Massive Back-to-Back Music Festivals Set to Rock Champions Park

Music Industry Veteran Danny Wimmer knows a little about producing music festivals, and he should… he has been at it since 1993 with big name events like Rock on the Range, the Aftershock Festival, Carolina Rebellion, Rock Allegiance, and others.

Evidence of his expertise can be seen with the huge crowds that he’s drawn to Louisville over the past half-decade with music festivals that may sound a little more familiar. Last year alone, Danny Wimmer Presents Bourbon & Beyond and Louder Than Life Festivals drew a combined 110,000 fans to Champions Park for four amazing days of music, food, and great times.

Later this month, both festivals return with back-to-back weekends jam packed with dozens of favorites and new acts ready to expose attendees to the upcoming crop of artists in their respective genres.  

Bourbon & Beyond 2018 – September 22-23

Bourbon & Beyond returns to Champions Park later this month on Saturday September 22 and Sunday September 23 to follow up on last year’s inaugural success.

The 2018 festival features acts including John Mayer, Lenny Kravitz, Sheryl Crow, Brian Setzer’s Rockabilly Riot, and others playing on the two bourbon-themed stages: The Oak Stage and Barrel Stage.  Sunday’s acts include Sting, Robert Plant, Counting Crows, Blackberry Smoke, and nearly a dozen more.

Music is far from the whole story, either. The festival also plays host to many top-shelf culinary experiences with plenty of chef-crafted food and food truck opportunities to keep your tank full. And, as you may have guessed from the name, there will be plenty of libations to keep the party rocking: more than 40 bourbon brands, a dozen bourbon masters and celebrities, and bourbon workshops, talks, and demos.

For more information on Bourbon & Beyond, visit the official website. Tickets are available online here.

Louder Than Life 2018 – September 28-30

Yes, you are reading that correctly, the massive two-day rock festival that last year drew crowds of 60,000 to Champions Park has expanded to include three days of an outrageous lineup on three stages. Louder than Life returns to the venue just five short days after Bourbon & Beyond, rocking the Bluegrass Friday September 28, Saturday September 29, and Sunday September 30.

Friday’s lineup includes fantastic acts including Alice in Chains, Limp Bizkit, Breaking Benjamin, Slash, Seether, Black Stone Cherry and over a dozen more. Saturday sees Five Finger Death Punch return to the Louder Than Life Stage along with Godsmack, Shinedown, Bush, Bullet for my Valentine, Body Count, Pop Evil, Sevendust, GWAR, Sick Puppies and others.  The festival wraps up Sunday with Nine Inch Nails, Deftones, Ice Cube, Primus, Billy Idol, Action Bronson, Glassjaw, Monster Magnet, and the return of Clutch to Champions Park, along with many more.

Like its sister festival, Louder Than Life is much more than just the heavy hitting lineups on stage – it also features a full lineup of food and drink experiences like the Southern Comfort Sip & Grill, Larceny’s Lock & Key Pizza Parlour, Maker’s mark Southern Soul BBQ, Jim Beam Heavy Tiki Bar, the Monster Energy Experience, Jack Daniels Experience, and the Whiskey Row Cigar Lounge.

For full details on the Louder Than Life lineup, schedule, camping info, and more, visit the official website. Tickets can be purchased online.

Be sure to check out our wrap-up of the 2017 Louder Than Life Festival and 2016 Louder Than Life Festival to see why you NEED to head out to Champions Park and see what Danny Wimmer is bringing to town. As Mayor Fischer says, “Danny Wimmer and his team promise big things, and they deliver.“