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, […]
Master Musicians Festival announces Kentucky-fueled lineup led by Wynonna Judd to celebrate 30th anniversary
Three-day music festival in Somerset will bring back classical night with Louisville Orchestra, includes a tribute set to three decades of headliners and will honor past volunteer board members SOMERSET, KENTUCKY (January 12, 2023) — One of country music’s most widely recognized and awarded female singers — and a member of one of Kentucky’s most iconic […]
Are you ready to see who is playing MMF30?
Attention MMF Family! Are you ready to see who is playing MMF30? Join us on January 12th at The Virginia in downtown Somerset for our announcement party! Doors open at 6:30pm and the announcement will begin at 7:15pm, with a special performance from the Bolomules – playing all of the 90s country hits to follow! […]
2022 Master Musicians Festival Announcements
Master Musicians Festival Announces Featured Artist, Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient, and Featured Photographer for 2022 Grace Potter, The Wood Brothers, Marty Stuart, and more to perform; July 15 and 16 in Somerset, KY Nate Micheals (Featured Artist), Larry Roberts (Lifetime Achievement), Meredith Frye (Featured Photographer) Honored June 17, 2022 – Somerset, KY – In advance […]
Master Musicians Festival to Bring Grace Potter to Somerset, KY
Longrunning Kentucky festival highlights the greats and those who learned from them; Tickets available here. March 7, 2022 – Somerset, KY – When festival organizers dreamed up the Master Musicians Festival nearly three decades ago, their idea was simple: to honor those whose contributions have had a significant effect on their respective genres and to […]
Beyond Sight – MMF 2021 Featured Photographers
By Jed Keith It started with a podcast. “It all goes back to Penny Royal,” said Kevin Newsome, co-owner of Nicholasville-based Beyond Sight Studios, when asked when his love for photography and videography began. After hearing this podcast — an exploration of tales in Somerset and Pulaski County that skew toward the unusual and off-beaten path […]
2021 Festival Artist Marko Coomer
By Jed Keith “I try to keep it happy,” artist and Somerset native Marko Coomer says of his approach. “There’s always a wink in my work. I am inspired by anything that’s going to bring a smile to someone’s face.” Spend just a few minutes with Coomer and it’s more than evident he’s passionate about […]