Borrowed Blue, Blind Ricky round out NIBROC entertainment lineup

The musical entertainment lineup for this year’s NIBROC Festival is finally set with Country-Rock band Borrowed Blue and Country/Bluegrass six-piece Blind Ricky scheduled to play Friday and Saturday nights of the festival.

Both bands are making return engagements to the festival. Borrowed Blue is one of the hottest independent country/rock bands today. Formed in 2010, the group hails from the Lake Cumberland area and has built a dedicated following of fans.

"They’ve got quite a few people that will travel to see them play," said Southern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Bruce Carpenter, the main organizer of the event. "They have a great sound. They are very accomplished musicians who play a great deal of their own original music thatÕs recognizable and catchy."

"I think they are a great addition to NIBROC."

The band consists of lead singer Matt Cooper, lead guitarist Jay Gregory, bassist Scottie Morrow, rhythm guitarist Jordan Latham and drummer Brandon Davis.

"They were very popular the last time they were here and I’ve had a lot of people asking me to bring them back," Carpenter said.

Borrowed Blue will be playing the main stage at 9:30 p.m. on Friday night of NIBROC, Aug. 7

Blind Ricky is making a return engagement to the festival and touts itself as "not your Grandpa’s bluegrass band." The band takes its influences from musical greats like Fleetwood Mack, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Stevie Ray Vaughn and Creedance Clearwater.

Members of Blind Ricky come from across southeastern Kentucky and are accustomed to playing festivals like NIBROC.

"They’ve got a style and fun-factor about them that I think is perfect for NIBROC," Carpenter said.

Blind Ricky will take the main stage at NIBROC on Saturday, Aug. 7 at 7:00 p.m.

More information about Blind Ricky can be found online at their website, www.blindricky.com.

Other musicians scheduled to play at the festival include country rock foursome County Wide (www.countywideband.com) who will play Thursday, Aug. 6 at 9:30 p.m, and the energetic, soul-infused Positive Movement Band that will be the main act on Saturday, Aug. 8 at 9:30 p.m.

NIBROC will officially kick off Wednesday, Aug. 5 with carnival rides and the official unveiling of a bronze, life-sized statue of KFC founder Colonel Harland Sanders in Sanders Park on the corner of Main and Monroe Streets. The unveiling will take place at 5:30 p.m.

Wednesday will also be half-price bracelet night at the festival’s carnival. All-you-can-ride armbands will be sold for just $10.

Numerous fun activities to suit just about anyone’s taste will be happening at this yearÕs NIBROC.

The Corbin Tourism and Convention Commission is sponsoring games and activities for kids in NIBROC Park Thursday through Saturday beginning each day at noon. Events included things like an obstacle course, a spelling bee, magic show, backyard bowling, face painting, video game tournaments and more. A full schedule of kids activities can be found online at www.southernkentuckychamber.com/pages/schedule.

The traditional NIBROC Parade will take place on Thursday, Aug. 6 beginning at 7:00 p.m. Line up will start at 6:00 p.m. at the corner of South Main St. and 18th Street. Parade will go through town on Main Street. In the event of rain, the parade will be moved to Saturday at the same time.

The very first NIBROC Ping Pong Tournament is slated to take place on Aug. 6 and 7 on tables near Sander’s Park on Monroe Street. The popular "Volleyball Smash" Tournament will begin Aug. 6 and continue through the end of the festival. It will be played on an empty lot at the corner of Main and Monroe Streets behind the Times Tribune building.

The Baptist Health Family Fitness 2-mile run/walk is slated for Friday, Aug. 7. The race will start at 8:00 p.m. on Laurel Ave. in front of First Baptist Church. The ÒFastest Kid in TownÓ race will start an hour earlier at 7:00 p.m. Registration for both races can be done onsite during the day of the races.

The sixth annual NIBROC Cornhole Tournament will take place on Friday, Aug. 7 starting at 6:00 p.m. The tournament will be played on the municipal parking lot at the corner of Gordon and Depot Streets with the main festival. Registration will begin onsite at about 4:00 p.m. Pre-registration is available anytime before the tournament at the News Journal office on Main Street.

On Saturday, Aug. 8, the Third Annual NIBROC 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament will be held at the Corbin Recreation Center beginning at noon. On-site registration will start at 9:30 a.m. Pre-registration is available anytime before the day of the tournament at the News Journal office.

The T.J. Memorial Toy Drive and motorcycle Poker Run will take place Saturday, Aug. 8 and will begin at the Corbin City Hall parking lot. Registration starts at 11:00 a.m. and runs until 1:00 p.m. The poker run will be approximately 100 miles in length.

Entry forms and more information for all NIBROC activities can be found online at www.southernkychamber.com/pages/Events. Forms for the cornhole and 3-on-3 basketball tournament can also be downloaded at www.thenewsjournal.net and at www.facebook.com/nibroc3on3.