Gospel act to replace bluegrass

OWENSBORO, Ky. (AP) - The city of Owensboro hopes a family gospel act can help replace some of the economic loss felt when a giant bluegrass festival left town five years ago.
In 1996, the International Bluegrass Music Association's annual convention and Fan Fest brought in an estimated $2.4 million for Owensboro, the state said. But the next year, the IBMA moved its convention to Louisville. Now the Crabb Family, a 13-member Ohio County-based Southern gospel act, is moving its three-day Homecoming 2001 festival to Owensboro.

The festival is set for Thursday through Saturday at the Owensboro Sports Center. "We're expecting people from both coasts and maybe Europe," said Kathy Crabb, matriarch of the Crabb Family. "These people are fanatics. They're not chasing rock bands now. They're chasing gospel." Solid Gospel Radio, a Nashville-based radio service, will broadcast the festival live for five hours on Saturday.