Why Bowling Green?
If rivers, rails, and roads are the arteries carrying the lifeblood of music in this nation, Bowling Green straddles an important confluence. Because of our geographic location, Southcentral Kentucky has been a crossroad for many major American music genres. For over a century, musicians have traveled through this area along the routes between Chicago, Atlanta, Cincinnati, Louisville, Memphis, New Orleans, and Nashville.
Known as “Music City USA,” Nashville has played a significant role in the development of popular music in Southcentral Kentucky, especially in the latter half of the 20th century. Ambitious performers still hone their craft in Bowling Green, hoping for a place in the larger market. At the same time, skilled writers, arrangers, and session musicians from the region have lent their skills to the Nashville sounds, lending their distinctive regional sounds to artists as varied as Elvis Presley, Chet Atkins, and Merle Travis.
AVENUES OF MUSIC
From riverboats to stagecoaches, and railways to highways, musicians traveled between cities to reach their next show. Along the way, they played in the communities through which they passed and spent a night or stopped for a bite to eat. On the map below, you can see major transportation routes that run through Southcentral Kentucky.
L&N Railroad began passenger travel in 1957, and the route from Louisville to Nashville included a stop in Bowling Green. Among the passengers, musicians such as ragtime great Ernest Hogan left Bowling Green for musical renown.
This railroad network also connected big cities in Northern states like Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio to Southern states like Georgia, Tennessee, Florida, and Louisiana. All of these transportation routes had a great effect on the commerce and culture of the area.
Map provided by Bowling Green Chamber of Commerce.
Tourism Along Highway 31
As the automobile became a more popular mode of transportation, older roadways adapted to the newer vehicle traffic. US Highway 31 splits through almost the entire north/south center of the Commonwealth, with Highway 31W forming the western corridor, paralleled by Highways 31E. Vacation sites and automobile-related businesses became a mainstay of the highway scenery. This double corridor also opened the way for the business of music as profitable entertainment to reach new heights. You can read more about some of these venues, such as the Quonset Auditorium, on our Venues page.
Music as a Profession
The people in Bowling Green and the surrounding countryside were not just passive listeners; many were musicians themselves. Proximity to music centers like Nashville provided an avenue for talent to funnel into the mainstream. Bowling Green gave all musicians who were serious about the profession a seemingly attainable goal: a stepping stone to the big time. In this way, Bowling Green acted as a gateway to Nashville, but it also offered opportunities for Nashville musicians.
from local voices
JEFFERY SWEENEY
KENNY LEE SMITH
JOHN EDMONDS
Ties to Nashville
Being arguably the biggest city for music and just over 60 miles south of Bowling Green, Nashville is undeniably a major influence. But this shouldn’t take away from the fact that the music scene in Southcentral Kentucky is still distinctive in its own right.
A great example of Nashville’s music influences is the great influence that Jason and the Scorchers had on the historic local band Government Cheese. Debuting in Nashville in 1982, Jason and the Scorchers had a unique indie rock sound, later known as “cowpunk” (country punk), which combines punk rock with country, folk, and blues.
SCOTT WILLIS
Government Cheese playing at the Basement East. April 23rd, 2022. Filmed by Jeff Sweeney.
SCOTT GARDNER
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