Jul 30th, 2007
Osborne Brothers Hometown Festival is a Leslie County tradition
The Osborne Brothers on stage at the 2003 festival
By Debbie Sutton, production assistance Julie Shepherd & Josh Noah
July 30th, 2007 - In 1953 two brothers from Hyden Kentucky, Bobby and Sonny Osborne, decided to hit the bluegrass music scene with a bang with hits like “Rocky Top, Kentucky”. They soon became one of the top brother acts in bluegrass music, during those years they didn’t have much time to visit their hometown of Hyden. In 1994 they were elected into the International Bluegrass Music Association Hall of Honor, and that same year with the help of their cousin Deane Osborne they held the first Osborne Brothers Hometown Festival.
Only a couple hundred people turned out that first year, but the Osborne brothers had faith in their hometown folk and stuck with it, now 14 years later it has grown from 300 people that first year, to almost ten thousand people attending last year. The Osborne Brothers festival is now ranked as one of the fastest growing bluegrass festivals in the nation.
Dean Osborne said that the ticket prices are what makes this bluegrass festival so great “Our 3 day ticket is the same price as other festivals Wednesdays meal tickets, no matter who we put on stage”. “This Bluegrass Festival is the main events in Leslie county has to look forward to each year ” stated Vernon Couch who has lived in Leslie County his whole life. The festival has also become a great fund-raiser for the county and local fire departments.
Osborne Brothers at the Opry
Even though Sonny retired from bluegrass music due to a shoulder injury a couple of years ago, Bobby is still hitting bluegrass hard and is very involved with the hometown festival. A lot of people thought that this bluegrass festival wouldn’t survive, but the small town of Hyden has proven those critics wrong, not only are the hometown people supporting the festival but also the people from 13 different states who came to Hyden last year to attend the bluegrass festival .
As a hometown girl I am very happy to see the Osborne Brothers give back to their community and to see the people of Hyden support their hometown heroes and their homegrown music.
The Osborne Brothers Festival
The Osborne Brothers
The Dean Osborne Band
4 Responses to “Osborne Brothers Hometown Festival is a Leslie County tradition”
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Good Job Deb I think the Osborne Bro. would like it !
Great article. Hometown heros, hometown fans, and hometown traditions. It’s a wonderful story.
Ha! I found it. Great article. I remember going to this for many years growing up. It is truly a good time.
Great job Deb!!! I loved the story. I’m proud of ya girl!