We mentioned it in our weekly preview, but it won’t hurt to say it again - one of our favorite weekends of the year has arrived. ROMP is here, folks. We’ve put together a special edition of Live Music Lou’s Can’t Miss so that you don’t miss a beat if you’re heading west to Owensboro for this fantastic festival. If you haven’t got your tickets yet, you can still get either weekend or daily passes here. If you’re not able to make it, be sure to check out the other Louisville shows!
Wednesday
If you’re lucky enough to take off three weekdays to attend the festival, you can not only get a prime camping location, but also a chance to attend some daytime shows in Pioneer Village. Caribou Mountain Collective will play as you’re eating dinner, and their Colorado-Appalachia fusion bluegrass will be perfectly suitable for dining tunes.
Thursday
Her first gig at ROMP was just last year, and she’s back this year for two shows - Thursday at the International Bluegrass Music Museum stage, and Friday on the main stage. Phoebe’s voice will leave goosebumps all over, and yet it seems to be so effortless for her. If you haven’t yet been to the downtown Owensboro museum, this is definitely one to check out as you’re starting off the weekend.
This year marks the ROMP debut for Live Music Lou favorites The Lone Bellow. We cannot wait to see them again - each time it gets better. Their on-stage presence is difficult to rival. While they may not fit into the traditional bluegrass category, The Lone Bellow have that folky vibe that seamlessly blends in with the rest of the lineup.
It’s been a couple of years since Punch Brothers have taken the stage at Yellow Creek Park, so dedicated ROMP fans will be warmly welcoming them back. These fellas have been off galavanting around the world not only together, but also performing solo and with other bands. All of the guys are extremely talented on each instrument they play, but we’re secretly the most excited for Chris Thile’s mandolin magic.
Friday
Longtime friends Del McCoury and David Grisman will take the stage together for what’s sure to be an epic prime time slot on Friday night. Del is known for storytelling about the good old days (he’s actually hysterical, too) so we can only imagine what these two could come up with together. The duo has been touring around at a few different folk and bluegrass festivals around the country. You wouldn’t want to miss the chance to see them together.
These guys have become after-party favorites and will treat ROMP fans again this year in Pioneer Village. They’ve been compared to many different bands, but have a unique sound that just sets them apart.
Saturday
Grisman, Leslie, Hargreaves & Smith
As fans of The Deadly Gentlemen, we couldn’t help but be intrigued by The Brotet. This mid-afternoon show will be chill as these guys jam on their strings, but they’ll leave you wanting more.
We’ve been ROMP Street Team members for the last few years and every year we take a survey to help the higher-ups decide who to try and get in the future. There’s been a relentless push to get this guy to ROMP and they’ve finally done it - John Prine will be in Owensboro on Saturday, taking the main stage. He’s a legend in the bluegrass world and if you want an up-close spot, you’re likely going to have to camp out in front of the stage for a few hours because this show is going to be packed.
Photo Courtesy of ROMP Fest
