Kentucky venues and romp festival

**bmagra_ireland** · Jan-30-2008, 9:39am

hi there folks,
i'm planning a trip to Kentucky in late June 2008 and could use some advice on where to find venues for bluegrass in lexington, and where else is worth a trip (Rosine no doubt). I intend to make it to the Romp festival in Owensboro - any comments on this festival?
thanks.

**dmamlep** · Jan-31-2008, 10:56pm

The Festival of the Bluegrass at the Kentucky Horse Park, is one of the best anywhere, june 12th-15th, alway some of the best bands in the country.

**dmamlep** · Feb-01-2008, 2:28pm

Ok then theres the Renfro Valley Bluegrass Festival, lots of good pickin, and some of the best in the business.

**dmamlep** · Feb-01-2008, 2:31pm

Sorry since you are out of town the Festival of the Bluegrass is in Lexington on 1-75 and The Renfro Valley Bluegrass Festival is about 60 miles south of Lexington on 1-75 Both worth it to take the time to go there.

**bmagra_ireland** · Feb-02-2008, 5:17am

thanks for responding dmamlep,
what date is the Renfro festival; I'll probably be in Kentucky from June 24th.
Brian

**Deaf David** · Feb-03-2008, 11:49am

If you are coming as far as the Owensboro/Beaver Dam area for the Bill Monroe activities, you might consider coming just a little further west in Kentucky.

To see if there are any shows or festivals going on at the time you are going to be in the area check this web site:

http://www.jpfob.com/jpfob/

This organization either organizes or has a hand in almost everything bluegrass related in western Kentucky. The president of the organization is Tony Williams, who is the father of Josh Williams. Josh just left the Rhonda Vincent band and is coming back into this area with his own band.

Coming from the same area was another band you might have heard of, Nickel Creek. Chris Thile is coming back here with his new band soon, so keep on eye out for those dates.

And now another band is coming out of western Kentucky that looks like it will be following the same route upward. Check out the web site for "Bawn in the Mash" as they are usually playing somewhere in the area and I think you will find them worth going to see.

They are a hot little band that often sports two mandolins for some of their songs. The "extra" mandolin player is also a talented fiddle player when he isn't playing mandolin.

You will likely have to check the Bawn in the Mash web site for their dates. The Jackson Purchase Friends of Bluegrass site doesn't promote them much, as they integrate a little too much jazz and sometimes blues into their music. They describe their music as "progressive roots music."

Anyway, there is usually something going on in the western end of the state. Keep in mind that Kentucky is long east to west and short north to south. So you might also be in striking distance for festivals and such in Tennessee, and depending on where you are in Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana and Illinois might be just across the river.

**dmamlep** · Feb-03-2008, 10:42pm

The Renfro Valley starts june 20th, that probally starts on a thursday or friday, not sure. they will have an update on their website soon that tells who and what day they will be playing, that RenfroValley.com, and they alway some some of the best there if you can get here that soon, I know I will be there.

**dmamlep** · Feb-03-2008, 11:02pm

Sorry but if you like Bawn of the Mash, but I though this guy wanted to hear Bluegrass. And because they have a mandolin and fiddle in the band makes them no where near bluegrass, lets just tell it like it is. I even dont like country music played with bluegass instruments and call it bluegrass.

**bmagra_ireland** · Feb-04-2008, 4:07am

thanks alot. really looking forward to visiting and hearing great music.
Brian

**Deaf David** · Feb-04-2008, 8:33am

Originally Posted by (dmamlep @ Feb. 04 2008, 00:02)

Sorry but if you like Bawn of the Mash, but I though this guy wanted to hear Bluegrass. And because they have a mandolin and fiddle in the band makes them no where near bluegrass, lets just tell it like it is. I even dont like country music played with bluegass instruments and call it bluegrass.

I understand, that's why I put the bit of a disclaimer about Bawn in the Mash not being "traditional" and having a jazz/blues sort of influence. It's definitely NOT country, however.

The same comments were made about New Grass Revival when they started up, and they were legitimate comments. It definitely isn't for everyone, but some folks like a little more spice.

I can say Bawn in the Mash is heavily influenced by New Grass Revival and John Hartford, if you like that sort of thing, check them out while in the area.

**dmamlep** · Feb-04-2008, 2:03pm

Well I do like John Hartford, and I think I have seen that lead singer somewhere for Bawn, but like you said, its not my cup of tea. I know there are parts of the country that like different types of "bluegrass" but some shouldn't call themselves bluegrass. there are lots of famous groups that I really think border the line, I like Blue Highway and even J.D.Crowe but with J.D. I think its iffy. I know groups like to try to get away from the Bill Monroe style. and thats fine, but watch the line if you want to be known as bluegrass.

**Deaf David** · Feb-05-2008, 1:57pm

Yeah, I saw a recent show by J.D. Crowe on KET the other night and I was surprised by how un-bluegrass it was. I called it "country," and I never did like country music too much.

I remember seeing him playing around Lexington back about 73 or 74 and I thought it was pretty real. I knew folks that didn't think it was traditional enough back then.

I do like the "other" variations on occassion, but I still like the old traditional bluegrass. I guess what I don't like are the bands that don't seem to know the difference.

**dmamlep** · Feb-05-2008, 10:21pm

Well when we play, we try to keep it "real Bluegrass", and we have played the festival of the bluegrass, I believe it was 06, we didnt play the main stage, but everyone plays the stage we were on. but unless we play the main stage we probally wont play there again. They wouldn't turn us up enough, I guess they were afraid they would be heard at the main stage. what a bummer.

**Deaf David** · Feb-06-2008, 8:58am

It has long bothered me that there are so many great, but unknown, bluegrass festivals in Kentucky. Sometimes I think the chamber of commerce and politicians are ashamed of it and try to keep it all hidden.

Of course, that makes it a lot better when you do find one and the crowd is small. I just wish they were promoted well enough to actually make having a working bluegrass band a viable option for more folks.

**dmamlep** · Feb-06-2008, 10:33am

It seems to be true, I will go to most festivals if they arent to far away, even if we are playing somewhere, I will pick a different day to go, We Played the Festival of the Bluegrass at the ky horse park,its one of the best in ky, along with the one at Renfro Valley, thats where the Ky music hall of fame is. The biggest gripe I have is that if I find out a town where a fest is, when you get there you have a hard time finding it, most all of them have no signs at all, untill you get to the gate. That in my mind is crazy. dont they want anyone but the locals there? The first time I went to the fest of The bluegrass at the horse park, I asked several people where it was, and no one knew, so I turned around and went home, I thought it must have been a different day or something, but when I got home,I turned on the computer and it was that day and I could see it slightley delayed, it was playing then, they just didn't know where it was, and guess what, it was only the next drive down. I mean this I one of the biggest around, no signs.

**fstylemb1** · Feb-13-2008, 9:30am

If you come through Louisville, come stop by First Quality Music. We should be pretty stocked up with plenty of mandos! There are also regular bluegrass jams through the week. There are a lot of bluegrass hotspots all over Kentucky. Bean Blossom is just up the road too! Feel free to contact me offlist for more info. Check out:
www.bluegrass-anonymous.org, website for the Louisville Bluegrass Music Assoc.

**dmamlep** · Feb-13-2008, 10:24am

does first quality have used mandolins. they aren't listed in the web site if they do.

**fstylemb1** · Feb-15-2008, 11:42am

We only have a couple of Derrington Master Models in our vault room that are trade-ins. Have new Gibson, Collings, Sumi, and more. More are scheduled in too. We get the used pieces every now and then. Our new system will allow us more capacity to carry used instruments but we're still building the stock items to it.