Remember When Billy Strings Played on Lure’s Patio in Owensboro?
Yesterday my friend Chris Langdon shared a throwback video of a musician playing on Lure's lovely patio downtown. Now that musician is a huge Bluegrass superstar.
Lure Live Music
Lure is a beautiful restaurant on the corner of the waterfront Hampton Inn here in Owensboro. With delicious food, cocktails, beautiful atmosphere, and when the weather is nice, owner Ben Skiadas schedules a line up of live music for the outdoor seating area that overlooks the river. Its something he has done ever since the restaurant opened. It really creates a cool and unique atmosphere in downtown Owensboro.
Lure Special Events
The crew at Lure also loves to celebrate a special event. Holidays big and small, they'll create signature drinks and themed plates that express the creative culinary skills in the kitchen and behind the bar. One of those special events being the Kentucky Derby.
Back in 2016, Ben collaborated with ROMP, Katie Keller, and Sandra from Gene's Health Food and Fresh by Gene's food truck to plan a "Talk Derby to Me" party that looked like a total blast.
Guests were encouraged to wear fancy attire, play games, win prizes, and of course, enjoy live music. Sandra told me about a hilarious horse race with stick horses, "The rule was you had to gallop. Like those weird shows where the participants pretend they’re horses." So funny and creative!
Billy Strings and Mike Wheeler & One Fell Swoop
Katie Keller had just moved from Owensboro to Nashville and was immersed in the music scene there. "She had connections with a young up and comer called Billy Strings. We booked him and he played his first gig in Owensboro. Not long after, he played ROMP for the first time and he mesmerized people with his skill," Ben told me. Mike Wheeler and One Fell Swoop also performed that day.
Billy Strings Once Played the Patio at Lure Seafood & Grille in Owensboro
Here is Chris' video of Billy Strings and his banjo intently playing with unmatched skill.
It's so wild to think he was sitting in the little stage corner of Lure's patio right here in Owensboro. Like Ben said, he played ROMP for a few years after that, "It’s pretty cool that a bluegrasser who played on our patio at Lure now sells out stadiums for two night runs."
Chris and Billy bonded over their love of skateboarding while he was here.
Chris told me that Billy loved visiting Daviess County and playing ROMP, "He really enjoyed coming to Owensboro and quickly made friends here. I hope we can welcome him back someday soon." Wouldn't that be incredible?
The Best Country Singer From Every State
More From WBKR-FM
