City guides Lexington, KY Session musicians
Lexington · session musiciansSession musicians in Lexington.
Lexington has more players than it has paying sessions, which is good news if you're hiring. The bluegrass tradition, the UK School of Music and a steady bar circuit all turn out people who can play. The hard part is finding the one who reads a chart, shows up prepared and charges what they said they would.
Where the players are.
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Bluegrass and old-time
The Southland Jamboree is a free bluegrass series. It runs Thursdays at 7 p.m. at MoonDance Amphitheater in summer and moves to the Lexington Public Library's Central branch (140 E Main St) for winter. The listed winter series resumes January 21, 2027. If you need fiddle, banjo, mandolin or upright bass, this is where to listen first.
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Songwriter circles
The NSAI Lexington chapter meets on the third Monday of each month and holds writers' rounds at Kenwick Table (201 Owsley Ave). Kenwick Table also runs a Monday open mic from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. and hosts Lexington Songwriters Collective nights. These rooms are full of guitar and vocal players who can cut a clean demo part.
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The bar and club circuit
The Burl, Manchester Music Hall and Al's Bar on North Limestone are where working rhythm sections play out. Downtown's Thursday Night Live (April to October, per the WRFL calendar) puts a different band on the pavilion every week. WRFL's events calendar is the best single list of who's playing in town.
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The union
Pros who play orchestral, theater and recording dates often belong to the Lexington Musicians' Association, AFM Local 554-635. If your project needs a union date or scale wages, start there.
How it books here.
Most local session work is a phone call or a text: a date, a rate, a reference track. That works until someone shows up without having learned the part, or the rate changes after the take. Settle these before the session:
- Per song or per hour, and whether the rate covers rehearsal
- Remote or in the room. Many players will track parts at home and send stems.
- What you're sending them: a demo, a chord or number chart, the tempo and key
- Credit and usage: how they'll be credited, and whether the part can be used on a commercial release
On KollabMe these terms go on a collab request card in the chat. Accept it and you're booked. Afterward, both of you confirm the job is done. There's no middleman and no cut, and KollabMe never holds the money.
How the app works in Lexington.
Musicians on KollabMe name their rate and list their instruments and genres. The deck ranks people within 50 miles first. Their instruments show on the card. Listen to their audio before you message.
What to look for here
- Players who list both the instrument and your genre (a jazz pianist and a gospel pianist play differently)
- Confirmed completions on their KollabScore
Be the first session player in Lexington on KollabMe.
Hiring a player or looking for session work in Lexington? Make a profile in about a minute, list your instruments and rate, and let the deck do the introductions. Free on iOS, Android and the web.
Lexington session musician FAQ
Where can I find a fiddle or banjo player in Lexington, KY?
Go to the Southland Jamboree and listen. On KollabMe, filter the deck by genre within 50 miles; each player's instruments show on the card.
What does a session musician cost in Lexington?
It depends on the instrument, the experience and whether it's a union date. Ask for a per-song and a per-hour rate and compare. Our pricing guide explains how players set their numbers. For union work, AFM Local 554-635 sets the scale.
Can a session player record their part remotely?
Often, yes. Send a reference mix, the tempo, the key and a chart. Agree in writing on the file format (WAV stems, sample rate) before they start.
Do I need a contract for a session?
For anything going on a release, get the rate, the credit and the usage rights in writing. A KollabMe collab card plus our session prep checklist covers the basics.
How do I get session work in Lexington as a player?
Play out, show up to the rounds and open mics, and keep a profile with audio someone can play in five seconds. On KollabMe, list your rate up front. It filters out people who can't pay it.
Nearby cities.
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