In November 2021, Owensboro Mayor Tom Watson made an official announcement, validating what many already knew to be true. Owensboro is the Bluegrass Music Capital of the World. The mayor cited numerous reasons for the distinction, including the presence of the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and Museum. If you’ve yet to visit the museum, make a point to stop by soon. With interactive exhibits, memorabilia, and live performances, it’s a treat for music fans. Get the details on some of the must-see exhibits and performances coming up at the Owensboro museum.
Explore the Hall of Fame
The museum hosts a special Hall of Fame Room that honors bluegrass’s legends. The walls are lined with bronze plaques of the biggest names in bluegrass. As you walk along, you can read about each Hall of Fame inductee and gain a better understanding of their accomplishments. It’s awe-inspiring standing there, looking around the room at the inductees. Plus, it’s clear that bluegrass music is fortunate enough to be filled with talented musicians and trailblazers, and the talent keeps coming. Before long, some additional names will probably be added to the walls.
Go Through the Oral History
As enjoyable as reading the plaques is, you can dig into bluegrass’s history by watching video interviews at the museum. The Video Oral History Project features interviews from 225 groundbreaking artists, and each has a story to tell. Because of the project, you can hear their take on bluegrass music in their own words. If you want to take a deep dive into the genre’s history, this is a great place to start. You’ll learn a thing or two even if you’re already a bluegrass historian.
See Amazing Artifacts
The museum is also home to an impressive lineup of artifacts. For instance, you can see Pete Seegar’s banjo. Along with seeing the banjo in person, you can listen to performances. Additionally, you can see Uncle Pen’s fiddle, along with other cool artifacts. The artifacts are so impressive this might be your favorite part of the visit.
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Take in Live Performances
The Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and Museum is also the place to go for live performances. The next one on the schedule is part of Downtown Owensboro’s first-annual 12 Days of Christmas celebration. There will be events throughout downtown Owensboro, including a special performance by Steven Curtis Chapman at the Bluegrass Music Museum and Hall of Fame. His Acoustic Christmas concert will be on Dec. 13 at 7 p.m., and tickets start at $46. The award-winning artist has numerous number-one hits under his belt, so expect this concert to be quite a draw.
This is just a sneak peek of what you can find at the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and Museum. So be sure to stop by this holiday season to take in a live show and soak up some bluegrass history.
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