Paducahpalooza

Paducahpalooza is a multi-day annual music festival sponsored by Hooper Booking & Promotion, the Western Kentucky Labor Day Committee, and in name-sake only: Rock the Vote, first held in 2006. The festival is held within Luther F. Carson Park in Paducah, Kentucky. The main attraction of the festival is the prominence of local and underground artists as opposed to the more common festivals showcasing big-budget acts. Featuring a diverse array of musical styles including world music, americana, bluegrass, country music, folk, gospel, reggae, electronica, and other alternative music. The festival began with a primary focus on jam bands, but has diversified greatly since. The festival features craftsmen and artisans selling unique products, food and drink vendors, and many other activities put on by various sponsors. U.S. citizens of age are able to register to vote on site, and youth involvement in community is promoted throughout the festival grounds.

The Stage is open approximately 10 am to 7 pm CST each day of the festival.

The festival began within Carson Park's Labor Day Celebration, and other events sponsored by the Western Kentucky Labor Day Committee take place within the grounds. These events commonly include car shows, flea markets, vendors, and political speaking. Planned for the 2008 festival, however, Paducahpalooza will be moving into mid-July and changing venues, though those changes are still tentative and may change.

The festival was named so for its showcasing of local, Paducah metropolitan area musicians.

The event is free to all, and audience members are able to vote (keeping in the Rock The Vote theme) for their favorite acts. Votes are taken in the form of $1 and all proceeds benefit Paducah-area charities.

2008
The 2008 festival was planned for July 18th, 19th, and 20th in McCracken County, Kentucky, but was announced as postponed until 2009 due to one of the sponsors backing out for unknown reasons at the last minute. Plans for an interim show are in the works as of January 2008.

Lineup
A former tentative un-finished lineup was launched on the official site. Performers listed as in-negotiations include many previous performers such as Adamgrant, The Wish You Weres, Vicious Mistress, and Kelsey Waldon. Newcomers to the lineup include The Mutants At Table 9, Fahrenheit 514, The Union Suit, and Gathered Here Today. The site labels all as subject to change and in negotiations.

2007
The 2007 festival is planned for September 1st and 2nd.

Highlights

A notable change in the 2007 lineup brings the introduction of gospel acts on Sunday, September 2nd. Paducah is known as the birthplace of best-selling gospel artist Steven Curtis Chapman, though Mr. Chapman is not performing at the festival.

The headliners for the 2007 festival include Ryan Neal English, West-Tennessee Idol winner Devin Cates, and The Wish You Weres.

Lew Jetton & 61 South performed after the ceremony as part of the Labor Day Political Speaking to a huge audience and was well-received.

During The Wish You Weres set, the band's drummer threw a stick offstage into the crowd and stormed up to the microphone, yelling "I'm not playing another God damn song until these kids are allowed to dance!". This was in reference to those in attendance not being permitted to mosh. Immediately after the drummer's outburst, their audio was cut. Members of the Labor Day Committee attempted compromise, but the band stood their ground, to the fans' delight.

Lineup
Musical acts included: Paul Hadfield, A Postcard Hello, Vicious Mistress, Kelsey Waldon, Becca Gordon, The Bloom, Home Again Gospel Singers, The Cope Brothers, and Jamison Packett

2006
The 2006 festival ran September 2nd and 3rd.

Highlights

The headliners for the 2006 festival included Adamgrant & The Satisfaction, A Scarlet Catastrophe, Ryan Neal English, and The Wish You Weres.

Performing Monday the 4th after political speaking was cover band Snake Bite.

Adamgrant & The Satisfaction's set is now infamous due to an online video portraying lead singer Adam Grant MacIntosh's climbing of the stage rigging.

Lineup
Musical acts included: Horizontal Orange, Tearing Down Vegas, Kelsey Waldon, Chained Angels, Feature Presentation, Sexstone, Riverside, Exit 16, Vicious Mistress, Jamison Packett, A Postcard Hello, and Bill Ozee.

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