The International Bluegrass Music Museum Announces Artist Line Up and World Premiere Film Screenings for 2nd Annual Bluegrass Mega-Event.

    /24-7PressRelease.com/ - Owensboro, KY, April 8, 2005 - The International Bluegrass Music Museum presents its 2nd annual River Of Music Party (ROMP), a Bluegrass Mega-Event in Owensboro, KY June 23 - 25 in multiple, close proximity locations: Peter English Park , The RiverPark Center's Cannon Hall , The museum's Woodward Stage and at the museum itself. This multi-media festival celebrates Kentucky's music history and the current state of bluegrass as a living, growing, breathing form of art. Performances by national and international recording artists on three stages will be combined with the "Bluegrass Masters Film Festival" (which will feature five world premieres), "Bluegrass Legends" Concert, and four new museum exhibits to provide three days of non-stop education and celebration in tribute to Kentucky's musical progeny; Bluegrass Music.
The River of Music Party of 2004 was a tremendous first year success. "Bluegrass is back in Owensboro" said The Associated Press. "ROMP rivals any bluegrass festival in the nation in terms of scope and line up" said the Louisville Courier-Journal. With attendance of over 6000 people in the festival's freshman season the second year potential has the bluegrass and Audubon Area community anticipating an influx of music lovers and film aficionados from around the world.
The "Bluegrass Masters Film Festival", although part of ROMP, is an event unto itself and is unique to the International Bluegrass Music Museum. Film showings take place 9:00 A.M. until 4:00 P.M. all three days of ROMP in the Bluegrass Unlimited Theater; these pieces are one-hour documentaries produced by and shown only in the museum. The films and videos are part of the museum's "Video Oral History Project" which documents the pre-1954 first generation pioneers of bluegrass as they recount their own contributions to the genre in their own words as well as demonstrate for the camera how their musical style is relevant to the current bluegrass sound. Five world premieres will be presented. These will be films about Jimmy Martin, the late Art Stamper, Wade Mainer, Curly Seckler and Jesse McReynolds.
Musical performances will begin at 2:00 Thursday afternoon at the museum's Woodward's Stage and continue Thursday night at 7:00 in The RiverPark Center's Cannon Hall with Hall of Honor Legends Josh Graves and Kenny Baker, Jimmy Martin and The Sunny Mountain Boys, Jesse McReynolds and The Virginia Boys, Curly Seckler with Tom Gray and friends, and Curly Seckler again with Rarely Herd. There will also be a reception and Hall Of Honor unveiling ceremony honoring Curly Seckler and the late Bill Vernon at 5:00 Thursday afternoon in the museum.
Friday music performances start on the Woodward's stage (IBMM) at 10:00 A.M. with regional artists and in English Park at 4:00 P.M. with Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder, Tim O'Brien, Larry Cordle and Lonesome Standard Time, Audie Blaylock and Redline, Uncle Earl, Stringtown and The Betweeners.
Saturday's music will also start with regional artists at 10:00 A.M. on the Woodward's stage and 4:00 P.M. in English Park with Rhonda Vincent and The Rage, Mountain Heart, The Kruger Brothers, The Grascals, Valerie Smith and Liberty Pike, Ronnie Reno and The Reno Tradition and The Dismembered Tennesseans.
This is an event for the whole family with food concessions, trade show vendors, free camping, educational forums, workshops, photography, art, and artifact exhibits and great music. There are half price discounts on admission for military personnel and students with I.D. All Kids 12 and under will be admitted free. Free dry camping will be provided with 2 or 3 day purchase.
About The International Bluegrass Music Museum: The IBMM is the only museum of its kind in the world. With a mission to preserve and promote bluegrass music the museum continues to provide educational services, a home to bluegrass as an art form and entertainment for bluegrass and music fans worldwide.
Ongoing projects are Bluegrass in the Schools, Video Oral History Project, and the IBMA Hall of Honor exhibits.
Contact Information:
Mike Lawing
The International Bluegrass Music Museum
270-926-7891
800-MY BANJO

The International Bluegrass Music Museum is undertaking a massive "Video Oral History Project" which documents the pioneers of bluegrass (pre-1954)on camera telling their own stories in their own words. The Bluegrass Masters Film Festival will feature 5 Premieres.

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