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Owensboro Bluegrass Festival Considering New Date

International Bluegrass Music Museum

Organizers of the ROMP festival in Owensboro are considering a new date for the annual bluegrass event.  The International Bluegrass Music Museum is conducting an online poll this month asking fans if they would prefer moving the festival from the last weekend in June to the weekend after Memorial Day.  The museum’s executive director Gabrielle Gray tells the Messenger-Inquirer that organizers are trying to "keep the audience happy, safe, and cooler."  Owensboro set an all-time heat record of 107 degrees during this year’s festival, yet ROMP still drew a record crowd of around 21,000 people.  Gray says moving up the festival dates would not compete with any other bluegrass events.  She adds that so far, the online poll is running about 65% in favor of the earlier dates.  Fans can vote on the move by going to rompfest.com.  Gray says a decision will be made by September 24 when the museum’s board of trustees is scheduled to meet.

Lisa is a Scottsville native and WKU alum. She has worked in radio as a news reporter and anchor for 18 years. Prior to joining WKU Public Radio, she most recently worked at WHAS in Louisville and WLAC in Nashville. She has received numerous awards from the Associated Press, including Best Reporter in Kentucky. Many of her stories have been heard on NPR.