The world’s first International Newgrass Festival will take place August 21-23, 2009 at Ballance MotoX on the Historic Ballance Farms just north of Bowling Green, Kentucky. Headlining the three-day festival will be the surviving members of the band that started it all, the original New Grass Revival. Sam Bush, John Cowan and Curtis Burch will each perform with their new bands alongside many newgrass performers who have followed in their footsteps.
Using bluegrass instrumentation to develop what is known today worldwide as newgrass music, the original New Grass Revival formed in the early 1970’s. They rehearsed about 40 miles from Bowling Green in Hiseville and Temple Hill, Ky., so Ballance MotoX was a natural choice as the festival site because of its close proximity to the roots of the genre.
The International Newgrass Festival will be the first event of its kind in the Southeast. Organizers hope to attract a variety of fans with the festival’s range of performers from the originators, to award winners, to young and upcoming acts. The goal of the festival is to not only entertain but educate the public about this progressive art form.
A Bowling Green native, Sam Bush was honored on Monday, March 17, 2008 with a resolution from the Commonwealth of Kentucky as the founder of newgrass music. According to festival director Kenny Lee, “For our state to be the home of a new art form is awesome, and the best way to present it to the world is to celebrate with a festival!”
The full festival lineup and more information are at www.newgrassfestival.com. Single day tickets cost $40 for Friday, $55 for Saturday, and $35 for Sunday. A three-day ticket is available for only $99 with RV and tent amping passes available. Tickets can be purchased on the website as well as at the gate. The three-day passes also are available at the Great Escape Records and Comics in Bowling Green and Louisville, Ky. and at Grimey’s Music in Nashville, Tenn. Tickets are limited to 2,000 per day.
The International Newgrass Festival is hosted by the Kentucky Blues Society in conjunction with Curtis Burch and made possible, in part, by sponsorship from WBKO Television, Western Kentucky Coca~Cola, Jim Johnson Nissan Hyundai, Bluegrass Cellular, and the Kentucky Blues Society.
To learn more about the headlining bands, click the images below, or visit any of the following links for information about other participating musicians:
Sam Bush Band, John Cowan Band, Curtis Burch Band, The Greencards, The Grascals, IIIrd Tyme Out, Infamous Stringdusters, Larry Keel and Natural Bridge, Cadillac Sky, Duckbutter, Act of Congress, Farewell Drifters, Safire Sun, Kentucky School of Bluegrass and Traditional Music Ensemble, James Dewdney and Eleanor Cross, Michael Gough.
Media Contact: Marissa Butler
Public Relations Director, BGACVB
800-326-7465, marissa@visitbgky.com
For more Festival Information:
contact Festival Director, Kenny Lee
270-784-0757, ngfest@gmail.com
