Eastern Kentucky has long been known as an originator of great music and great musicians, from young artists on the rise like Tyler Childers and Chelsea Nolan to household names like Loretta Lynn and Jean Ritchie. It’s also a great place to experience music firsthand. This summer, check out major headliners and up-and-coming regional musicians at one of the many music festivals happening throughout Eastern Kentucky.
Multi-day fests running from May-September in Kentucky’s 54 Appalachian counties:
- Saltworks Appalachian Homecoming – Clay County (May 23-25)
- Laurel Cove Music Festival – Bell County (June 7-8)
- Seedtime on the Cumberland – Letcher County (June 7-8)
- Festival of the Red – Powell County (June 28-29)
- Shriners Bluegrass Festival – Carter County (July 11-13)
- Master Musician Festival – Pulaski County (July 19-20)
- North Fork Music Festival – Perry County (July 26-27)
- Osborne Brothers Hometown Festival – Leslie County (July 31-Aug 3)
- Bearded Man Festival – Estill County (August 14-18)
- Manchester Music Festival – Clay County (August 29-31)
- Kickin’ It On the Creek – Estill County (September 19-21)
Additionally, these towns have summer music series:
- Live on the Licking – Morgan County
- Levitt Amp Berea – Madison County
- Levitt Amp Middlesboro – Bell County
- Levitt Amp Whitesburg – Letcher County
Please note, we focused on multi-day festivals (feel free to contact us if we missed any!). There are many other music venues, including Jenny Wiley Theatre, the Mountain Arts Center, EKU Center for the Arts and Kentucky Music Hall of Fame that have great concert events this summer.
Here’s to exploring Eastern Kentucky!
