Uniting Communities. Preserving Culture.
Creating Change.

Hairston Hoedown 5

Music. Food. Drinks. Fashion. Community.

On July 11th, Hairston Hoedown returns for its fifth year, bringing together some of Kentucky’s most talented musicians, chefs, beverage brands, creators, business leaders, and community advocates for an unforgettable evening benefiting the Front Porch Initiative of the Appalachian Pioneer Program.

What began as a gathering among friends has grown into one of the most distinctive independent events in Kentucky. Hairston Hoedown is where Appalachian hospitality meets Lexington culture. It’s where Grammy-winning musicians share the stage with rising Kentucky artists. It’s where local food, craft beverages, fashion, storytelling, and philanthropy come together around a common purpose.

This is more than a concert.

It’s a celebration of the people, places, and traditions that make Kentucky special.

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Why We Gather

Every ticket sold, sponsorship secured, and partnership formed helps support the Appalachian Pioneer Program and its Front Porch Initiative.

For the past five years, APP has worked throughout 24 Kentucky counties and across four Appalachian states supporting disaster recovery efforts, food security initiatives, recovery awareness programs, cultural preservation, educational outreach, local commerce, and community storytelling.

From tornado recovery and flood response to food assistance, recovery support, public art projects, and regional advocacy, the organization has connected with hundreds of individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofits throughout Appalachia.

Hairston Hoedown serves as both a fundraiser and a reminder that community still matters.

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The Music

This year’s lineup represents one of the strongest collections of talent in Hoedown history.

Schedule

5:45 PM
Bentley Akers

6:00 PM
Clark Kissick

6:40 PM
Houston & Lace

7:10 PM
Hannah Howard

7:50 PM
Cam Clarke

8:30 PM
Grammy Award Winner Gary Nichols & Kensie Coppin

Late Night Set
Clarke Sexton

From traditional Appalachian influences and Americana storytelling to modern country and roots music, the lineup showcases both established and emerging voices from the region.

The addition of Grammy-winning Gary Nichols alongside Kensie Coppin brings a nationally recognized element while maintaining the intimate feel that has always defined the Hoedown.

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The Culinary Experience

Food Partner

Thatcher BBQ

Known throughout Kentucky for exceptional barbecue and hospitality, Thatcher BBQ will provide guests with a dining experience that reflects the same commitment to quality and community that defines the event itself.

Food has always been central to the Hoedown experience. Sharing a meal creates conversations, relationships, and memories that last long after the music ends.

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Beverage Experience

This year’s beverage program may be the most ambitious in event history.

Featured partners include:

Green River Cocktails
Surfside
Stateside Vodka
West Sixth Brewing
Pony Boy Slings

Guests will have access to an elevated beverage experience featuring Kentucky favorites alongside nationally recognized brands, creating a diverse selection that complements the evening’s atmosphere.

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Fashion & Creative Direction

Fashion by Mallory Quisenberry

Fashion joins music, food, and storytelling as part of the overall experience.

Mallory Quisenberry’s involvement helps create a visual identity that reflects both Appalachian roots and contemporary Kentucky culture. Through styling, creative collaboration, photography opportunities, and visual storytelling, fashion becomes another way to showcase local talent and creativity.

The result is an event that feels intentional from the stage to the table to the content created throughout the evening.

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More Than Entertainment

One of the things that separates Hairston Hoedown from traditional music events is the audience it attracts.

Each year the event brings together:

Business owners
Community leaders
Nonprofit organizations
Tourism professionals
Artists and musicians
Media creators
Hospitality professionals
Bourbon enthusiasts
Supporters from multiple states

Many partnerships, collaborations, and community projects have begun through conversations that started at a Hoedown.

The event functions as a gathering place for people who care deeply about Kentucky and Appalachia.

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Storytelling Beyond The Event

Powered by What The Shuck, Kentucky Gentleman Media, Appalachian Pioneer Program, and an extensive network of tourism, hospitality, and media partnerships, Hairston Hoedown reaches far beyond a single evening.

Content created before, during, and after the event extends the impact through photography, video production, podcasting, interviews, brand partnerships, tourism promotion, and community storytelling.

During festival and tourism season, these combined platforms regularly generate hundreds of thousands of impressions and engagements, allowing sponsors and partners to be part of a much larger story than a one-night event.

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The Hoedown Difference

At its core, Hairston Hoedown is built around a simple idea:

Bring good people together for a good cause.

Music creates the soundtrack.

Food brings people to the table.

Drinks spark conversation.

Fashion adds creativity.

Storytelling preserves culture.

Community creates impact.

Five years in, Hairston Hoedown has become more than an annual event. It has become a gathering that reflects the best of Kentucky and Appalachia while helping fund meaningful work throughout the region.

On July 11th, the music will play, the drinks will flow, new friendships will be formed, and together we’ll continue proving that a front porch can still change lives.