Sounds Good

Murray Tourism and Convention Center’s Executive Director Erin Carrico previews Murray’s Freedom Fest with Tracy Ross on Sounds Good. Freedom Fest kicks of Friday, June 28 with a street fair featuring vendors and a free outdoor concert by Matty McRee and Clarence Dobbins. Saturday's events include a parade, kid's activities, a 5k, and one of western Kentucky's largest fireworks displays. See more at TourMurray.com.

(Photo slideshow coming soon!)

Last week, several children from across the region, between the ages of 8 and 12, came to the campus of Murray State University for the annual Young Authors Camp. These young authors practiced writing for fun in a variety of styles from poetry to fictional stories, skits, and more, under the direction of classroom instructors. For more about this year's Young Authors Camp, WKMS Youth Radio Producer Matt Markgraf speaks with Camp Director Brooke Lovett.

Recordings from the Young Author's Camp: 

We go to Pine Knob, Kentucky to meet Honus Shain whose Pine Knob Theatre, an outdoor show, has been running for 27 years now. He manages everything, including writing the plays. Tracy Ross speaks with Shain on Sounds Good about the history of the theatre, what's coming soon, and what to expect when you arrive. See more at pineknob.com.

Grand Rivers’ Badgett Playhouse Director Bill Minihan joins Tracy Ross on Sounds Good to talk about what’s new in his series “Variety-Music, Memories & More.” We’ll also hear about his work building school classrooms, completed in the Village of Vijolom II (El Quiche region) with the support of the Playhouse patrons. See a schedule and more at GrandRiversVariety.com.

Yeiser Art Center Director Josh White speaks with Tracy Ross about The Paducah Summer Festival Photo Competition which has grown from a fledgling contest to Paducah Photo, the region's most prestigious annual photographic event. The show is on display this Saturday through August 3. According to the Yeiser website, the competition provides photographers with an outlet for their art, encouragement for growth in their vision and presentation and cash rewards for works of exceptional merit. See more at The Yeiser's website.

Tracy Ross speaks with PJ Woodside of Big Biting Pig Productions, announcing the world-premiere of Lucid, a new nightmare of a film that Woodside wrote and directed, opening Friday, June 21 at Madisonville’s Ballard Convention Center. Their seventh film features Bill "Leatherface" Johnson from Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 and tells the story of a woman with increasingly disturbing and violent dreams seeking help from a sleep therapist known for his controversial treatments. Her experience plummets her into the dark depths of her subconscious, grasping for sanity.

Trailer:

Murray State’s College of Education hosts the 2010 National Teacher of the Year Sarah Brown Wessling of Iowa for its Harry M. Sparks Lecture Friday, June 14 at 4:30 p.m. Wessling spoke with Kate Lochte about her career, today on Sounds Good. See more about Wessling's work on her website.

LBL Naturalist John Pollpeter spoke with Tracy Ross on Sounds Good today about the 50th Anniversary Wildlife Celebration at the Woodlands Nature Station this Saturday. The event will have puppet shows, live animal demonstrations - including eagle encounters, games and crafts, and a special visit by Smokey Bear.  See more about this event and other happenings at LBL. 

LBL's Pickin' Party, an old-time music festival, returns to Land Between the Lakes' Homeplace for its 15th year, June 15 and 16. The festival runs from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Nathan Blake Lynn emcees with performances by the Dixie Volunteers, Thomas Maupin & Daniel Rothwell, Roan Mountain Hilltoppers, Mark Dvorak, and more. Bring your own musical instruments to jam and perform, also bring your own chairs and blankets. See more at LBL's event calendar.

Tine to bring out your brightest and boldest Mardi Gras outfit! The W.C. Handy Blues  Barbecue Festival returns to Henderson's Auburn Mill Park this week, featuring music by The Voice of the Wetlands Allstars, Janiva Magness, Chubby Carrier & The Bayou Swamp Band, and more! The festival runs today (Wednesday) through Saturday, June 15. It's one of the largest free music festivals in the nation, and proceeds go to fund next year's show. Tracy Ross speaks with festival organizer Leslie Newman.

We're broadcasting LIVE from the festival at 8 p.m. tonight through Saturday.

See the full schedule and more at handyblues.org.