 |
| |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
SPOTLIGHT
ON THE ARTS - June 2004 by Deanna Mascle Master Musicians
A master is defined as an artist or performer of consummate skill and so music lovers of all ages and genres cannot afford to miss Somerset’s Master Musicians Festival. The festival crosses all boundaries of age, interest, race, and culture to draw people together for the love and appreciation of music. “MMF is a multi-genre, multi-generational, and multi-racial, multi-cultural event that brings our community together for a weekend with a family reunion feel while spotlighting Somerset on a national level,” says Festival President Robyn Burkett. The Festival’s 2004 lineup includes the Ahn Trio, Mark Eubank Band, Brother Stone, Lee Sexton and Ray Sloane, Bone Pony, John Cowan, Pat Flynn, Darrell Scott, Kentucky Wind, River City Drum Corps, Pure Grain, Kettleheads, Pastor Matera Bumpus, Homer Ledford and the Cabin Creek Band, Chris Smither, J.P. Cormier, Seven Nations, Mary Ann Redmond Band, and culminating with the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. “This year’s appearance of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and the celebration of their latest release Will the Circle Be Unbroken, is possibly the best expression of what we’re all about…..continuing the unbroken circle of our musical heritage,” Burkett says. “Each year, MMF pays special tribute to acclaimed Master Musicians, whose lifetime contributions to their specific musical genre and heritage have been significant, while providing a nationally recognized venue on those same stages for younger Future Masters. We’re proud to expose our young people to their musical roots, keeping their heritage alive, while introducing our older audience members to the talent of the future.” “Our plans for the future of the Master Musicians Festival are simply to keep on doing what we love best… playing great music of all kinds on the third weekend of July every year,” Burkett says.
Deanna Mascle is a
staff writer for The Lane Report. |
|
|
|
|
Copyright 1996-2004, by Kentucky Business Online. All rights reserved. Editorial content is copyright 2004,
Lane Communications Group The Lane Report is a trademark of Lane Communications Group. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. |
Kentucky’s musical heritage has roots in many musical genres, from Bluegrass to Celtic to gospel. Master musicians in these areas as well as rock, blues, folk, Appalachian, Newgrass, classical, and jazz will converge on Somerset July 15-17 for the 11th annual Master Musicians Festival.
The Master Musicians Festival is a three-day, eclectic music festival held each year in Somerset. The event draws regional, national, and international musicians performing a wide variety of musical genres. The festival also features arts and crafts, craft workshops, musical workshops and children’s activities at no additional charge. 
The Master Musicians Festival is the living legacy of its founding director, Gabrielle Gray, and a group of dedicated charter board members and volunteers. With its first festival taking place in a field and then in a community college parking lot with a flatbed trailer as a stage in front of a few hundred people, MMF has come a long way in its 11-year celebration of music. Today, the festival is attended by estimated audiences numbering near 15,000.