Pennington Festival

Eddie Pennington
Award-winning Kentucky guitarist dedicated to preserving the traditional "thumbpicking" styles of Merle Travis

Pennington Festival

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Bobby Bare to headline 2010 Pennington Festival

Story from the Princeton, Ky. Times Leader newspaper:

(Reprinted with permission.)

Times Leader Staff Report
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Bobby Bare –– yes the Grammy award winning country music superstar Bobby Bare who reached the top of the charts with such hits as “Marie Laveau,” “Detroit City” and “Drop Kick Me Jesus (Through the Goalposts of Life)” –– will appear at the Pennington Festival in downtown Princeton.

Bare is set to perform at the festival Saturday, June 5.

“Every year I say this is going to be the best festival we’ve ever had. Well it certainly looks like that this year. I still can’t believe Bobby Bare is coming to Princeton,” said Stacey Menser of the Pennington Festival Committee of the Princeton Art Guild.

This is the 13th year for the festival, named for local thumbpicking guitar great Eddie Pennington. Such performers as Nickel Creek, John McEuen of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, The Osborne Brothers and Junior Brown have graced the festival stage in years past.

“Not only has Eddie booked Bobby Bare to play this year, we will also have the Cumberland Highlanders, a popular bluegrass group with their own nationally-televised show performing,” said Menser.

The Cumberland Highlanders will also take the stage Saturday, June 5, at the festival, and Menser said they will bring their camera crew and film excerpts for their “Crossing the Cumberlands,” show which is viewed by millions each week on RFD-TV.

“People across the country will learn about the Pennington Festival and about Princeton, Kentucky, from this,” said Menser.

The festival actually kicks off Thursday, June 3, with a free square dance open to the public.

The dance will be held at the parking lot of Central Presbyterian Church on West Main Street.

“We wanted to move some activities further down the street away from the Butler lawn to make sure people who come to Princeton for the music will also enjoy our beautiful downtown,” said Menser.

The Princeton Rotary Club will hold a fish fry at the presbyterian church during the Thursday night square dance.

Festival activities resume Friday, June 4, on the Butler lawn with main stage music from 6-10 p.m.

Alonzo Pennington, son of festival namesake Eddie, has invited “some very talented local musicians who are playing on the regional level.”

“Friday night you are going to hear an eclectic mix from some great songwriters and performers,” said Alonzo Pennington, who will close the show Friday night when he performs with the Harper Family Band.

Saturday, June 5, music will begin on the Butler lawn at 10 a.m. with the talent show. Main stage acts will begin at 1 p.m. and continue until approximately 10 p.m.

“There are many exciting things going on around town Saturday to coincide with the festival,” said Menser.

An early morning run/walk, the Run for Your Life sponsored by Caldwell Medical Center, will begin at the Butler lawn.

The Lakeland Cruisers will hold a cruise-in and car show in downtown Princeton Saturday 4-9 p.m.

“These are activities that will bring even more people to our community festival weekend,” said Menser.

For the first time ever, the Pennington Festival will expand into a Sunday concert.

“We are thrilled to partner with H.R. Ministries who will sponsor the final day of the festival, June 6, and they are bringing in some big name talent,” said Menser.

The Sidewalk Prophets, who have been nominated for a Dove Award for Best New Artist and have reached the top of the charts for contemporary Christian music, are scheduled to perform.

Local and regional Christian bands will also perform throughout the day Sunday, June 6. A worship service is planned as well as an appearance by nationally-recognized evangelist Ken Freeman.

“We couldn’t be happier. We have talked about adding a Sunday show to the festival, but just didn’t have the contacts or the energy to pull it off,” said Menser.

“Torey Hammett and Harrell Riley (of H.R. Ministries) have really knocked this one out of the park. In no time, they secured one of the biggest name acts in contemporary Christian music and one of the most popular evangelists to come to Princeton and be part of the Pennington Festival.

“This is definitely going to be an exciting weekend for our community.”

For more information about the festival, contact Menser at 625-5886 or visit the website, www.penningtonfolkfestival.com.

Menser said local businesses and organizations wanting to donate to the festival, which is free and open to the public, need to do so by May 1 to be included in publicity materials.

“Any donation you make to the art guild will be used for the festival Thursday-Saturday,” she said. “H. R. Ministries is footing the bill for the Sunday concert.”

To learn more about H.R. Ministries and how to support the Sunday concert or future ministries, call 365-6044.

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About the Pennington Festival:

Eddie's hometown of Princeton, Kentucky hosts an annual festival in his honor. Some of the biggest names in folk, bluegrass and country music have been featured guests, including Roni Stoneman, Thom Bresh, the Juggernaut Jug Band, and Junior Brown, along with performances by Eddie and his family. Other events associated with the festival include talent shows, picking sessions family square dances and more.

Updated information about the annual Pennington Festival may be found at

http://penningtonfolkfestival.com