Another major area music festival is being postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic.
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For the first time in over a decade, Owensboro will not host thousands of blugrass music fans the last week of June at the ROMP Festival.
Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and Museumexecutive director Chris Joslin says it was clear that the effects of the pandemic were going to cause problems for the ROMP festival’s regularly scheduled weekend.
“It’s not a decision that we make lightly, because it’s grown into such a big event. You know, last year we had folks from forty states and nearly a dozen countries. Certainly, it’s a big fundraiser for the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and Museum here in Owensboro and it has a tremendous economic impact. But, given the current uncertainty, and at the end of the day, producing a safe event is the most important thing.”
Joslin says they would like to hold ROMP later this year if possible, but no date has been set. A highlight of the 2020 festival was to be a recording of the "Live from Here" program, hosted by ROMP favorite Chris Thile. There's also no word on if that recording is going to be rescheduled.