The Official Kentucky Visitor's Guide - The Official Kentucky Visitor's Guide 2025
The Ultimate Kentucky Music Bucket List
2024-12-14 10:30:13
The heartbeat of Kentucky keeps time to the rhythm of a rich and everevolving musical legacy. It’s where Bluegrass music has its roots and where the queen of country music (Loretta Lynn) reigned, where gospel music raises the roof and indie, soul, blues and rock ‘n’ roll add their harmonies, creating a tonal tapestry of musical stylings across Kentucky.
KENTUCKY’S COUNTRY MUSIC CAPITAL
The historic Old Barn Theatre, the 1,500-seat New Barn Theatre and a musical pedigree and tradition that began with radio pioneer, folklorist and entrepreneur John Lair: Hear music’s legends and hottest new acts at Mount Vernon’s Renfro Valley Entertainment Center.
BLUEGRASS BUCKET LIST
Follow Blue Moon of Kentucky Highway to Rosine and the Rosine Barn Jamboree, a pilgrimage destination for fans of the Father of Bluegrass Music Bill Monroe. Live bluegrass music and dancing happens every Friday night, March through December.
FUN FOR THE FAMILY
The longest running classic country music showplace in Kentucky is Hodgenville’s Joel Ray’s Lincoln Jamboree, where past marquee performers have included Bill Anderson and Ernest Tubb. Enjoy live country music shows, local singing sensations and family-style restaurant eats.
ART DECO TREASURE
Originally designed to show silent films, Ashland’s Paramount Arts Center is forever tied to country singer Billy Ray Cyrus as the 1992 film locale for his record-breaking hit, “Achy Breaky Heart.” The historic venue stages 120 performances a year.
LIVE FROM LEXINGTON
Folksinger Michael Johnathon presents WoodSongs, a live audience syndicated radio and TV show – a celebration of grassroots music and the artists who make it. Held at Lexington’s Lyric Theatre on Mondays at 6:45 p.m., it is the music of America’s front porch.
Live Music Events
BOURBON & BEYOND is the world’s largest bourbon and music festival, held in Louisville during September’s Bourbon Heritage Month. With more than 100 acts across multiple stages, the four-day event draws bourbon and music lovers from around the world.
RAILBIRD is named for the horse racing enthusiast known for sticking close to the action. And that’s what music aficionados do at this June festival in Lexington. Two days. Three stages. Dozens of headlining artists and music legends. And bourbon — lots and lots of curated bourbon experiences.
MASTER MUSICIANS FESTIVAL in Somerset, Southeastern Kentucky’s premier summer music event, stages multicultural and multigenerational live music performances over three days in July — everything from the blues, bluegrass and progressive newgrass to Celtic, country, rock ‘n’ roll, jazz and other genres.
SUNDAY MUSIC BEHIND THE STOVE held on winter Sunday afternoons (January through March) in the Rabbit Hash General Store, is an intimate gathering featuring local and regional bands. The only thing separating the musicians from the audience? The store’s old woodburning stove.
THE GROVE presents enchanting warm-weather nights, April through October, filled with fireflies and firepits, cocktails and community and bluegrass music performed by talented artists in a woodland setting right in the middle of the town of Glasgow — with all the feels of a campfire wonderland.
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