line-up for the 2009 Alltech Fortnight Festival is as follows:
- Sept. 25 – Jason Aldean and Miranda Lambert, Applebee’s Park, Lexington
- Sept. 26 – Bettye LaVette, Singletary Center for the Arts, Lexington
- Sept. 26-27 – Beguiled Again, Black Box Theatre, Lexington
- Sept. 28 – Fairplay Collective, Black Box Theatre, Lexington
- Sept. 29 – Singer/Songwriter Night, Black Box Theatre, Lexington
- Sept. 30 – Marc Smith Poetry Slam, Black Box Theatre, Lexington
- Oct. 1 – Makem & Spain Brothers, Lexington Opera House, Lexington
- Oct. 2 – Mary Chapin Carpenter, Equus Run, Midway
- Oct. 3 – 38 Special & Kansas, Murray State University Regional Special Events Center, Murray
- Oct. 6 – The Decemberists, Singletary Center for the Arts, Lexington
- Oct. 6-7 – Battle of the Bluegrass, Tin Roof, Lexington
- Oct. 8 – Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder, Paramount Arts Center, Ashland
- Oct. 9 – John Sebastian of The Lovin’ Spoonful, Grand Theatre, Frankfort
- Oct. 10 – String Band Day, Appalshop, Whitesburg
- Oct. 10 – Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder, RiverPark Center, Owensboro
- Oct. 10 – Ronan Tynan with the Lexington Philharmonic Orchestra, Singletary Center for the Arts, Lexington
Lexington, KY — Beginning on September 25th, Kentucky’s gently rolling hills will resound with music as the Alltech Fortnight Festival launches a 16-day statewide celebration to mark the final year to the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games 2010. The 2009 Alltech Fortnight Festivall line-up will bring entertainment to 11 Kentucky venues, covering all regions of the Commonwealth from Lexington to Whitesburg and Ashland to Owensboro.
“Last year was an experimental period for the Alltech Fortnight Festival. We produced 24 entertainment events in nine Kentucky cities, but the focus was on building relationships and learning the ropes of the entertainment business,” said Thomas Stephens, director of the Alltech Fortnight Festival. “We look forward to this year’s Festival and the opportunity to promote the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games as well as the arts after what has been a very trying year for them.”
The Alltech Fortnight Festival was created by Dr. Pearse Lyons, president and founder of Alltech, as a means of building excitement throughout the state for the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games while investing in the development of the arts in local communities. The extravaganza will culminate in a fortnight of nightly entertainment to run concurrently with the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games to be held at the Kentucky Horse Park from September 25 to October 10, 2010. During the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, the Alltech Fortnight Festival will provide visitors and Kentucky residents alike with nightly featured entertainment to enjoy after the day’s competition events have ended.
For more information on the Alltech Fortnight Festival and upcoming events, visit AlltechFortnightFestival.com
Battle of the Bluegrass Oct. 6-7 at Tin Roof – Lexington, KY
On October 6th, Kentucky bluegrass bands will invade one of Lexington’s newest music bars–the Tin Roof–for thier chance at a $2,000 grand prize. In addition, a live recording will be produced featuring the best songs of the competition–to be sold at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games to benefit charity.
The format of the Alltech Fortnight Festival’s Battle of the Bluegrass is simple. As the audience enjoys Kentucky Ale, ten bands will perform on October 6th at Lexington’s Tin Roof. The winner will be determined, claim the $2,000 prize and be invited to play a full set the next night, October 7th, also at the Tin Roof.
Bands from Kentucky can enter the competition by becoming friends with the Alltech Fortnight Festival on MySpace. Click the link below!
Become a friend on MySpace to enter the Battle of the Bluegrass!
Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder
Ricky Skaggs
Oct. 8 at Paramount Arts Center, Ashland, KY
Oct. 10 at RiverPark Center, Owensboro, KY
2009 marks Ricky’s 38th year as a professional musician, and this fourteen-time Grammy Award winner continues to do his part to lead the recent roots revival in music. Known affectionately today as bluegrass music’s official ambassador, Ricky has brought the genre to greater levels of popularity in the past few years than the father of bluegrass music, the legendary Bill Monroe, could ever have imagined. With eight consecutive Grammy-nominated classics behind him, all from his own Skaggs Family Records label (Bluegrass Rules! in 1998, Ancient Tones in 1999, both Soldier of the Cross and Big Mon: The Songs of Bill Monroe in 2000, History of the Future in 2001, Live at the Charleston Music Hall in 2003, Brand New Strings in 2005, and Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder Instrumentals in 2007), bluegrass music is undoubtedly in good hands, with the masterful Skaggs at the helm.
String Band Day Oct. 10 – Appalshop, Whitesburg, KY
String Band Day will include a full day of workshops, concerts, and a big square dance presented by the Alltech Fortnight Festival in celebration of Appalshop’s 40th birthday–open to the public for free.
Workshops will focus on old time banjo and guitar picking, fiddle playing, singing and calling for dances. Before the night’s Big Square Dance with Caller Julie Shepherd*, three of Kentucky’s finest old time string bands will perform:
Clack Mountain String Band – 6:00 pm – 6:50 pm
Inspired by the people and place that surrounds them, Clack Mountain String Band exhibits the remarkable energy and passion of one of the world’s richest veins of roots music. CMSB provides the perfect blend of youthful drive and ancient traditions.
Rich and the Po’ Folks – 7:00 pm – 7:50 pm
Rich and the Po’ Folks dates to the spring of 2006 when a group of friends got together with a common goal: to build a band of their shared love for the traditional music of east Kentucky and southwest Virginia. They take their inspiration from some of the jewels of Appalachian music–fiddlers, banjo players, singers and songwriters.
Kentucky Wild Horse – 8:00 pm – 8:50 pm
Kentucky Wild Horse takes its name from an old eastern Kentucky fiddle tune played by Wolfe County fiddler Darley Fulks (1895-1990) who possessed a vast repertoire of pre-Civil War tunes. Kentucky music from the 19th century down to the present, especially its fiddle and banjo traditions, has been their love and their inspiration.
Workshop Schedule:
12:00 pm – 1:30 pm
- Beginning Banjo: Learn the basics of various picking styles and playing techniques of Appalachian banjo pickers. Instructor: TBA
- East Kentucky Banjo: Focusing on the different styles and techniques of East Kentucky banjo pickers of Knott, Letcher, Floyd, and Perry County. Techniques include down-picking, two and three finger picking, up-picking, and more. Instructor: John Haywood
- Beginning Fiddle: Focusing on the very basics of fiddling Appalachian dance music. Instructor: TBA
- Eastern Kentucky Fiddle: Focusing on fiddlers W.H. Stepp, Luther Strong, Manon Campbell, and Hiram & Art Stamper. Instructor: John Harrod
- Rhythm Guitar: This workshop includes basic strum for instrument and vocal accompaniment. Learn how to incorporate the alternating bass pattern and bass runs into your rhythm playing. Instructor: Don Rogers
- Traditional Song: a general singing session/catchall for people who don’t want to get instrumental. Instructor: Rich Kirby
2:00 pm – 3:30 pm
- String Band: Master Fiddler Paul David Smith and other old time musicians will lead this workshop focusing on the different aspects and techniques used when playing in a band setting. Instructors: Paul Smith, Roy Tackett, Rich Kirby
- Singing with a Band: Concentration on issues that singers will need to address when singing in a band such as: breathing support, diction, working with and without microphones, harmony singing, and more. Instructor: Karly Higgins
- Playing and Calling for Dances: Instructor: Julie Shepherd-Powell
*Big Square Dance will begin around 9:00 pm