Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper (L-R) Marshall Wilburn, Darrell Webb, Michael Cleveland, Jesse Brock and Jessie Baker are on the schedule for the 8th Annual Bluegrass Returns to Its Roots Festival.

Owensboro, KY — Officials from RiverPark Center andthe Owensboro Daviess County Convention and Visitors Bureau announced that the 8th Annual Bluegrass Returns to Its Roots Festival will be held at RiverPark Center April 2-4, 2009.

The RiverPark Center is no stranger to world class festivals and bluegrass music. The exquisite RiverPark Center hosted the International Bluegrass Music Associations Annual Award Show from 1992 to 1995. This April another star-studded bluegrassmusic event will be presented at RiverPark Center’s Cannon Hall, seating up to 1,500 each performance.

The RiverPark Center is adjacent to the International Bluegrass Music Museum. Patrons of the festival will enjoy the nostalgia of the International Bluegrass Music Museum, and then walk just steps into the state of the art performing arts hallto see some of the hottest groups in bluegrass.

This years festival equals the top awards shows, with the Grammy, IBMA, and SPBGMA, award- winning talent scheduled to perform during the course of the festival. Artists include:

• Dailey and Vincent
• Dale Ann Bradley
• Steep Canyon Rangers
• J.D. Crowe and the New South
• Michael Cleveland and Flamekeepers
• Bradley Walker
• Lonesome River Band
• The Josh Williams Band

More special guests and events will be announced.

In addition to the many exciting concerts offered during this years festival, guests can enjoy special packages and tours including: International Bluegrass Music Museum (IBMM) tours, IBMM film presentations, bus tours to Rosine, KY (Bill Monroes childhood home), workshops, tours of the Owensboro Area Museum of Science and History, lunches and/or dinner at the world renowned Moonlite Bar-BQ, clogging exhibitions, artist meet and greets and other exciting events. The Owensboro Daviess County CVB is offering affordable all-inclusive packages for guests taking advantage of all of the exciting events surrounding this three day bluegrass music extravaganza.

Special pricing for the two- and three- day inclusive packages are available through the CVB at www.visitowensboro.com or by calling 1-800-489-1131. For more information or for invidividual ticket and package prices to this years festival guests are encouraged to call the RiverPark Center Box office at 1-877-639-6978 or visit RiverPark Center. Tickets prices start at $30 for a one day pass or $75 for a three day pass.

RiverPark Center is a first-class regional entertainment complex. Six professional, international touring musical productions have been built here, making Owensboro, Ky., one of the top five communities outside New York City for building and premiering these shows prior to their U.S. or Asian tours.

The nearly 100,000 square-foot facility includes a state-of-the-art 1,500-seat Cannon Hall, the 300-seat black-box Jody Berry Cabaret Theatre, the 1,000 capacity outdoor riverfront BB&T Plaza and the International Bluegrass Music Museum.