COLDSPRING — On Saturday, a familiar sound in Coldspring found a new home as the beloved gospel bluegrass group known as the “Front Porch Pickers” made the move from the porch of Rosalie’s Cottage on the town square to the stage at Old Town Coldspring Stage.
Judging by the smiles and steady crowd, the musical tradition is alive and well.
Under clear skies and perfect spring weather, the group gathered around 9 a.m., filling the air with gospel bluegrass music that longtime locals have come to cherish. The new stage, well-covered with excellent sound, proved to be a fitting setting for the next chapter of a Saturday morning staple.
For many, the Front Porch Pickers are more than just a band, they’re a community.
“We’d be the ‘Front Porch Pickers,’” said spokesman Casey Barton with a smile when asked about the group’s official name. According to Barton, the group has been playing together for roughly a decade, though their roots in the community stretch even further back.
The heart behind the music, he explained, has always been simple: “We’re just here to share the gospel. That’s the whole thing, through music, that’s what it’s about.”
The group itself is as welcoming as its message. With an open-door spirit, Barton described it as “kind of a come and go,” adding that anyone who can strum a guitar or pick a mandolin is welcome to join in. That sense of openness is part of what has kept the music alive all these years, and what has made the transition to a new location so meaningful.
Longtime friend and fellow musician Charles Koehler reflected on the group’s origins and the man who helped shape it, Mickey Fountain.
“I’ve known Mickey probably about 20 years,” Koehler said. “He’s the person that got me started in bluegrass.”
Koehler’s journey into the genre is a testament to the group’s influence. A lifelong drummer, he made a surprising change after connecting with Fountain.
“I played drums all my life … until I got in with Mickey and his bunch. I just fell in love with bluegrass,” he said. “I sold my drums after all those years, and now bluegrass is my love.”
Though Koehler humbly downplays his skills (“I don’t play nothing like Mickey Fountain, but I try”), his passion speaks volumes about the impact the group has had on those around it. There was also a note of reflection in his words, acknowledging both loss and gratitude.
“We lost a good man with Mickey,” Koehler said. “And we’re just thankful to everyone in Coldspring for allowing us to have this location to keep this thing going.”
With the closing of Rosalie’s Cottage, there had been uncertainty about the future of those Saturday mornings. But thanks to community support and a new stage, the music continues. The Front Porch Pickers plan to return as many Saturdays as the weather allows, carrying on a tradition rooted in faith, fellowship, and front-porch simplicity just with a slightly bigger stage.
If you get the chance, it’s well worth stopping by. In Coldspring, Saturday mornings still sound just right.
