Grammy Award Winners, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Delight A Packed House At The Mountain Arts Center In Prestonsburg
*A huge thank you to James Stamper for the assist with this article*
The Tedeschi Trucks Band brought their superb show to the best venue of its kind, the Mountain Arts Center on February 25th, 2020. The Mountain Arts Center, or known locally as the “MAC”, Is a 1,040-seat venue that in my mind has the best sound and best lighting system in all east Kentucky. I have seen a lot of shows here from Ralph Stanley to Ricky Skaggs to Goose Creek Symphony to Dressed to Kill – The Kiss tribute band. Every show has been perfect. I would love to see more acts appear at this venue. If you’re around Prestonsburg, KY and there’s a show happening, you must see what an amazing place this truly is. With that being said, I want to give a HUGE thank you to the Mountain Arts Center and the Mayor of Prestonsburg, Les Stapleton, for bringing this outstanding act to eastern Kentucky! This will be one show that will never be forgotten! (more…)
There’s No Place Like Home. Tyler Booth Came Home To Celebrate His Recent Signing To Sony Music
Capture Kentucky has been honored to be a small part of the Kentucky music family for nearly three years. We’ve witnessed so many great moments and seen several artists outgrow the confines of our Commonwealth. The Mountain Arts Center has become a rite of passage for artists as they climb the ranks, so on Saturday it was time for Tyler’s journey.
That room has hosted several great Kentucky artists and on Saturday night in Prestonsburg, everyone in attendance became a part of history as Tyler Booth came home for a show at the Mountain Arts Center.
What I just stated, may seem like an exaggeration, so ultimately we need to allow time be the judge and jury, but I saw so many indicators on Saturday that I’m going to simply say that I’m all-in on Tyler Booth.
See, Tyler Booth is a very special artist for Capture Kentucky, but more importantly, he’s a special young man to me on a personal level. I’ve known Tyler and his family for years and while that may cloud some folks judgment, I assure you that I do not allow that relationship to do so. Having said that, I’m going to do my best to help you see, hear and understand why this young man is destined to be a Country superstar.
Before we get to that though, we need to discuss the performances of Chelsea Nolan, and the Laid Back Country Picker. (more…)
PHOTOS: JAMuary Raises More Than $5000 For The Prestonsburg High School Band Program. Features Colby O’Bryan, Wayne Graham, Luna And The Mountain Jets, Laid Back Country Picker, Down To The River, and Magnolia Boulevard
I hope you enjoy our coverage of the many wonderful artists who helped raise nearly $5000 for the Prestonsburg High School Band Program.
Colby O’Bryan:
Wayne Graham:
The Spark Of Hope. The Important Role Of The Mountain Arts Center in Prestonsburg
I approached the Mountain Arts Center in Prestonsburg back in 2017. They had no idea who I was and on a personal level, I had no idea who they were. Over time, I have worked closely with Joe Campbell. Joe is the Executive Director at the Mountain Arts Center, or the MAC, as it’s affectionately referred to. Joe and I bounced ideas off of each other, helping each other move forward. I asked if he’d like to partner up to create opportunities for Kentucky artists. He said yes and we began to discuss different ways to accomplish that goal.
I’ve been working on and thinking about this article for quite some time. I sat out to write an article that highlighted all the great musicians that are an alumnus of the Kentucky Opry, but the further I dug into that side of things, I decided that this article needed to be broader to convey what I was discovering. So, I want to take a step back and focus on what the Mountain Arts Center means to the folks in Eastern Kentucky. (more…)
Music Rules! Our Recap Of The Music Rules Fest At The Jenny Wiley Amphitheatre
The Music Rules Fest is a partnership between the Mountain Arts Center and Capture Kentucky. It is an event that I am incredibly proud of and that’s exactly why this article has been so difficult for me to write.
The City of Prestonsburg now has control of the Jenny Wiley Amphitheatre, which is located in the gorgeous Jenny Wiley State Park. They have allowed the Mountain Arts Center to run the venue as a sister venue to the 1044 seated theatre at the MAC.
The city has begun a remodel of the venue and there are plans to further improve the amphitheater. Restoring it to it’s once prominent place in the community.
The Music Rules Fest was developed to be a genre-less music festival that promises good music for good people. A simple concept that we felt could grow and become a tradition while growing into a Kentucky destination music festival. (more…)
Jason Isbell Delights The MAC In Prestonsburg
*Photo provided by an anonymous Facebook rule-breaking renegade
Jason Isbell brought his acoustic show to the Mountain Arts Center (MAC) for a nearly sold-out performance. Just over 1,000 tickets were gobbled up almost immediately and deservedly so. There were a few seats that opened up last minute, otherwise it would have certainly been a sell out.
I do want to say one thing about the MAC. I know I sound like a broken record, but the MAC is an absolute Kentucky treasure. I have now seen Chris Stapleton, Tyler Childers and Jason Isbell in that room. If you’re overlooking the MAC, you need to remedy that because those folks and the venue itself are top-notch.
Mr. Isbell is often recognized as one the greatest songwriters around and in what has became a winter tradition, Jason Isbell ends the year with
Billie Jean Osborne’s Kentucky Opry Christmas At The MAC In Prestonsburg: 2018 Edition!
Last year, we made the trek to Prestonsburg after being invited to the Mountain Arts Center, or MAC as it is often referred to, to photograph their Christmas show. The MAC was the vision of Bille Jean Osborne. She was a lifelong educator that made it her goal in life to create a venue and a musical program to help foster the talent in and around Eastern Kentucky.
Her vision not only garnered the wonderful venue that is the MAC, but it began when she created the Kentucky Opry, which is now named in her honor. Billie Jean Osborne was a wonderful lady, and as an educator, she made sure she included the kids in most everything she did. That’s also why the Kentucky Jr. Pros exists.
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Both of those organizations are given many opportunities to shine throughout the year, but the Christmas shows are definitely a highlight, as the Jr. Pros open the (more…)
Star City Sessions At Gearheart Auditorium In Prestonsburg Featuring Nicholas Jamerson, Bek and Tim Smallwood, Sean Whiting And Grayson Jenkins
Nicholas Jamerson
Bek and Tim Smallwood
Sean Whiting
Grayson Jenkins
SOLD OUT!! Crowder Raises The Roof And Spirits At The Mountain Arts Center In Prestonsburg
When it comes to Contemporary Christian music, few names are bigger than that of Crowder. So as you can imagine, Prestonsburg was buzzing with excitement that such an amazingly talented individual was visiting the Mountain Arts Center.
Crowder is the last name and moniker used by Mr. David Crowder. He rose to prominence as the frontman of the David Crowder Band. A position he held until 2012 when the band decided it was time to move on. David then pursued a solo career and Crowder is the end result. The Texas native is well known for his energetic performances and wonderful message as a fellowship leader, so I was excited to finally get to experience Crowder in one of my favorite venues.
If you’re a reader of this site, you’ll know that, in my humble opinion, the Mountain Arts Center, or MAC as it’s often referred to, has the best lighting and sound in Kentucky. The folks that run the MAC are also top-notch, so as an Eastern Kentuckian, I love to catch a show there and I knew Crowder would enjoy themselves at the MAC. (more…)