With SomerBlast less than a week away, the Somerset-Pulaski Chamber of Commerce, local businesses and volunteers are working tirelessly to make the second year for the Independence Day celebration an unforgettable one.

Jack Keeney, director for the Chamber, said Saturday, June 28, will start off with a prayer breakfast at East Somerset Baptist Church at 9 a.m., and several bands are lined up to perform throughout the day starting at around 2 p.m.

Local bands Omega Plague, Live Fish and Brother Stone are slated to perform that afternoon, and gospel bands Dixie Melody Boys and the Dove Brothers will take the stage at around 5 p.m.

“We are just really looking forward to it,” Keeney said about the music and events.

At 7 p.m., country band Cowboy Crush will go on, and the headlining band Shenandoah will play sometime around 8:15 p.m. until around 9:45 p.m.

After that, Keeney said SomerBlast attendees should be prepared for a patriotic celebration that will tie the celebration together before the “spectacular fireworks show” begins at around 10:05 p.m.

Keeney said the Chamber was able to hire the same fireworks technician this year who put on the show last year.

Keeney said everyone involved with the event is excited to see it succeed in its second year. Last year’s SomerBlast saw around 20,000 people attend the event, and Keeney said they’re expecting just as many people at the celebration this coming Saturday.

“We are just so excited, and I know the time’s coming up,” he said. “It’s just great to watch everything come together. From setting up the stage to watching the fireworks roll in to seeing the crowd.”

Keeney said the celebration wouldn’t be possible without the volunteers’ help and without local businesses’ contributions to put the free event on.

“I just can’t say enough,” he said. “You just go on and on.”

Even though their has been support from the community, Keeney emphasized that the Chamber, which is sponsoring the event, still needs more donations to cover the cost of the celebration.

“I want to say thanks to the community,” he said. “But don’t forget us. It costs a lot of money to make this go on ... so support us and make a donation.”

Keeney said 19 vendors have signed up to sell their products to event attendees, and he said there’s more room if anyone is interested.

“We just need a good crowd,” he said.

Anyone interested in volunteering for SomerBlast or anyone interested in making donations can contact the Somerset-Pulaski Chamber of Commerce at 679-7323.





2008 SomerBlast corporate sponsors



Southern Belle Dairy - $10,000

Cumberland Lake Shell - $10,000

Hinkle Contracting - $10,000



Somerset-Pulaski County CVB - $5,000

City of Somerset - $5,000

Pulaski Co. Government - $5,000

South Ky. RECC - $5,000

Somerset Food Service - $5,000



Presidium Learning - $2,500

Coca Cola - $2,000

Citizens National Bank - $1,000

Blue Grass Cellular - $1,000

First and Farmers Bank - $1,000

Commonwealth Urology PSC - $1,000

Edy’s Ice Cream - $1,000

Kingsford Manufacturing - $1,000

Monticello Banking - $1,000

Somerset-Pulaski Co. Board of Realtors - $1,000



Branscum Construction - $500

Weddle Enterprises, Inc. - $500

The Adanta Group - $500

B.B. & T. - $400

State Farm Insurance - Tammy Cundiff - $250

State Farm Insurance - J.B. Pitman - $250

Key Associates - $250

Rollin Wiggington - $250

Marvin Kinch - $250

Greg and Kathy Epperson - $170

Allen and Patty Anderson - $100

Somerset Animal Hospital - $100

General Electric Glass Plant - $100

L & N Credit Union - $100



In-Kind Sponsors

Clear Channel Radio

Commonwealth Journal

Reach Magazine