Bressler-Fest started its maiden voyage Sunday with two musical performances from the Front Porch Pickers and Paradox.

Both bands that performed in Wayne’s Bressler Park were two-person groups that sang and played songs from previous decades. Front Porch Pickers, with Alan Bruflat and Jim Lindau, led with guitar and a banjo for a blue grass feel, whereas Paradox was a duo that both played guitars, playing older-style rock and roll.

“We work hard on trying to create tight harmonies, and we try and work as much as we can to make the sound like those bands had,” said Tim Sharer of Paradox.

“We probably have a hundred-some songs in our playlist, but we don’t have the stamina to play them all. We don’t want the money. We just like doing it for the service. We do what we like, and that’s what motivates us,” said Sharer.

Jill Brodersen, who organized Bressler-Fest, welcomed everyone at the beginning of the show and introduced both bands. Everyone thanked Brodersen for her hard work in setting up the event, praising her multiple times throughout the night.

Both of the bands have ties to Wayne. The name Paradox is a reference to the members of the band, who both hold doctorates and teach, or taught, at Wayne State College.

“It started out as six of us who were asked to make a faculty band for an event,” said Sharer, “so we started out with it and kept playing together, but as time went on it was hard for the six of us to get together, so Paul (Karr) and I kept playing together because we liked the same stuff, and that’s how it stuck.”

Most of the Bressler-Fest audience stayed for the entirety of the two-hour session.

“It was cool to have a smaller atmosphere for music in the park,” said Alex Smith, a member of the audience. “I’ve been to other towns that do the same type of thing, and for Wayne to finally have one is really
awesome.”

Bressler-Fest will be back again this coming Sunday from 6-8 p.m. with another performance.