While the Bluegrass State is known for many things — notably race horses, fine bourbon, and great basketball — there is a musical side of Kentucky that is just as much a part of the state’s heritage.
A long list of famous singers share Kentucky roots, including artists such as Loretta Lynn, Ricky Skaggs and Bill Monroe, the “Father of Bluegrass” credited with introducing the world to the mountain music of rural Kentucky and the region and influencing the work of popular performers in many genres.
That Bluegrass-inspired influence still exists today for famous and not-so-famous singers alike, and a hometown venue has worked for more than a decade to keep the form of music alive and thriving.
Red Barn Radio, which has been in existence for 13 years, has featured artists mainly from the state and the surrounding areas showcasing the music that generations of Kentuckians have grown up with.
Ed Commons
edcommons
Ed Commons
Ed Commons, the executive producer and director of the show, works to showcase today’s great and often hidden talent on the Red Barn stage.
“Our mission is to preserve and promote the music of Kentucky and the region,” he said.
In doing that, Commons has gathered “homegrown” musicians to showcase their talents, and thanks to modern technology, he has broadcast this music to the entire planet.
“Over the years, we have accumulated a roster of hundreds and hundreds of musicians who have been on the show, most of them from Kentucky and the region right around the state,” he said. “What surprises me most is the quality of the talent that we have right here.”
Many of the people that come to RBR have other jobs and do other things aside from singing and playing instruments. But they all have one thing in common: They share a passion for the music they perform.
Commons said he thinks because these folks aren’t constantly on the road performing, they come with an added excitement not always seen from some of the big-time stars. “We do not have a star, if you will, but we really are about the music and musicians,” he said.
In addition to the great music, listeners also get acquainted with the artists from interviews. During the production of the show, two 10-to-12-minute interview segments are recorded with the highlighted musicians.
“What we try to focus on in those is not about what the latest CD is or where they’re performing — although that’s part of it — but where their music came from and was their music in the family? Where did the musician’s instruments come from?” Commons said.
Commons said there are many great stories that come from these musicians, and Red Barn listeners appreciate hearing the history from these artists.
Over time, the music, which has been mostly of the bluegrass variety, has morphed a bit to include more Americana, a genre of music that is derived from a blend of American-rooted music such as country, blues and folk.
“So many of the younger acts, although they are acoustic and have a basis in bluegrass, they’re really bending that, and there’s a real excitement to what they are doing,” said Commons.
He added that people are appreciating the art of storytelling and songs that talk about something of importance instead of just a catchy hook line in many pop-country songs.
“I’m very proud to be associated with furthering that kind of music,” he said.
Commons also thinks a generation of music lovers are rediscovering the music from Appalachia and eastern Kentucky for its purity, its “folkness” and its history. Just like the homegrown commodities Kentucky is known for, the type of music heard on each RBR broadcast is also a homegrown product and represents a way of life for many, noted Commons.
“There are people out there who are creating a life that really has that Kentucky pride involved — not only the food but the music and everything else within the area in which we live, which we all love,” he said.
RBR host Donald Mason leads listeners through each one-hour show that is recorded at the Performance Hall at ArtsPlace in downtown Lexington.
The shows, recorded each Wednesday, are broadcast by several radio stations around the area and can be found on the RBR website for a worldwide audience. Commons said he has even heard from people in New Zealand who have discovered the show by way of the web.
To get a listing of the stations that feature the show or listen to past performances, visit http://redbarnradio.com. BL