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The Henderson community in rural Pike County is where the bluegrass grows.

Rex Locklar was the host of the Henderson Bluegrass Festival for about 45 years. Pickers and grinners came from everywhere and from nowhere to pick and sing. And they came, too, just because of Ol’ Rex.

When, the “Father of Bluegrass” died in 2014, there were pickers who just couldn’t, who wouldn’t,  let Ol’ Rex be forgotten or bluegrass music die. They wanted to keep bluegrass music playing at the Henderson Music Park and in memory of, and love for,  Ol’ Rex.   

A small group of friends of Rex Locklar and lovers of bluegrass,  dedicate time, effort and dollars to keeping bluegrass “seeded” in rural Pike County.

But the old Shellhorn Schoolhouse that  was once home of the Henderson Blue Grass Festival had “seen its last days.”

Locklar’s brother Wiley Locklar of Troy, said a group of his brother’s friends committed time, money and hard work, to saving what  could be saved of the old schoolhouse and constructed a new pickin’ place with a covered shelter for seating.

The many friends of Rex Locklar keep the tradition of the Henderson Bluegrass Festival going strong the second weekend in October and then again the second weekend in  April.

Everyone who loves bluegrass music, or thinks they might, is invited to the Henderson Bluegrass Festival the second weekend in October

A five dollar admission is charged, but, as Ol’ Rex would say, “come if you got it or come if you ain’t.”