually evolved into Brasher Bogue, a regional act that built a loyal following and landed a spot on a national tour with Kenny Chesney in 2011.
“We got a phone call asking if we wanted to go on tour with Kenny Chesney that summer,” Bogue said. “We all started jumping for joy and celebrating.”
The band eventually disbanded amicably in 2015, but Brasher and Bogue remained close friends.
That friendship led to this year’s PorchFest appearance.
While visiting Owensboro recently and fishing with Brasher’s father, Bogue mentioned he had started playing music with his son, Blaine Wyatt Bogue. Brasher immediately extended an invitation.
“I said, ‘Man, if you want to play PorchFest, that would be really cool,'” Brasher said.
The father-son duo will perform as The Bogue Boys.
For Brasher, the performance carries special meaning because he has watched Blaine grow up. During the Brasher Bogue years, both musicians often brought their young sons on the road and occasionally onto the stage.
Blaine and Brasher’s son, Townes, were often seen holding toy guitars while their fathers performed.
“I was there when Blaine came home from the hospital,” Brasher said. “I’ve watched him grow up. I just think it’s really neat, having this history with Dustin and getting to see it come full circle.”
Bogue said PorchFest provides the ideal setting for his son’s first performances as a musician.
“This will be his first couple of shows as a performer, really playing as a musician and doing a little bit of vocals,” Bogue said. “I couldn’t think of a better place to do it and a better scenario.”
The reunion story also reflects what Brasher believes has made PorchFest successful since its debut in 2018.
The festival began with just seven homeowners agreeing to open their porches to performers. Brasher said organizers hoped a few hundred people might attend the inaugural event.
Instead, they estimated roughly 1,500 attendees for the first year.
“We thought people would like it, but this blew our expectations away,” Brasher said.
Today, the event has become one of Owensboro’s signature annual gatherings.
“I think it’s less about the music and more about community,” Brasher said. “People love running into their friends and hearing different types of music, but I really think no matter who’s there, people show up because it’s just a cool thing to do.”
The festival features local musicians alongside regional and nationally touring artists, while also providing opportunities for younger performers who might not otherwise have a venue.
“This is the biggest crowd some of these artists have ever played for,” Brasher said. “It gives younger musicians that first little step into performing.”
Bogue said returning to Owensboro and sharing that experience with his son is what excites him most.
“I’m excited to be back in Owensboro, where I made some really good friendships,” Bogue said. “Introducing my son to playing shows and the joy that comes with that, and seeing all those people I haven’t seen in a long time, I just feel pretty blessed about the whole thing.”
The event has also grown through strong community support. Furniture Warehouse serves as the title sponsor, while VASS CDJR is the presenting sponsor. Sun Windows sponsors volunteer shirts, and a host of local businesses and organizations support individual stages, including Brasher’s Little Nashville, Owensboro Health, Carpet One, Visit Owensboro, Mitzi Autry’s Portable Toilets, Ohio Valley Septic & Grease Services, Dahl & Groezinger, Holston Gases, John Ross Martin Realtor, WBKR, Oddball Creative, DreamCopy Photography, and Jacob Sommerville Design.
PorchFest OBKY will take place today from noon to 10 p.m. along Griffith Avenue between Frederica Street and Robin Road. The free festival will feature performances on porches throughout the day, along with food trucks and other amenities for attendees.
