Bluegrass Hall of Fame's 'First Fridays' to return for 3rd year

Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum’s free “First Fridays” concert series will return for its third year starting next month.

The contemporary Christian music series — which was previously titled “Faith Night at the Museum” during 2023 — will take place from 5-8 p.m. on the first Friday from June through August on the Michael E. Horn Family Foundation Outdoor Stage located behind the Hall of Fame facility, 311 W. Second St.

As with prior years, the concerts will run in tandem with the long-running entertainment series Friday After 5.

“We love being part of everything that’s going on downtown with Friday After 5; we just love that summer series,” said Chris Joslin, executive director at the Hall of Fame, “and I think we landed on a concept that just works really well for us.”

Each night will feature the Owensboro Bluegrass Band — led by Joslin and Randy Lanham, the organization’s education director — as the opening act before introducing a prominent contemporary Christian music act.

The headliners will be a mix of up-and-comers and established artists, which Joslin said was intentional.

“It mirrors somewhat of our playbook for ROMP; when you think about ROMP, you always have your headliners like Dierks Bentley this year and Molly Tuttle, you have your favorites like Leftover Salmon and The Earls of Leicester,” he said. “But then to be able to showcase emerging talent like The Price Sisters, and Rick Faris — our new hometown hero — and The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys. … (If) you like good music, it just keeps it interesting because you know there’s going to be a variety — some of it’s going to be very familiar and some of it’s going to be discovery.”

The series will kick off with Gospel Music Association (GMA) Dove Award-winning artist, songwriter and worship leader Sarah Kroger on June 7.

A Rollins College graduate, Kroger released her first extended play, “Your Time,” in 2011, followed by a collection of music for liturgy and personal prayer, “Hallelujah Is Our Song,” in 2013.

Further releases include the albums “Bloom,” “Light” and “The London Sessions (Live)” in 2019, 2020 and 2023, respectively.

Kroger also has performed at both national and international events such as the Jubilmusic — International Christian Music Festival in San Remo, Italy, the Atlanta Eucharistic Conference, Steubenville conferences and World Youth Day 2014 in Brazil.

Her forthcoming record, the 10-track “A New Reality,” is scheduled for release on May 17.

“... Her songwriting and what she brings to the table is just so authentic,” Joslin said. “... People can really identify with that and I know she’s had some radio play as well, so she’s definitely an emerging artist that’s getting a lot of attention in the CCM world.”

Two-time GMA Dove Award-nominated singer-songwriter Jordan St. Cyr will headline the series on July 5.

Born in Niverville, Manitoba, Canada, St. Cyr was inspired to pursue a career in music after serving with Youth With a Mission (YWAM) during his teenage years. In 2021, St. Cyr earned recognition from Billboard magazine as the No. 2 “Top New Christian Artist,” while his single, “Fires,” saw success on Christian radio for 45 weeks and became a top five hit on the Christian songs charts.

The following year, St. Cyr released his self-titled debut album which included “Weary Traveler,” which peaked at No. 1 on multiple radio charts, including the U.S. Billboard Christian Airplay chart.

The album itself earned St. Cyr his first Juno Award nomination and win — Canada’s equivalent to a Grammy Award in the U.S. — for “Contemporary Christian/Gospel Album of the Year” in 2023.

“I love his approach to the music and the energy that he brings to the music,” Joslin said. “I think people are really responding to that (that are) fans of his since we’ve announced the series ….”

Christian rock band Sanctus Real will conclude “First Fridays” on Aug. 2.

Originating from Toledo, Ohio, Sanctus Real formed in 1996 and released three independent records before the group’s first studio effort, “Say It Loud,” was put out in 2002 with Sparrow Records.

Two years later, the band hit mainstream success with the release of the album “Fight the Tide,” which won the GMA Dove Award for “Modern Rock Album of the Year” in 2005 and spawned the hit singles “Everything About You” and “The Fight Song” — both of which peaked at No. 1 on the former Radio & Records (R&R) magazine’s Christian rock radio chart.

The band’s third studio album, “The Face of Love” in 2006, was met with similar success with the record being nominated for the “Rock/Contemporary Album of the Year” at the 38th GMA Dove Awards and became the group’s first album to chart on the U.S. Billboard 200 albums chart.

The songs “Don’t Give Up” and “I’m Not Alright” were No. 1 hits with R&R, with the former single peaking at No. 11 on both the U.S. Billboard Christian Airplay and Christian Songs charts and No. 25 on the Christian AC (adult contemporary) chart.

In total, the group has been nominated for a total of seven GMA Dove Awards and have also been acknowledged with two Grammy Award nominations for “Best Rock or Rap Gospel Album” for the 2008 release “We Need Each Other” and “”Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album” for the 2010 effort “Pieces of a Real Heart.”

“Sanctus Real has been on the scene for sometime, but they have quite a legacy,” Joslin said. “They’ve changed some band members and their lead singer along the way, but … some of the things that define them as a group have remained very consistent.

“... It’s great to see they’re still making great music, and great records and still relevant and have something to say and the fans responding to that.”

The series will also feature food trucks, vendors and more and is a alcohol-free concert series. No outside coolers are permitted.

Those interested in attending are encouraged to bring blankets and chairs as seating is not provided.

The concert series is free to attend, which was made possible by the generosity of Castlen Steel LLC., Beef & Bacon Custom Processing, Larry and Lamone Mayfield, Sen. Gary and Meg Boswell, Bill and Jo Barron, Keith and Vickie Sharber, WinSupply of Owensboro and Henry’s Plumbing, Heating and Air.

“First Fridays” will also work in conjunction, from a marketing and media sponsor standpoint, with Christian Family Radio based out of Bowling Green.

For more information, visit bluegrasshall.org/live-music-events/first-fridays.