The Belle of Louisville is turning 100!
A festival of steamboat madness will arrive down the Ohio River as The Centennial Festival of Riverboats congregates on Waterfront Park for a six-day event this October 14-19 with steamboat races, live music, fireworks, an artisan showcase, and more!
Local record label sonaBLAST! Records has jumped on the steamboat bandwagon a bit early because today they have released "Belle 100: Steamboat Songs," a compilation of steamboat and river flavored songs in honor of The Belle of Louisville's 100th birthday.
Artists that appear on the record includes Kyle James Hauser, The Pass, The Ladybirds, Beady, Brigid Kaelin, Nerves Junior, Leigh Ann Yost, and more.
These songs are not cutesy or simply for a show. Most of them are good enough to put put on their next record.
Hauser's "Love You Like A River" shows off his mastery of the banjo. The Ladybirds's "Dreamboat" will take you back to a time where Fontaine Ferry Park made west Louisville a destination spot on the Ohio River scene. Brigid Kaelin's "On The Avalon" just puts a warm smile on your face. It's that old time feel.
It's interesting to hear Louisville artists writing and playing music about a Louisville landmark. There's imagery you can hold onto and a passion that may not appear on their other music. It's very real.
We all pass by The Belle of Louisville every once in a while right? Who knew it had been traveling the Ohio River waters for 100 years! Maybe "Belle 100: Steamboat Songs" will have you revisiting (or visiting for the first time) The Belle for the first time in a while.
She's still there. She always has been.
To stream "Belle 100: Steamboat Songs" click here
You can also find the record on iTunes right here
