Kentucky Vinyl Collectors Mark Your Calendars for the 2024 ROMP & Roll Record Show

One of my favorite things in the world is thumbing through crates of records. Either second-hand at vendor malls or at record stores. I went to an estate sale recently that had a whole room full of albums, CDs, cassette tapes, and even 8-track tapes. The smell of the aging sleeves as I walked in was heavenly. If you are a vinyl collector, you know exactly what I mean.

I have to give a shout-out to my family's favorite record shop, Hard Copies, at the Greenwood Mall in Bowling Green. Proprietor Doug Byers has such a great selection that Michael and I always leave with something we're excited to spin. Even our nine-year-old Rollins has luck finding an album he wants to listen to. Of course, he views CDs as collector's items now as we think of our vinyl collection.

Yesterday, I saw that the Owensboro Convention Center announced that they will host the very first ROMP & Roll Record Show in 2024 and I am SO excited.  Set for June 28th-30th, organizers are collaborating with Visit Owensboro and the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum for a great addition to ROMP Festival weekend.

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Jeremy Bonfiglio is the organizer/showrunner of ROMP & Roll Record Show and four other record shows in the Midwest. I had to ask him, "Why Owensboro?" As an Eastern Kentucky University graduate, he has a love for the Bluegrass State. He was contacted by Visit Owensboro and said "It made sense. I probably hadn't been to Owensboro in 20 years, so I came down and was blown away. The convention center, local hotels, the Bluegrass Museum, restaurants, and downtown businesses were all so accessible, open, and friendly. It seemed like a perfect fit."

This is a really cool (no pun intended) way for all of the ROMPers to take a break from the heat and ride into town on the trolley route that runs to Yellow Creek that week. Visit the ROMP & Roll Record Show, hit up a downtown lunch spot, and pop over to the Bluegrass Museum before heading back to party the night away!

If you're like me and could dig through crates for hours upon hours, you'll want a two-day pass for sure! Those are only $10 or $25 VIP Early Entry gets you a sneak peek or "first look" on Friday and early entry on Saturday and Sunday. The General Admission ticket for one day is just $5. All super affordable options which means you can spend all of your money on records and music memorabilia!

For more information about the event, to buy tickets, or see about becoming a vendor visit the ROMP & Roll website here. You should definitely follow their Facebook page for updates. Jeremy said, "We also will be giving out a few shopping certificates as prizes because who doesn't want free money to shop for records? As we get closer to the event, I expect a few more exciting announcements."