Kenny Kerth of Bucktown All-Stars looking forward to reuniting with friends, family during NIBROC

The musical lineup for this year’s NIBROC Festival covers all the bases, offering something for just about everyone regardless of their personal taste. On Saturday, Aug. 12, the New Orleans based Bucktown All-Stars will be featured on stage, and for bandmember Kenny Kerth, it will also serve as a reunion of sorts.

“I am very excited to see many of my family and friends,” said Kerth, who plays trumpet for the All-Stars. “I can’t wait to get there. It will be a good time.”

Although this will be the first time that the Bucktown All-Stars have played in Corbin, Kerth himself is very familiar with the local area. “When I was ten, my family moved to London,” he explained. “I graduated from Laurel County High School in 1979, and then went on to Eastern Kentucky University.”

Kerth said that his mother’s side of the family is all from the London/Corbin area, and until the last ten years or so, he said he would usually return to Kentucky at least 2-3 times a year to visit. He said that, during those visits, a trip to see Cumberland Falls was always on the “to-do” list.

Kerth added that he has fond memories of visiting past NIBROC events during his time living in the area, adding a level of sentimental meaning to his band’s upcoming appearance at the festival.

In high school, Kerth was a member of a Christian band that would play shows at many of the local churches in London. After his college days, he said that he moved back to New Orleans and found work at a dinner theatre.

“There was a trombone player there who asked me if I wanted to be in a band,” Kerth said when asked how he got his start with the All-Stars. “The band had already been active for a couple of years, and they had a member who was about to move away.”

Thanks to being in the right place at the right time, Kerth was able to audition to replace the band’s outgoing member, and he has been a Bucktown All-Star ever since.

“The way I have described our sound is, imagine if a group of people went to a tailgate, and then a parade passed by, and then somebody got married,” said Kerth. “We like to have fun. We do a lot of 60’s and 70’s soul and R&B, some Motown, and we sprinkle in some of that New Orleans funk.”

Other Bucktown All-Stars band members include: Devin Neuburger (Lead Vocals), Steve Alfonso (Drums/Vocals), Rod Fleetwood (Bass), Rod Schouest (Piano/Vocals), Reid Wick (Guitar), Jason Malasovich (Trumpet), Michael Hotstream (Sax/Horn Arrangements) and Daniel Davis (Trombone).

Kerth invited everyone in the local area to come out to see the band perform live on Saturday, Aug. 12, in downtown Corbin. To find out more about the All-Stars in the meantime, look them up on their official social media pages, or visit www.bucktownallstars.com.