Live In Lower Town

The 2022 LTAMF is Back

By Will Brandon, Project Coordinator, Yeiser Art Center

Paducah’s beloved Lower Town Arts & Music Festival (LTAMF) is returning in 2022 to the historic neighborhood where it all began! LTAMF is a celebration of all things art, community, and music. Set in the historic Lower Town Arts District, this free festival offers art vendors, live music, family activities, and mouthwatering food and beverage options. This year’s festival dates are Friday, May 13, from 5pm - 10:30pm and Saturday, May 14, from 10am -10:30pm. It’s a weekend full of musical, culinary, and artistic talent from western Kentucky and the surrounding region.

As Paducah’s oldest non-profit organization, 2022 marks the 65th Anniversary of the Yeiser Art Center. LTAMF serves as one of the premier fundraising events for the Yeiser, bringing in critical revenue that supports operations throughout the year, educational programming, and community outreach events. Because of the pandemic, it’s been three years since the last festival, and community support is more important than ever.

Celebrating the Creative Spirit

The goal of this year’s festival is to celebrate the creative spirit in all of us. Organizers certainly needed a little creativity as a few adjustments and facelifts have been implemented to make the event possible. The focal point of LTAMF is the intersection located across from a main stage of music at Madison and 7th Street – where the restored Texaco station stands. The festival footprint this year will be one block in each direction. While the footprint will be smaller than previous years, festival-goers will still find the same quality, sights, and activities they’ve come to know and love.

Artist booths will line the streets of Lower Town, with a specific focus on artists who reside in Kentucky, Tennessee, Missouri, Indiana, and Illinois. Attendees will be able to find booths featuring both individual and group artists, with art ranging from jewelry and metalsmithing to painting and photography. Spread throughout will be non-profit organizations where you can learn more about their missions and ways to be involved in our community.

As with previous festivals one street will be dedicated to local purveyors of delicious food and sweets, with a diverse menu that is sure to cure your appetite as you walk around the festival. Beer and alcohol will be available for purchase from Schlafly Brewing (St. Louis, Missouri), along with local favorites such as Dry Ground Brewing, Paducah Beer Werks, and Purple Toad Winery.

Music, Music, Music

This year will feature a single main stage for music, hosting local musicians and exciting headliners each night! Friday night will be headlined by The Wooks, an award-winning Progressive Bluegrass band based out of Lexington, KY that has influences ranging from jam bands to Southern rock. Saturday night will feature Tyler Bryant and The Shakedown, a Nashville-based rock ‘n roll band that has learned from their huge touring shows. They’ve supported bands such as AC/ DC and Guns N’ Roses. There will be plenty of room to enjoy the show, with a limited quantity of VIP Tables available for each day. These are located close to the stage that can be purchased at theyeiser.org. The always popular official after-parties will be back each night. Just a short walk away at Paducah Beer Werks, they’ll start at 11pm.

Make sure to follow both Yeiser Art Center and Lower Town Arts & Music Festival on your favorite social media platforms to keep up with everything being announced as we get closer to the festival.

YAC

The Yeiser Art Center, a non-profit corporation with 501(c)(3) status, was established in 1957 as the Paducah Art Guild to promote the appreciation of the visual arts and for their creation. It started as a small volunteer organization with founding members Mary Yeiser, Ginny Black, and Bob Evans leading the way. Today, YAC has a permanent exhibition space that hosts multiple shows annually and a permanent collection of over 300 works. The center offers visual artbased programming including educational classes for both children and adults, public gallery talks, and artist lectures. They have grown to employ a full-time executive director as well as three employees. YAC also has a supporting membership program as well as many loyal and terrific volunteers. 