The Back Porch Festival was founded in 2014 as a one day event at the Academy Of Music Theater in Northampton. It has since grown to a multi-venue event featuring the best in American roots music. Past Back Porch festival performers have included Roseanne Cash, Rickie Lee Jones, Marty Stuart, Aoife O'Donovan, Anais Mitchell, Josh Ritter, Deer Tick, Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway, Watchhouse, Los Lobos, The Blind Boys Of Alabama, Del McCoury & David Grisman, Laura Cantrell, Sarah Jarosz, The Dustbowl Revival, Tim O'Brien, Steep Canyon Rangers, and many more. Every year, the festival includes a live broadcast of the Back Porch Radio Show from the Parlor Room before a live audience.

Back Porch Radio  host Jim Olsen has been on the airwaves of WRSI since 1984, serving as the station's program and music director from 1985-1996. When the station moved to Northampton, MA in 1996 and became 93.9 The River, the Back Porch came with it. The program's eclectic mix of new and classic country, bluegrass, folk, blues and all forms of American roots music celebrates 30 years next year.

The Back Porch Festival is co-presented with the Northampton Arts Council as part of their long-running Four Sundays series.  

ABOUT THE BACK PORCH FESTIVAL