Rudy Fest began twenty years ago when Rudy Burchett committed to raising money to buy uniforms for a local junior football league. He contacted a group of guys that he got together with each Sunday evening to listen to a bluegrass program hosted by “The Bo-Man” on local radio station WSIP out of Paintsville, Kentucky. The group called themselves the Bob Cat Alley Bluegrass Boys. With his love of football and his love of bluegrass music, Rudy decided that a music festival would be the best way to raise money for the uniforms. The Bob Cat Alley Bluegrass Festival was held in May 2000, and despite having to move the festival indoors due to a massive rainstorm, 80 people showed up to hear music by Ernie Thacker and Route 23, Billie Renee and Cumberland Gap, and several local bands.
The next year the festival was moved to the fourth weekend in June and renamed Rudy Fest. Over the years, the festival has grown, with thousands showing up each year to hear their favorite bands. Fans have become friends, and the festival has the air of a giant family reunion. Rudy Fest is held on Poppy Mountain in Morehead, Kentucky.
Leroy Walker, who has toured with IIIrd Time Out, joined Rudy Fest three years ago, booking performers for the popular festival. He says the festival was held one county over for several years before moving it to Poppy Mountain.