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It’s once again time for one of the most interesting festivals to come to Owensboro: The Yellowbanks Dulcimer Festival! Nestled on the banks of the Ohio River at the newly renovated and stunning 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 18^th annual Dulcimer Festival on June 5^th and 6^th will provide a plethora of entertainment: everything from concerts on Friday and Saturday evening, 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 Kara Barnard, Dave Haas, Stephen Humphries, Ken Kolodner, Fred Meyer, Jim Miller and Les Gustafson-Zook. The workshops will include instruction on mountain and hammer dulcimer, banjo, guitar, bowed psaltery, fiddle, mandolin, penny whistle and Harmonica.

Stephen Humphries

            Numerous workshops for beginners to advanced, children to adults, will be available. A mini-concert, clogging demonstration, jam sessions and 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!

            So, are you sitting there, scratching your head, trying to figure out what exactly is a Dulcimer? While I am certainly not the most qualified person to describe this interesting 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 word dulcimer 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. 

            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, event coordinator. 

            Voted as one of Southeast Tourism Society’s Top Twenty Events for the Month of June for the past three years, you do not want to miss this fabulous festival! 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 yellowbanks@bellsouth.net.