How to go
What: 2014 Broad Street Bash Kick Off and Kentucky Derby Party
Where: Madison Inn, 101 S. Front St., Middletown
When: 5 p.m. Saturday
Cost: Free
More info: www.LongLiveTheBash.com, or call Madison Inn at (513) 424-5144. Also, visit the Broad Street Bash and Madison Inn Facebook pages.
2014 Broad Street Bash schedule
Broad Street Bash concerts will be held at Governor’s Square Park at the corner of Broad Street and Central Avenue in Middletown from 5:30-9:30 p.m.
May 14 – Burning Iris with Vinyl Junkies and Will Fluke
May 28 – Inspector 12 with 3 Feet Deep
June 11 – 90 Proof Twang with The Cleavers
June 25 – The Menus
July 9 – Eric Jerardi with Rock Candy
July 23 – Perspective with Carnival of Chaos and Josh Mack
Aug. 6 – Gary Jeffries Band with The XToads
Aug. 20 – The Beaumonts with Adrienne Rose Music
Sept. 6 – Cross Cultural Bash
Oct. 11 – Monster Bash with Inspector 12 and guest
Hundreds of fans will come together on Saturday at the Madison Inn Bar and Grill at 5 p.m. to celebrate the season with a party that will preview Middletown’s upcoming Broad Street Bash events. The festive occasion Saturday also falls on Derby Day.
“Since we’re only about a mile away from downtown Middletown, this is a great location for the party,” said Charlie Wilmot, Madison Inn’s general manager. “We’ve been around over a hundred years, we tie in well to downtown Middletown and we always try to help out.”
“It’s going to be an exciting night. The evening will remind everyone that the warm weather of summer is here and the Bash is coming in two weeks,” Wilmot said.
The kick-off party will begin with music at 5:30 p.m. The night will also include free food, free Bash koozies, Bash T-shirts for door prizes and a 50/50 raffle that will benefit the Sorg Opera House renovation. Derby attire is encouraged. Cash prizes will be awarded for the three best hats.
Live music for the pre-Bash kick-off party will include: Chris Lester and Ashley Baumgarten from 5:30-6:30 p.m.; Adrienne Rose Music, 6:45-7:45; 3 Feet Deep, 8-9:30 p.m.; Inspector 12 from 10 p.m.-midnight and a DJ from midnight to 2 a.m.
“Madison Inn is a huge supporter of the Broad Street Bash. It all came together and this was a perfect opportunity for us to gear up for the start of the Bash,” said Tim Lewis, co-chair of the Broad Street Bash. “This will really hype the fans up. It’s wonderful.”
Lewis said the 2014 Broad Street Bash concert lineup has also been announced.
“We’ve got a lot of new bands this year that have never played the Bash,” he said. “We’ve got a great lineup and people are going to love the line-up we have.”
The concert series showcases both local acts and regional headlining bands at Middletown’s summer block party, he said.
Typically, the Bash runs every other week on Wednesdays, beginning on May 14 as Burning Iris with Vinyl Junkies and Will Fluke take the stage.
Every concert features the musicians, a variety of food vendors, activities and games for children. Crowds can also expect several surprises this year, including a visit from The Red’s mascots.
“This has really become a family-friendly event,” Lewis expressed. “There’s something for everyone.”
Each show generally attracts about 2,000 visitors, with some bands like The Menus drawing close to 4,000 guests, organizers said.
The Bash enters its eighth season this year. The evening concerts will be held in Governor’s Square Park at the intersection of Broad Street and Central Avenue in Middletown. All shows will be held from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m.
“The Broad Street Bash has become a brand name now. Social media has taken it to the next level,” Lewis said. “People come from all around, they know when it is, and they know it’s every other Wednesday.”
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