St. Clair Shores, MI — Today, August 29, 2026, is National Play Music On The Porch Day. The idea is simple but has great benefits to the community. Go outside, play, or listen to music, and share the music with friends or your community. What a great idea.
Someone is taking this year’s Play Music On The Porch Day to the next level by turning it into a fundraiser for a good cause with the SCS Paw & Porch Fest. At 27125 Larchmont Street in St. Clair Shores, they will be celebrating music on their front porch and raising money for a good cause by raising money for the I Heart Dogs Rescue and Animal Haven.
I Heart Dogs Rescue and Animal Haven is located in Warren, Michigan, and its mission is to lead a “no-kill” movement by rescuing, rehoming, and providing a haven for pets belonging to survivors of domestic violence.
The bands that are scheduled to play at the SCS Paw & Porch Fest are Paula Messner, Quinlan Mauer, Kougaran, and Aqua Monkey. With Miss Teen St. Clair Shores, Amelia Kowalski, kicking the night off by singing the National Anthem. Each band or artist will have a 45-minute set, with Aqua Monkey closing the show with a two-hour performance. Any tips that the bands receive during their performance will be donated to the I Heart Dogs Rescue and Animal Haven.
This isn’t the first porch concert for Larchmont Street. Since May there has been a porch concert featuring various bands. The person behind the St. Clair Shores Porch concerts is Dan Morganroth, lead vocalist and guitarist for the band Aqua Monkey. Morganroth decided to do something during the COVID days by going out on his front porch and entertaining his neighbors by playing music.
Since the very early days of the porch concerts, the event has grown with help from Angie LaMilza, coordinator and planner of the events. Morganroth is still an important part of the team, coordinating and adjusting sound for all of the bands.
LaMilza described the community response to the porch concerts: “The response from the community has always been incredibly positive, and our wonderful neighbors on Larchmont have been so supportive.”
We emailed several of the bands partaking in the fundraising event to get their take on the event, and we heard back from a couple of them.
Niko Puzio, lead guitarist and singer of the band Kourgarn, wrote, “I think it’s pretty awesome that it’s helping the pets that need the help; they’re little angels without wings, and it’s good that the proceeds are going to help them.”
When we asked the jam band Quinlan Mauer about the event, they sent us an email that said, “We’re thrilled to jam out and help raise money for such a furry, stinky cause. We’re a band of dog lovers.”
The email also mentioned that their bassist and his wife adopted their beloved Great Pyrenees mix, Georgie, from I Heart Dogs in 2023.
The SCS Paw & Porch Fest starts at 4 p.m. and is scheduled to run till 9 p.m. at 27125 Larchmont in St. Clair Shores. The event is free and open to the public. Attendees are encouraged to “bring your lawn chairs, your friends, your family, and your love for live music.”
Food trucks from Ponzone’s Taco Truck and Wildflower Harbor Oven & Bakery.
Donations will be accepted throughout the evening. Items currently being collected are dog food, treats, and toys as well as monetary donations. There is a collection bin on site. There will be a raffle as well. You can purchase items from the wishlist for the shelter via Amazon with their link. Guests can enjoy good music, food, and time with others while helping give a rescued animal a second chance.
