It's live music time in the Bluegrass: Venues starting to reopen

Joslyn & the Sweet Compression

We’ve spent a lot of time missing sports over the past four months (!) of COVID-19. But a whole bunch of us have been starving for live music during a season normally filled with concerts and festivals. Fortunately for you cabin-fevered songbirds, some Kentucky venues are starting to open back up for outdoor events, provided audiences wear masks and stay properly distanced.

Here are a few opportunities to catch musicians who are bound to flat tear up some stages around the state after entirely too much time off. Just remember to wear a mask, give people their space and — this is very important — don’t be a jerk to employees.

The Burl

Lexington’s premier small music venue has figured out a way to host its fourth anniversary party on Saturday, July 18, in the parking lot. And now that Kismet at the Burl is open for food, it’s a great way to spend an evening pretending everything is normal. Burl favorites DeeOhGee (formerly Blackfoot Gypsies), Johnny Conqueroo and Mojothunder will bring the tunes. They’re setting up 45 tables that you can reserve for up to six people (no individual tickets).

The anniversary bash kicks off a series of weekend outdoor concerts that include Brother Smith, Eric Bolander, Grayson Jenkins, Abby Hamilton and Joslyn & the Sweet Compression.

Tidball’s

Wild nights in Bowling Green are back at Tidball’s, one of the best dives in America that’s been called the CBGB of the south. It’s got a full slate of shows leading up to Live on the Lot 2020 outdoor festival.

Zanzabar

The Louisville rock venue is restarting its shows in August, kicking off with actress and singer Alicia Witt (you’ve probably seen her on The Walking Dead and Justified) on Sunday, Aug. 2.

Southgate House Revival

Head on up to Newport for one of the area’s most unique venues, which has reopened with a limit of 50 tickets per show.

Laurel Cove

The awesome Bell County music festival canceled, but it just announced a great show on Aug. 15 in its amphitheater featuring Arlo McKinley for the release of his first album on John Prine’s Oh Boy Records, “Die Midwestern.” John R. Miller & the Engine Lights and Dave Shoemaker will open.

Manchester Music Festival

Leave it to Clay County to put up a fight during the pandemic; here’s here’s one of the few festivals that’s still on. This year’s headliners are The White Buffalo, Lucero and The Steel Woods. Oh, and it’s all free. It’s held in downtown Manchester Aug. 27-29.

Go support some musicians who could really use it right now. And seriously, don’t be a jerk.