It’s sometimes said that great bass playing vanishes, supporting the music without drawing attention to itself. But history also shows us that when the best bass players step forward as bandleaders, remarkable things can happen. That’s why it’s time to pay heed to Missy Raines and the New Hip. Missy, a trailblazer in her field for as long as she’s been playing music, formed this dynamic quintet to bridge the musical worlds of newgrass, jazz, singer/songwriter and any others they take a notion to explore.

Bluegrass, Newgrass, Gospelgrass, Rock N’ Rollgrass…true innovators like John Cowan break boundaries and personify innovation. John’s ability to take audiences on a musical journey through multiple genres has made him one of the most unique vocal artists of his generation.

John Cowan rose to fame when he became the lead singer for New Grass Revival. He and band mates Sam Bush, Bela Fleck and Pat Flynn introduced a new generation of music fans to an explosive, experimental brand of bluegrass…Newgrass! However, after inspiring and entertaining fans for nearly two decades, New Grass Revival disbanded in 1990.

Kentucky Derby Celebration with the Downtown County Band

$10 (to be collected at door)

Join us for our all-day Derby Day celebration. We'll start with brunch at 9 am (going to 1 pm), moving on to drink specials, and showing the race that evening. Afterwards, all will gather to have a heckuva Derby Day party, featuring the Downtown County Band! (The cover only applies for the performance at 8 pm.)


Get ready for a good time! The Downtown County Band will change your idea of old time music. This young five-piece ensemble returns to the place they got their start, Downtown Frankfort. They have played countless venues across several states, and gained a reputation for artistic excellence. The Downtown County Band plays Memphis blues, appalachian, and jug band music, along with originals written in the old-time tradition. WARNING: THIS IS NOT A BLUEGRASS SHOW!!!!

Second Sunday Reading Series

No admission fee

Join us for the Second Sunday reading series with poets Chris Helvey and Rebecca Howell, both of whom have books. We'll also be witnessing the Frankfort debut of l9-year-old singer Brittany Gillstrap of Glencoe, Kentucky.

Juanito Pascual Trio

$15

Jonathan "Juanito" Pascual is acclaimed as one of the top young flamenco guitarists on the international music scene.

Jonathan "Juanito" Pascual is acclaimed as one of the top young flamenco guitarists on the international music scene.

Peppino D’Agostino doesn’t just play the guitar. He composes, arranges, collaborates, improvises and has even been known to sing a song here and there in both English and Italian. But what he does create on the guitar makes the difference between simply playing and truly making music apparent in the most wonderful ways.

D’Agostino has been hailed as “a guitarist’s guitarist” by Acoustic Guitar magazine as well as “a giant of the acoustic guitar” (San Diego Reader), and holds many top guitar awards, but the San Francisco Chronicle encapsulated the essential difference that distinguishes D’Agostino’s music when it dubbed him “a poet.”

California Guitar Trio

Online ticket sales have closed. For seating inquiries, please call the Cafe at 502-875-3009.

"Pioneers of the New Acoustic Age...Worlds Best Acoustic Band" - Guitar Shop Magazine.

"Winning, energetic and highly accessible..." - Los Angeles Times

"A California Guitar Trio performance is like a night at the theater: Drama, passion, humor, joy , pathos, it's all there." - Acoustic Musician Magazine

"Energetic. Eclectic. Frenectic. Dynamic. Guitar music has never sounded quite like this before." - Deseret News

Occupy Music

Music for the Occupation

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