IBMM groundbreaking June 23

International Bluegrass Music Museum groundbreaking, June 23, 2016After several years of planning and fundraising, the International Bluegrass Music Museum in Owensboro, KY is ready to break ground for their new facility along the Ohio River in downtown Owensboro.

A ceremonial groundbreaking is scheduled on June 23 at noon with the museum staff, Owensboro Mayor Ron Payne, the Daviess County Fiscal Court and Judge Executive Al Mattingly, and a number of bluegrass personalities. Larry Sparks will be in attendance, along with a several others who have not yet confirmed.

This new center is a fully-funded joint project of the IBMM, the State of Kentucky, and the City of Owensboro. Peyronnin Construction of Evansville, IN will be managing the building which will be the world’s first full-scale museum dedicated to bluegrass music. Upon completion in 2018, it will house all of the IBMM’s exhibits, a 450 seat concert hall, a recording studio, gift shop, research library, a rooftop restaurant, teaching rooms, and a 2,000 seat outdoor concert area.

It will sit on an entire city block in the city’s revitalized downtown area, next to their new convention center, recenty-built modern hotels, and Smother’s Park, a water and play park for children along the river.

The public is invited to attend the groundbreaking on June 23 at the intersection of Frederica and 2nd Streets downtown.

Watch out Raleigh… Owensboro is gunning to take back the IBMA World of Bluegrass!

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About the Author

John Lawless

John had served as primary author and editor for The Bluegrass Blog from its launch in 2006 until being folded into Bluegrass Today in September of 2011. He continues in that capacity here, managing a strong team of columnists and correspondents.