The benefit concert for the JP Music Fest shakes its money maker at Midway Cafe on Saturday, 17 February 2024.

No additional punning required on top of ‘Smell The Love.’

It was a night full of love and love songs at Midway Cafe, which played host to this year’s edition of Smell The Love.

A real parfum d’Midway…

Proceeds will be donated to the upcoming JP Music Fest, which enters its twelfth year.

One more year and the annual music extravaganza, staged at Pinebank Field, will be a teenager. You know, the fest will begin to dress in all black and resent its parents.

The order of operations on Saturday night was clear from the lineups that Rick Berlin has taped at various spots in the bar.

Artists and amateurs alike signed up in advance to perform their favorite love-themed cover, and maybe an original to boot. Not quite karaoke, not quite a straightforward concert, just songs to singalong to and good vibes.

Smell The Love

There were more than a few familiar faces from last year’s edition of Smell The Love. No doubt they’ve been practicing in the mirror for the past twelve months in preparation for a star turn in 2024.

Covers included Bill Withers’ “Ain’t No Sunshine,” Madonna’s “True Blue,” Bob Marley’s “No Woman No Cry,” Daniel Johnston’s “True Love Will Find You In The End,” the ubiquitous “Can’t Help Falling In Love,” and more.

If you missed Smell The Love, another fundraising tradition is still in the pipeline: John Casey’s Bar Wars. Staff from bars around the area compete in a live music tournament – and the winning act will perform on stage at the JP Music Fest.

Stay tuned and find out more at the festival website (when it gets updated for 2024).

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