I have long been a fan of local music, with the people, places, and events that occur in our hometowns with our friends and neighbors serving as the musical entertainment. So often, the superstardom these local musicians search for or dream about is confined to their city and county-line limits.

That is not a putdown by any means, because these local singers and songwriters are so good and talented, and they bring a lot of joy to the local events they take part in. But hitting the big time isn’t always bestowed upon all of those who deserve it.

That being the case, much satisfaction can come from being a performer close to home with people we know and love. It may not be a stadium concert, but there’s something to be said about a smaller, more intimate setting in which to perform. And autumn seems to be a perfect time to visit countless festival events chock-full of great local music.

I think the fall festivals are so popular and prevalent for a lot of reasons. They certainly all inject an economic shot in the arm for our rural communities. But I think they also celebrate the harvest and a change of seasons to which we all look forward.

Along with the local music comes a plethora of local foods and crafts and goods that paint a living picture of the small towns and cities that are home to them. I have had the pleasure to visit many of these festivals over the years in a number of places, and they all seem to have some sort of musical event tied to them. In many cases, the music is as much a part of the celebration as anything.

From bluegrass to folk to R&B, to country and rock, there is no shortage of musical genres to enjoy. As you would expect, many of these performers are covering some of our favorite tunes, but many others are presenting their own compositions to local fans. No matter which is the case, these artists are always welcomed and cheered on as if they had just stepped off a tour bus.

The local citizens treat their neighborhood stars with the same respect and enthusiasm they would the biggest-name entertainer. I can attest to this, having been in their shoes. Nothing feels better to a performer than to have your friends, family, and fellow citizens cheer you on while performing.

For these small-town stars, the local events become a part of their tours. It becomes the grand stages they yearn for; and the positive affirmation anyone who has taken the stage is looking for. As much fun as performing can be, all performers want the crowd to be pleased, wanting more. That is the payoff for the many hours of practice, perfecting their sound.

I hope you take the time to visit your hometown festivals and events to cheer on your local superstars. They are the best, and you never know which one will become the next big-time internationally known artist. After all, they all had to start somewhere.

Bluegrass Johnson comes from a long line of country music performers and enjoys a passion for the rhythm and melody. From the hills of Kentucky, he will offer his opinions on a variety of music. Readers with questions or comments may write to Johnson in care of this publication.