MMF Introduces Young Songwriters Retreat
New full-day workshop offers intimate experience for budding musicians to learn from regional talent SOMERSET, KENTUCKY (March 12, 2025) — The Master Musicians Festival (MMF) has long been known for its emphasis on music education and offering performance opportunities to young songwriters. A new initiative announced today by the non-profit festival marries these two mission-centric […]
Don Bloomer receives the 2024 Master Musicians Festival Lifetime Achievement Award
‘It’s about community’: Former Citizens National Bank President Don Bloomer receives the 2024 Master Musicians Festival Lifetime Achievement Award Story by Jed Keith SOMERSET, KENTUCKY (July 9, 2024) — Headquartered in Pulaski County, Citizens National Bank (CNB) has been a cornerstone of the Lake Cumberland region for decades, providing the area’s residents with a host […]
Q&A with MMF 2024 Featured Artist Jimbo Valentine
Each year, the Master Musicians Festival, a 501c3 non-profit organization, commissions a Kentucky artist to create a piece inspired by the festival. The featured artwork is used on the front of MMF’s lineup T-shirt, which can be purchased during the festival at the merchandise tent, and is auctioned to benefit the following year’s festival. The […]
MMF Next Generation initiative expands to colleges and universities
Sponsorship allows participating high school, college graduates to attend two-day music festival for free SOMERSET, KENTUCKY (May 31, 2024) — After an overwhelmingly positive response to a new initiative last year that provided free Master Musicians Festival (MMF) weekend passes to local high school graduates, the program is expanding to include colleges and universities. MMF’s […]
Q&A with 2024 MMF Featured Photographer Misty Phillips
Give us a quick bio: Where you are from, what school(s) you’ve attended, any special training or recognition you want to mention, where you work, the name of your photography business, and family. I’m from Alpha, Kentucky (on the Wayne/Clinton line). I’m an 80s baby. I attended Lexington Community College and Somerset Community College and […]
Master Musicians Festival surprises fans with early lineup announcement featuring The Wallflowers as headliner
Southeastern Kentucky’s premier summer music event makes history with pre-holiday release; tickets go on sale on Black Friday It has been a year of records for the Master Musicians Festival. On the heels of a record-breaking crowd for the 30th anniversary of the festival in July, MMF organizers gave their fans a holiday surprise today […]
Denny Fries to be honored with MMF Lifetime Achievement Award
By Jed Keith People called to service have a tendency to downplay their invaluable contributions to their community. Denny Fries, the recipient of 2023’s Master Musicians Festival Lifetime Achievement Award, is the embodiment of that ethos. “Picking me out of the bunch is an honor, but so many people have been instrumental to the process […]
Local musician Hunter Flynn honored as featured artist at 30th annual MMF
Charcoal drawing highlights Lake Cumberland icon Billy the Goat, capturing community’s culture By Jed Keith “It’s about focusing on people.” And in whatever artistic endeavor Hunter Flynn throws himself, that’s where his focus lies. Flynn has made a name for himself in the Lake Cumberland area during the last year-and-a-half since devoting his time to […]
Rising Somerset High School Senior Selected as MMF Featured Photographer
By Lucy McArthurHana Saich was in fifth grade when she attended her first concert with her mother.“Funny how it all started with music,” she said. “It was a Melanie Martinez concert, and the environment inspired me from that night on to try and capture images of all the beautiful things that stem from people coming […]
All 2023 graduating seniors in Pulaski, Wayne, and McCreary counties receive free weekend passes to Master Musicians Festival
Partnership with area sponsors expands MMF’s mission to bring music education to people of all ages in southeastern Kentucky SOMERSET, KENTUCKY (April 17, 2023) — Leaning on its mission to bring multicultural music to people of all ages in southeastern Kentucky, the Master Musicians Festival announced today that, with the help of three generous sponsors, […]
