Kentucky's Underrated Music Hub Is Packed With Country Heritage, Bluegrass Jams, And Festivals

The United States contains regional music scenes everywhere, including lesser-known locales like Tulsa, the wildly underrated southern music city that could be the next Nashville or Austin, and the Chicago suburb of Highland Park, home to America's oldest music festival. While Kentucky might put you in mind of bourbon and horse racing, it's also known as the "Bluegrass State" – and for good reason. Look no further than the town of Olive Hill, Kentucky, which boasts the claim to fame of being the birthplace of country music songwriting legend Tom T. Hall, and today is a lively musical hub.

Olive Hill is a prime stop along U.S. 23, also known as the "Country Music Highway": this iconic stretch of the interstate has spawned more country music stars per capita than anywhere else in the world. It's also under two and a half hours by car from Louisville and Cincinnati, and just 90 minutes from Lexington, rendering it an ideal destination for a weekend away from the city. 

Rich in cultural capital, this underrated town is a music-lover's paradise. It's chock-full of country and bluegrass musical heritage and a calendar of musical events and festivals to rival a far bigger metropolis. So, pull on your cowboy boots and denim attire, and make your way to this under-the-radar gem.

The Olive Hill C&O Depot – historically the train depot for the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad, which passed through the town — has a second life today. Not only does it house the town's welcome center and function as a walking trailhead, it's also a hot spot for community musical events. Both planned solo musical performances and improvisational jam sessions happen frequently here, including impromptu ones around the community fire pit, so it's always worth popping by the depot in the evening just to see what's going on.

For more bluegrass jams, keep tabs on the happenings of Orange Army Bluegrass. A registered non-profit organization, the Orange Army Bluegrass Festival works to raise money in support of cancer patients in the community, for whom the logistical costs, combined with loss of income as they battle the disease, can be debilitating. Every summer, Orange Army Bluegrass hosts an annual country and rock music festival with numerous live bands over three days, along with a multitude of food vendors, a charity auction, and the option to camp out.

There's not only one festival on Olive Hill's docket. Like with Idaho's "fiddle capital of the world," Olive Hill has plenty of music festival offerings. Notably, there's the Fraley Festival of Traditional Music, which has been happening yearly, in early September, since the 1970s. This community staple event was originally established by JP and Annadeene Fraley, who — as the story goes – promoted it as a Fraley family reunion out of fear of low attendance.

Clearly, the Fraleys needn't have been so concerned: In its 50+ years of existence, the festival has only grown in scope and popularity. Since 1979, it's been held at scenic Carter Caves State Resort Park, with musicians — and attendees — coming in from around the country to share in appreciation of traditional music through jam sessions, workshops, concerts, and more activities. For the adventurously inclined, there's even square-dancing inside Cascade Cave. The park also offers campsites and cabins available for rent so you can stay nearby the whole time.

No matter what strikes your fancy, or what time of year you visit Olive Hill, you'll be sure to find an enriching country, bluegrass, or musical event in this cultural jewel in Kentucky's crown.