Visitors to the Kentucky Arts Council’s three-day Kentucky Crafted Market will be treated to the sounds of 19 of the best and most diverse musical acts in Kentucky.
The Kentucky Stage adds a music festival atmosphere to the annual event that features nearly 200 Kentucky Crafted artists during The Market’s public hours March 2-4 at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville.
The 19 music acts, hailing from all over the Commonwealth, will perform in the South Wing A Atrium outside the exhibit hall at the Exposition Center. Musicians from the performing groups will sell merchandise and meet fans following their respective performances.
The singing and songwriting duo Heath & Molly, made up of Heath and Molly Eric of Rumsey, are veteran performers on The Kentucky Stage. Molly Eric said she and Heath always return to The Kentucky Stage because the audience is so receptive to new and original music.
“The audience is always great,” Molly said. “When people come, they’re there to explore and absorb art. It’s always nice to play to people who want to hear what you have to say.”
As touring and recording musicians, the duo does not often get to listen to other acts, so when they are not on stage at The Market, they enjoy getting to be music fans for a few hours.
“You can go to tons of music venues in Kentucky and find every cover band known to man,” Molly said. “Those are great musicians too, but when you’re talking about true art, The Market’s Kentucky Stage is by far one of the best places to see original music coming from original Kentucky artists. That stands out to me. It’s full of original music you’re not going to hear in a bar and at some other music festivals.”
American Sign Language interpreters will be provided for all Kentucky Stage performances.
The schedule of acts includes:
Friday, March 2
Raison D’Etre, 5 p.m.
Juggernaut Jug Band, 6 p.m.
Appalatin & Zoe Speaks, 7 p.m.
Saturday, March 3
na Skylark, 10 a.m.
Colin Grant-Adams, 11 a.m.
No Tools Loaned, noon
Keltricity, 1 p.m.
TDH4, 2 p.m.
The Misty Mountain String Band, 3 p.m.
Marcus Wilkerson, 4 p.m.
Phourist and the Photons, 5 p.m.
The Afrophysicists, 6 p.m.
Sunday, March 4
Kyle Meadows, 10 a.m.
Greg Schaber, 11 a.m.
Hog Operation, noon
Butch Rice, 1 p.m.
Rick Oldfield & Curnie Lee Wilson Band, 2 p.m.
Small Time Napoleon, 3 p.m.
Heath & Molly, 4 p.m.
The Market doors open to the public March 2-4. Hours for The Market are:
• March 2, 5-8 p.m.
• March 3, 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
• March 4, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Tickets are $10 at the door or $8 purchased online, but access to the Kentucky Stage is free. Seniors, active duty military with identification and state employees with identification will receive a $2 discount at the door. Children 15 and under are admitted free with a paying adult. Tickets for Friday’s hours are $5.
For more information on The Kentucky Crafted Market, visit the arts council website.
