Kentucky Bluegrass
Music Kickoff...

Formerly known as the Heart of Kentucky Winterfest, this event features Gary “Biscuit” Davis, three-time national banjo picking champion who records with Dolly Parton and performs with her in her Christmas show in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., along with Kevin Moore, professional fiddle player seen on the Grand Ole Opry, CMT and Nashville Now,  the first weekend in January each year.

The special guest performer for KBMK ’08 is Grasstowne, featuring Phil Leadbetter, namesake for Gibson’s Phil Leadbetter Limited Edition Dobro.

Bands from across Kentucky and beyond compete for a $1,000 first prize in KBMK’s opening show, the Battle of the Bluegrass Bands. A showdown between the top two finishers of Friday night’s Battle of the Bluegrass Bands follows performances by special guests and the headliners on Saturday night.

Workshops for banjo, fiddle, dobro, mandolin, vocals and guitar are held throughout Saturday morning and afternoon, conducted by Davis, Moore and Phil Leadbetter.

Plus, there is a guitar making from start to finish workshop with Johnny Rushing. Rushing was the guitar maker at Dollywood and is an authorized Martin warranty repairman. He will also give FREE evaluations of guitars. His workshop includes getting started, selecting the right tools, inlay and neck work, body shapes and their effects and guitar making myths.

There are jamming areas available throughout the weekend for visitors.

Limited tickets for the Jan. 5, 2008 concert are $30 for dinner and show. Dinner and show tickets are sold in advance only.

Tickets for the show only are $15 in advance or $18 at the gate. Children 12 and under get in free for the show only with a paying adult or they can have the dinner and show for $18.

Dinner and show ticket holders get into the Battle of the Bluegrass Bands free Jan. 4 by showing their advance dinner/show ticket.

Doors open at 6 p.m. for the dinner and show and the meal will be served at 6:30 p.m. Doors open at 7 p.m. for show only ticket holders.

Admission to the Battle of the Bluegrass Bands Jan. 4 is $4 in advance or $5 at the gate. Children 12 and under get in free with a paying adult.

Doors open for the Battle of the Bluegrass Bands at 6 p.m. The Battle begins at 7 p.m.

Tickets can be purchased online (scroll down), in Lebanon at the Lebanon Tourist & Convention Commission and at all local banks or by calling 270.692.0021.

Kentucky Bluegrass Music Kickoff ‘08 Package!

A special package for $159 includes:

♥ 1 night, double occupancy, at Hampton Inn of Lebanon or Lebanon Suites based on availability (includes a Welcome gift).

♥ Admission for 2 to the Friday night Battle of the Bluegrass Bands.

♥ 2 dinner and show tickets for the Saturday night concert featuring Gary “Biscuit” Davis, Kevin Moore, Grasstowne, featuring Phil Leadbetter, and the top two Battle of the Bluegrass Bands finishers showdown.

♥ 2 workshops of your choice (choose from banjo, fiddle, guitar, dobro, mandolin, vocals and guitar making). Both workshops must be used by the same person.

You can add another night, which includes another hot breakfast for 2, and the cost will be $236.

Call 270.692.0021 to book a one- or two-night package or book it online below.

The Kentucky Bluegrass Music Kickoff is a production of the non-profit Kentucky Fellowship of Musicians and the Lebanon Tourist & Convention Commission.

For more information, contact Brad Lanham at 270.692.6559, 270.402.3835 or e-mail kyfellowshipofmusicians@hotmail.com.

**Find directions to Lebanon and Centre Square from your town under the About Us tab!

Centre Square is the convention and visitor center in downtown. 

*A convenience charge of $1.50 per ticket will be added to the total
**When purchasing overnight packages, please specify check in dates, smoking preference and one queen or two in the comments section.