Owensboro KY’s Friday After 5 Announces Big Changes, Lineups for 2024 Season

When I arrived at the RiverPark Center in downtown Owensboro for the press conference--holding it there was already a great sign--I was handed a list of speakers. Near the top of the page was the phrase "Back to Our Roots." That made us all smile because we knew big changes were in store and that everything old would be new again.

Friday After 5 Announces Lineups, Changes, and Key Partnerships for 28th Season

Let's hear it for the return of the Mile of Music--acts performing at multiple locations on Veterans Boulevard from the RiverPark Center to the Convention Center. And, let's also hear it for the partnership with the International Bluegrass Hall of Fame & Museum. Friday After 5 in 2024 will truly celebrate EVERYTHING that makes downtown Owensboro so special.

The season will begin May 17th with the Owensboro icons that headlined the first Friday After 5 in 1997, the Velvet Bombers on the RPC Stage:

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On that same night, Insulated comes out of retirement to perform on the Pier Stage.

Memorial Day Weekend will kick off at Friday After 5 on May 24th with the critically-acclaimed tribute act Free Fallin' - a Tribute to Tom Petty at RPC and Cynthia Murray & the End Times on the Pier.

The month of May wraps up on the 31st with the Boscoe France Band featuring Paul Reed Smith and local favorites and our good friends the Andy Brasher Band.

On June 7th, in addition to the return of Vinyl Radio on the RPC Stage, a band that Eric Group CEO Heath Eric--who was announcing the musical acts for the season's first half--told us has more than 2 million followers on TikTok will take the Pier Stage. Eric says because of the wild popularity of Ole 60, this may be Friday After 5's las opportunity to book them for a performance.

June 14th will feature Caribou, Zocephus & Funknasty, and local legends Flat Stanley. Fans will jam with the Consoulers, Super Bee, and Last Call on June 21st; Bonepony--a welcome return--and Outlaw Apostles on June 28th; and Juice Box Heroes and Descent on July 5th.

Friday After 5 Teases Second Half of 28th Season

Not all stages through July 5th have been booked, but the Friday After 5 team will make those announcements in the weeks to come. As far as the 28th season's second half is concerned, Heath Eric said that there will be national touring acts coming to Owensboro for Friday After 5. Additionally, more performers appealing to younger audiences will be on tap.

The excitement at the RiverPark Center Thursday morning was palpable as everyone is looking forward to having one of Kentucky's biggest seasonal events return to how it once was--filling ALL of the beautiful Owensboro riverfront with live music, amazing food vendors, and, yes, tons and tons of local fans and tourists.

Big changes ARE coming, but that just means Friday After 5 is returning to how it all began. Yes, we are all excited about getting "Back to Our Roots."