The University also contributes indirectly to the music scene by bringing students from all over the world to Bowling Green. Musicians on campus have a tendency to find other artists around them, resulting in bands like Stop Don't Stop, Traveling by Sea, and Parse. Students from the University also comprise a large percentage of the audiences at shows around town.

"By having all these different groups, it's what keeps people out. It keeps the scene going; there's a reason to go out," explains Mark Gerolami, a member of the formerly BG-based "newgrass" group The Student Loan.

Perhaps the largest musical event of the year is the annual Black Swamp Arts Festival, held every September in downtown Bowling Green. During the festival a mix of local, national, and international bands alike are brought together for a weekend of live music. The festival offers several stages located throughout the downtown area, each featuring a blend of musical genres.

"It's kind of hard to imagine Bowling Green without that festival now," says Gorman. "That came along and really changed the town, I think. It really increased opportunities and visibility for artists and musicians alike."

Kelly Wicks, longtime resident of Bowling Green and owner of Grounds for Thought is active in supporting the music scene, both through his store and his longtime involvement in the Black Swamp Arts Festival. "[Bowling Green is] not Chicago or L.A. or New York - it can't be, and we don't want it to be. But if you scratch the surface a little bit, you'll find a lot of cool people doing interesting things."