Welcome to the Bluegrass, Blues and Barbecue Region of Kentucky, an area of the Commonwealth that is rich in tradition and home to legends.
The region takes its name from the two musical genres and the unique style of cooking that each has their genesis here and has quickly grown to world-famous stature.
Two musical pioneers have called the area home; the music they created shaped not only the local experience but has had a profound impact on American culture. Bill Monroe, born in Rosine, is the Father of Bluegrass Music, having invented this groundbreaking art form in the 1930s. W.C. Handy, known as the Father of the Blues, wrote that his time spent in Henderson greatly influenced the music he would later write.
The region carries on the legacy of these famous founders today. Owensboro is home to the International Bluegrass Museum, and numerous annual bluegrass and blues festivals are celebrated throughout the year.
The region’s barbecue heritage traces to the 1830s, when churches began holding annual barbecues to build community and raise funds. Today, the traditional manner of barbecue continues in the region, with an abundance of church festivals and restaurants slow-cooking mutton, chicken and pork for hours at a time over smoky hickory-wood fires.
Beyond the toe-tapping tunes and mouth-watering foods of the Bluegrass, Blues and Barbecue Region, there are the sights, sounds and smells of the area’s natural beauty for campers, boaters, hikers, bikers and sportsmen of all types. The region’s myriad museums recount the history, art and culture of the area in fascinating detail.
Phone: 800.489.1131
Website: www.BBBRegion.com
