A Sweet Sound Fills the Air Once Again
Yellowbanks Dulcimer Festival

This June, one of the most interesting festivals comes to Owensboro: The Yellowbanks Dulcimer Festival! Nestled on the banks of the Ohio River at English Park, you will no doubt come to realize why so many people love this unique and beautiful instrument. Presented by The Yellowbanks Dulcimer Society of Owensboro, the 17th annual Dulcimer Festival on June 6th and 7th will provide a plethora of entertainment –  everything from concerts on Friday & Saturday evenings, to workshops Friday afternoon and all day Saturday, to craft and food vendors throughout the whole event. The concerts will feature such folk music standouts as Jeff Hames, Bing Futch, Peggy Carter, Gary Sager, Kara Barnard and Atwater-Donnelly. The workshops will include instruction on mountain and hammer dulcimer, banjo, guitar, bowed psaltery, fiddle, mandolin, penny whistle and Harmonica. Forty-two workshops for beginners to advanced and children to adults will be available. A mini-concert, clogging demonstration, jam sessions and an open stage with society members and guest artists will complete the festival’s activities. Another great thing about this one-of-a-kind festival is that it is absolutely FREE! ...Did you hear that? It’s FREE!

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Are you sitting there wondering, “What in the world is a Dulcimer?” While I am certainly not the most qualified person to describe this fascinating instrument, I will give it my best shot. A Dulcimer is a narrow, often hourglass-shaped stringed instrument having three or four strings and a “fretted fingerboard,” typically held flat across the knees while sitting and played by plucking or strumming. There are many variations of this mind you; it would be best for you to come see one for yourself… The name means “sweet song” in Latin, and it really is a sweet sound; there’s nothing quite like it. No one knows for sure when the Dulcimer was invented, but we do know it originated from the Appalachian Mountains, making it the only instrument originating from this area. All are handmade and unique. They are basically built the same, but all have a different sound depending on the construction and type of wood. Even if multiple instruments come from the same wood, it will still sound different, making each and every Dulcimer special and unique.  

Another interesting fact about the Dulcimer is that it just became the Kentucky State Instrument, along with clogging as the state dance.

All the music for the Dulcimer is original and passed down from generation to generation and festival to festival. This is one reason why so many people flock to the Dulcimer fest each year- to share and receive new songs.

“We all love this old-time music because it is a reminder that there was a time when life was simple and music was a ‘homemade’ thing to be played just for the fun of it,” says Thelma Newman, Yellowbanks Dulcimer Fest event coordinator.  

So come on down to the riverfront and take this opportunity to learn a thing or two about Kentucky history and enjoy a taste of yesteryear!

For more information, please contact Thelma Newman, by emailing yellowbanks@bellsouth.net.