Friday April 19, 2024
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Hometown Rising Wraps Up First of Three Fall Music Festivals in Trifesta Series

Day One of the inaugural Hometown Rising Country Music & Bourbon Festival is in the books with big crowds turning out at the Highland Festival Grounds at the Kentucky Fair & Expo Center.

Fans were treated to country music staples including Pikeville native Dwight Yoakam, Trace Adkins, and Tim McGraw; established acts like Little Big Town, Frankie Ballard, and Jimmie Allen; and rising stars including Lindsay Ell, IMAJ, The Cadillac Three, and Taylorsville native J.D. Shelburne.

In addition to the three main stages full of talent, the festival also features dozens of festival merchandise vendors, a wide variety of bourbon labels to try, great food offerings from standard festival fare to gourmet offerings as well as dance lessons and performances.

The two-day party continues this afternoon for the final day featuring headliners Luke Bryan, Keith Urban, Brett Young, and Jake Owen; as well as Poison frontman Bret Michaels and Lo Cash on the main Barrel and Oak stages. All three stages, including the Boots & Bourbon stage will be rocking all afternoon until 6PM, when the action moves to the main stages.

Dance lessons, including line dancing, east coast swing, and two-stepping, as well as barn dance mixers, bourbon history lessons also continue throughout the festival grounds.

The three weekend long Trifesta series continues next weekend with the three-day Bourbon & Beyond blend of bourbon, food and music – featuring headlines such as the Foo Fighters, John Fogerty, Robert Plant, Hall & Oates, Zac Brown Band, and ZZ Top.

The series wraps up September 27-29 as Louder Than Life returns to Louisville, bringing with it such heavy metal titans as Slipknot, Godsmack, Disturbed, Rob Zombie, Marilyn Manson, and Guns N’ Roses. The colossal lineup also features Ice Cube, Dropkick Murphys, Stone Temple Pilots, Gwar, Crystal Method, and many more feature acts.  Continue reading

The full schedule of music performances for Bourbon & Beyond is now available. The third year of the unique destination event expands to three days, Friday, September 20, Saturday, September 21 and Sunday, September 22 at the newly created Highland Festival Grounds at KY Expo Center.

Bourbon & Beyond’s music lineup includes a unique mix of rock, roots, bluegrass and folk acts led by Foo Fighters, Robert Plant And The Sensational Space Shifters, the Zac Brown Band, John Fogerty, Daryl Hall & John Oates, and ZZ Top, among many others. In total, nearly 50 artists will play on three stages over the course of the weekend, including two side-by-side main stages and a bluegrass stage curated by the genre’s leading authority, The Bluegrass Situation. In addition, the World’s Largest Bourbon Festival also celebrates the craftsmanship behind award-winning spirits, master distillers and world-class chefs. Bourbon author, expert, and Amazon Prime host (Bourbon Up) Fred Minnick has curated one-of-a-kind tastings and seminars celebrating Louisville’s world-renowned distilleries, while culinary curators Edward Lee (The Mind of A Chef) and Anthony Lamas (Seviche) have teamed up to arrange special food experiences.

The schedule of bourbon workshops on the Kentucky Gold Stage and culinary experiences on the Better In The Bluegrass Stage is below. Visit BourbonAndBeyond.com for full details.

A limited number of Bourbon & Beyond exclusive VIP packages, General Admission tickets, camping and hotel packages, as well as special event tickets are still available at www.BourbonandBeyond.com.

The music schedule for Bourbon & Beyond is as follows (subject to change):

Friday, September 20

Barrel Stage

Oak Stage

9:20 PM

Foo Fighters

7:55 PM

John Fogerty

6:40 PM

Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats

5:25 PM

The Flaming Lips

4:10 PM

+Live+

2:55 PM

Joan Jett & The Blackhearts

2:10 PM

Lukas Nelson & Promise Of Real

1:25 PM

Blackberry Smoke

12:40 PM

The Record Company

12:00 PM

Preservation Hall Jazz Band

11:30 AM

Pearl

The Bluegrass Situation Stage

5:20 PM

Greensky Bluegrass

3:45 PM

Mipso

1:40 PM

The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys

11:45 AM

Amythyst Kiah

Saturday, September 21

Barrel Stage

Oak Stage

9:30 PM

Robert Plant & The Sensational Space Shifters

8:05 PM

Daryl Hall & John Oates

7:00 PM

Trey Anastasio Band

5:55 PM

Alison Krauss

4:50 PM

Grace Potter

3:55 PM

Jenny Lewis

3:05 PM

Squeeze

2:15 PM

Del McCoury Band

1:40 PM

Samantha Fish

1:05 PM

The White Buffalo

12:30 PM

Maggie Rose

11:55 AM

Patrick Droney

The Bluegrass Situation Stage

4:20 PM

The Travelin’ McCourys

2:55 PM

Fruition

1:25 PM

Cedric Burnside

12:05 PM

Ben Sollee

Sunday, September 22

Barrel Stage

Oak Stage

8:40 PM

Zac Brown Band

7:25 PM

ZZ Top

6:20 PM

Leon Bridges

5:15 PM

Edward Sharpe And The Magnetic Zeros

4:20 PM

Little Steven And The Disciples Of Soul

3:25 PM

Kurt Vile And The Violators

2:40 PM

Margo Price

1:55 PM

Edie Brickell & New Bohemians

1:20 PM

Whiskey Myers

12:45 PM

White Reaper

12:10 PM

Southern Avenue

11:35 AM

Caroline Jones

The Bluegrass Situation Stage

4:15 PM

Dustbowl Revival

2:40 PM

Birds Of Chicago

1:20 PM

The Lil Smokies

11:50 AM

Front Country

The culinary experiences and bourbon workshops, along with the Derby Dance Hall schedule, are as follows:

Friday, September 20

Better In The Bluegrass Stage (culinary)

Kentucky Gold Stage (bourbon)

12:00 PM

Edward Lee

11:35 AM

Welcome

1:30 PM

Jose Salazar & Matt Abdoo

12:40 PM

Beer Drinker’s Bourbon

3:00 PM

Michael Voltaggio & Adam
Sobel

2:05 PM

How Highball Can You Go?

4:30 PM

Justin Sutherland & Ben Jaffe
(Preservation Hall Jazz Band)

3:50 PM

Whiskey Women

5:05 PM

Bourbon Disrupters

6:05 PM

What Is A Master Distiller?

Derby Dance Hall

12:30 PM

Charleston Lesson

1:20 PM

Jitterbug Performance

1:30 PM

Jitterbug Lesson

2:50 PM

Foxtrot / West Coast Swing Performance

3:00 PM

Foxtrot Lesson

4:05 PM

Cha Cha Performance

4:25 PM

Cha Cha Lesson

6:35 PM

West Coast Swing Performance

6:45 PM

Music And Open Dancing

Saturday, September 21

Better In The Bluegrass Stage (culinary)

Kentucky Gold Stage (bourbon)

1:05 PM

Graham Elliot

11:25 AM

Bourbon Storytime

2:30 PM

Tiffani Thiessen

12:25 PM

Barrel Finish Vs. Traditional Bourbon

4:00 PM

Brooke Williamson

1:35 PM

Whiskey’s Dark Past

5:30 PM

Kelsey Barnard Clark & Sara
Bradley

3:00 PM

The Barrel

4:45 PM

The Van Winkle Family

Derby Dance Hall

12:25 PM

Jitterbug Performance

12:35 PM

Jitterbug Lesson

2:10 PM

West Coast Swing Performance

2:20 PM

Foxtrot Lesson

3:00 PM

East Coast Swing Performance

3:10 PM

East Coast Swing Lesson

4:45 PM

West Coast Swing / Foxtrot Performance

4:55 PM

West Coast Swing Lesson

6:35 PM

West Coast Swing Performance

6:45 PM

Music And Open Dancing

Sunday, September 22

Better In The Bluegrass Stage (culinary)

Kentucky Gold Stage (bourbon)

12:45 PM

Ouita Michel

11:15 AM

Welcome

2:05 PM

Rusty Hamlin & Coy Bowles
(Zac Brown Band)

12:05 PM

Manhattan Vs. The Old Fashioned

3:35 PM

Amanda Freitag & Tierinii
Jackson (Southern Avenue)

1:15 PM

Sweet Mash: The Whiskey Revolution

4:15 PM

Jamie Bissonnette

2:35 PM

Master Taster: How To Taste Like A Pro

4:15 PM

Executive Round Table

6:15 PM

Slavery In American Whiskey History

Derby Dance Hall

12:40 PM

West Coast Swing / Charleston Performance

12:50 PM

Charleston Lesson

2:40 PM

Jitterbug Lesson

3:20 PM

East Coast Swing Performance

3:30 PM

East Coast Swing Lesson

5:10 PM

West Coast Swing Performance

5:20 PM

West Coast Swing Lesson

6:05 PM

Music And Open Dancing

Festival doors open at 11:00 AM each day. Download the official Bourbon & Beyond mobile app through the Google Play and Apple stores. The app allows attendees to build their own schedules, learn more about the artists and personalities appearing at the festival, and get the latest information through push notifications.

Those looking to kick off the weekend early are encouraged to attend a number of exclusive events on Thursday, September 19:

  • The official Bourbon & Beyond Pre-Party featuring Pearl takes place at 9:00 PM at Fourth Street Live! in Louisville
  • The Bourbon & Beyond Supper Club at Seviche will offer a special menu that showcases what makes Chef Anthony Lamas’ food so unique
  • Chef Edward Lee will host the Expect The Unexpected Supper Club with friends at Falls City Market at the Omni Hotel
  • Bourbon & Beyond bourbon curator and author Fred Minnick will host the The Art of Bourbon at Speed Art Museum, a night of cocktails, a bourbon-inspired Kentucky Bison dinner and a live auction of extremely rare bourbons and one-in-a-lifetime experiences

Visit https://bourbonandbeyond.com/experiences for details and to purchase tickets.

The line-up for Louder than Life has been set and will feature such acts as Slipknot, Motionless In White, GWAR, Guns N’ Roses, Godsmack, Dropkick Murphys, Rob Zombie, and many many more.

The three day event starts Friday, September 27 with the doors opening at 11 AM. With the event at the Kentucky Exposition Center this year, parking should be easier to find and rain won’t force the event to cancel.

Tickets are still available and can be purchased online at https://louderthanlifefestival.com/tickets/. Attendees that are interested in attending all three of the festivals at the Exposition Center this year will be sad to hear that the Trifecta Pass is sold out.

If you have not had the pleasure of attending Louder Than Life in the past, here is an idea of what you can expect.

Continue reading

Louder Than Life 2019 Announced

Louder Than Life, the World’s Largest Rock ‘N’ Roll Whiskey Festival, returns to Louisville, KY even bigger and better in its fifth year, with festival producers delivering the most spectacular music lineup since the festival began in 2014. Louder Than Life will feature the Danny Wimmer Presents debut of quintessential rock band Guns N’ Roses (in their first appearance since performing in Hawaii in December 2018), the return of chart-topping, festival favorites Slipknot and Disturbed, a reunited Staind (in their first public performance in 5 years), Godsmack, Rob Zombie, A Day To Remember, Ice Cube, Marilyn Manson, Breaking Benjamin, Chevelle, Halestorm, and many more.

Produced by premier independent festival producer Danny Wimmer Presents, Louder Than Life will be held at its new home at Highland Festival Grounds at KY Expo Center on Friday, September 27, Saturday, September 28 and Sunday, September 29.

Louder Than Life will feature more than 50 music acts, with performances on three stages, along with award-winning bourbons, whiskey, spirits, craft beer, and the best food Louisville has to offer. Festival attendees will also enjoy a variety of onsite food and beverage experiences, as well as sponsor activations that celebrate the bourbon culture and culinary heritage of this unique American city.

“We wouldn’t be living up to the name Louder Than Life if we didn’t come back bigger and badder than ever, giving fans something they can’t see anywhere else,” says festival producer Danny Wimmer. “Getting Staind back together and plugged in on the main stage is something that I’ve been working on for years. These are songs that need to be heard, that fans have been dying to hear — Staind has been one of the most requested bands on our socials, and it’s an honor to be bringing their music back for the fans at Louder Than Life.”

Wimmer continues, “Slipknot has always had some of the most loyal, rabid fans in rock, but now they are at that pivotal moment when they’ve crossed over into iconic status; Disturbed has had their best touring numbers to date this year; then top it off with one of the biggest rock bands of all time in Guns N’ Roses…this year is our most massive lineup yet.”

Louder Than Life exclusive VIP packages, General Admission tickets, camping and hotel packages go on sale today, Monday, April 8 at 9:00 AM ET. Visit www.LouderThanLifeFestival.com for details.

Fans interested in attending all three DWP weekends at KY Expo Center, also including Hometown Rising Country Music & Bourbon Festival (September 14-15) and Bourbon & Beyond (September 20-22), can purchase a special Trifesta Pass, which allows General Admission weekend access for the discounted rate of only $229.00 plus fees. Visit https://trifestapass.com for more information.

Danny Wimmer Presents is proud to announce a collaboration with Metallica’s Blackened Whiskey and Enter Night Pilsner. Blackened, a super-premium American whiskey blend crafted by the late Master Distiller Dave Pickerell and finished in the earth shattering music of Metallica, and Enter Night Pilsner, a collaboration with the rockstars of craft brewing Stone Brewing Company, will come together under one roof to offer guests a one-of-kind musical festival experience. The massive BoilerMaker pop-up will feature a Blackened & Enter Night Boilermaker, as well as craft cocktails and ice-cold Enter Night Pilsner. This exciting collaboration marks the latest in a long line of amplified guest experiences only available through Danny Wimmer Presents music festivals. More info to come…

The festival’s centerpiece, Kroger’s Big Bourbon Bar presented by Louisville Courier Journal, will feature more than two dozen hand-selected bourbons from top distilleries, and a unique opportunity to enjoy bourbons and exclusive one-time specialty cocktails from 1792, Angel’s Envy, Barrell Bourbon, Coopers’ Craft, Elijah Craig, Four Roses, Jeptha Creed Four Grain Bourbon, Kentucky Peerless, Michter’s, Old Forester, Rebel Yell, StoneHammer, Wild Turkey and more to be announced.

Fred Minnick’s Mini Bar–hosted by the Louder Than Life bourbon curator, bourbon author/expert, and Amazon Prime host (Bourbon Up)–will showcase craft selections from Louisville’s world-renowned distilleries. Acclaimed Louisville whiskey bar The Silver Dollar will operate The Hunter’s Club, where attendees can find vintage bourbons dating as far back as the 1930s, as well as contemporary collectibles.

The initial list of participating bourbon brands at Louder Than Life includes 1792, Angel’s Envy, Barrell Bourbon, Coopers’ Craft, Elijah Craig, Evan Williams, Four Roses, Jeptha Creed Four Grain Bourbon, Jim Beam, Kentucky Peerless, Larceny, Maker’s Mark, Michter’s, Old Forester, Rebel Yell, StoneHammer, Wild Turkey, Willett, and Woodford Reserve.

Whiskey sponsors also include Jack Daniel’s, Southern Comfort and Uncle Nearest.

In addition, attendees can enjoy a variety of local and regional food and beverage offerings provided by DWP’s affiliate concessionaire, Southern Hospitality Concessions LLC. Festival attendees will be able to experience a taste of Louisville with selections from the following restaurants: Boss Hog BBQ, Couvillion, Doc Crow’s Southern Smokehouse & Raw Bar, Ehrler’s Ice Cream, Eli’s BBQ, Heine Brothers Coffee, Hull And Highwater, Joella’s Hot Chicken, Martin’s BBQ, Merle’s Whiskey Kitchen, River Road BBQ, Sarino, Seviche, and more.

Look for more food experience details to be announced soon.

Ticket prices for Louder Than Life will be as follows:

  • 3-Day Weekend General Admission: starting at $149.50 + fees
  • 3-Day Mint Experience VIP: starting at $449.50 + fees
  • 3-Day Top Shelf VIP: $1,399.50 + fees
  • Single Day General Admission: starting at $69.50 + fees
  • Single Day VIP: starting at $199.50 + fees

Camping spaces for cars, tents, and RVs start at just $145.00 and include 4 nights’ stay in the Louder Than Life campgrounds. Camping passes also allow patrons re-entry privileges to and from the festival site all weekend long.

Mint Experience VIP tickets include access to VIP Hang—an exclusive hang area with dedicated bars, comfortable furniture, and live audio/video streams of the Monster Energy Barrel Stage and Oak Stage, plus front-of-stage viewing of the Oak Stage—as well as a dedicated merchandise stand, premium dedicated food offerings, air-conditioned and flushable restrooms, dedicated entrance lanes into the festival and a commemorative laminate and wristband.

Top Shelf VIP tickets include access to all Mint Experience VIP amenities, plus access to the Top Shelf Hang and other amenities including: air-conditioned lounge/tent with live audio/video streams of Monster Energy Barrel Stage and Oak Stage, front-of-stage viewing area for Monster Energy Barrel Stage, shaded viewing deck, all-inclusive premium drinks at dedicated bars within the hang area, complimentary hors d’oeuvres during lunch and dinner hours, dedicated air-conditioned and flushable bathrooms, massage station, complimentary lockers with cell-phone chargers, complimentary Wi-Fi access, Top Shelf VIP Concierge staff and a commemorative Top Shelf VIP laminate and RFID wristband.

Louder Than Life sponsors include Kentucky Tourism, Louisville Tourism, Monster Energy, Jack Daniel’s, Kroger, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Southern Comfort, Uncle Nearest Whiskey, f.y.e., The Music Experience, Fxck Cancer, Take Me Home, Against The Grain, and Zyn.

The Highland Festival Grounds At KY Expo Center are located at 937 Phillips Lane in Louisville, Kentucky. Festival doors open at 11:00 AM daily.

The World’s Largest Bourbon Festival, Bourbon & Beyond, will make its anticipated return to Louisville, KY Friday, September 20, Saturday, September 21, and Sunday, September 22, expanding to three days full of incredible music, unique culinary events, and unmatched experiences from the region’s best distilleries at the new Highland Festival Grounds At KY Expo Center. In addition to an unforgettable lineup of bourbon and chefs, music performers include a unique mix of rock, roots, bluegrass and folk acts headlined by Foo Fighters, Robert Plant And The Sensational Space Shifters (returning after originally being scheduled to appear in 2018) and the Zac Brown Band. Additional acts include John Fogerty, Daryl Hall & John Oates, ZZ Top (celebrating their 50th anniversary in 2019), Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, Trey Anastasio Band, Leon Bridges, The Flaming Lips, Alison Krauss, Edward Sharpe And The Magnetic Zeroes, +LIVE+, Grace Potter, Little Steven & The Disciples Of Soul, and Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, among many others. In total, more than 45 artists will play on three stages, including the side-by-side Oak and Barrel main stages and a bluegrass stage that will be curated by the genre’s leading authority, The Bluegrass Situation.

Held during Bourbon Heritage Month, Bourbon & Beyond also celebrates the craftsmanship behind award-winning spirits, master distillers and world-class chefs. Bourbon author, Amazon Prime host (Bourbon Up) and expert Fred Minnick has curated one-of-a-kind tastings and seminars celebrating Louisville’s world-renowned distilleries, while culinary curators Edward Lee (The Mind of A Chef) and Anthony Lamas (Seviche) will team up to arrange special food experiences that will be announced soon.

“If you could capture America in a bottle, it would be a bottle of bourbon. It’s a uniquely American creation, like jazz and baseball, and its beating heart is in Louisville,” says Bourbon & Beyond producer Danny Wimmer. “This connection to the past has transformed Louisville into a city of the future. One of the most vibrant and diverse food scenes in the country has grown around bourbon’s resurgence, and we tried to mirror that spirit with the great music lineup that we put together. I can’t wait for people to visit this city in September and experience something that goes far beyond their preconception of what Louisville is.”

Bourbon & Beyond exclusive VIP packages, General Admission tickets, camping and hotel packages, as well as special event tickets, go on sale Friday, March 15 at 12:00 PM EDT. Visit www.BourbonandBeyond.com for more details.

Produced by premier independent festival producer Danny Wimmer Presents, the third annual Bourbon & Beyond will be held at a new festival location, the Highland Festival Grounds At KY Expo Center. All of DWP’s Louisville festivals will take place at the new venue, including the firstever Hometown Rising Country Music & Bourbon Festival (Sept. 14-15) and Louder Than Life (Sept. 27-29). Fans interested in attending all three weekends can purchase a special Trifesta Pass, which allows General Admission weekend access for the discounted rate of only $229.00 plus fees.

The initial list of participating chefs at Bourbon & Beyond includes:

  • Edward Lee (The Mind of A Chef, 610 Magnolia, MilkWood, Whiskey Dry)
  • Graham Elliot (Family Food Fight, Top Chef)
  • The Voltaggio Brothers (Michael – Ink, Top Chef & Bryan – VOLT)
  • Tiffani Thiessen (“Dinner At Tiffani’s”)
  • Jamie Bissonnette (Coppa, Toro, Little Donkey)
  • Amanda Freitag (The Chef Next Door: A Pro Chef’s Recipes for Fun, Fearless Home Cooking, Chopped)
  • Anthony Lamas (Chef/Owner at Seviche)
  • Brooke Williamson (Top Chef, Knife Fight, House of Food) • Jose Salazar (Salazar, Mita’s, Goose and Elder)
  • Ouita Michel (Holly Hill Inn)
  • Adam Sobel (Cal Mare)
  • Jonathan Searle (Lockbox)
  • Matt Abdoo (Pig Beach)
  • Rusty Hamlin (Papi’s Taqueria, Zac Brown’s Social Club, Atkins Park Restaurant)
  • Sara Bradley (Freight House)
  • Kelsey Barnard Clark (KBC)
  • Justin Sutherland (Iron Chef America, Handsome Hog, Pearl and the Thief)

The festival’s centerpiece, Kroger’s Big Bourbon Bar presented by Louisville Courier Journal, will feature more than two dozen hand-selected bourbons from top distilleries, and a unique opportunity to enjoy bourbons and exclusive one-time specialty cocktails from 1792, Angel’s Envy, Barrell Bourbon, Bloody Butcher’s Creed, Buffalo Trace, Coopers’ Craft, Elijah Craig, Four Roses, Kentucky Peerless, Michter’s, Old Forester, StoneHammer, Wild Turkey and more to be announced.

As part of this innovative partnership and Kroger’s commitment to Zero Hunger | Zero Waste, 25 cents will be donated directly to Dare to Care Food Bank (www.daretocare.org) from every ticket sold. Dare to Care Food Bank works to ensure that no one in our community lacks enough food to live an active, healthy lifestyle, and Kroger’s Zero Hunger | Zero Waste initiative is their bold plan to end hunger in our communities and eliminate waste in their company by 2025.

Fred Minnick’s Mini Bar presented by the Bourbon Women Association will showcase craft selections from Wilderness Trail, MB Roland and Bluegrass Distillery. Acclaimed Louisville whiskey bar The Silver Dollar will operate The Hunter’s Club, where attendees can find vintage bourbons dating as far back as the 1930s, as well as contemporary collectibles.

The initial list of participating bourbon brands at Bourbon & Beyond includes 1792, Angel’s Envy, Bardstown Bourbon, Barrell Bourbon, Blanton’s, Bloody Butcher’s Creed, Bluegrass Distillery, Boone County Distilling, Buffalo Trace, Coopers’ Craft, Elijah Craig, Evan Williams, Four Roses, Jim Beam, Kentucky Peerless, Knob Creek, Larceny, Maker’s Mark, MB Roland, Michter’s, Old Forester, Wild Turkey, Wilderness Trail, W.L. Weller and Woodford Reserve.

Ticket prices for Bourbon & Beyond will be as follows:

  • 3-Day Weekend General Admission: starting at $169.50 + fees
  • 3-Day Mint Experience VIP: starting at $579.50 + fees
  • 3-Day Beyond VIP: $1,599.50 + fees
  • Single Day General Admission: starting at $89.50 + fees
  • Single Day VIP: starting at $249.50 + fees

Mint Experience VIP tickets include access to The Mint Garden—an exclusive hang area with dedicated bars, comfortable furniture, and live audio/video streams of the Barrel and Oak Stages, plus front-of-stage viewing of the Barrel and Oak Stages—as well as a dedicated merchandise stand, premium, dedicated food offerings, air-conditioned, flushable restrooms, dedicated entrance lanes into the festival and a commemorative laminate and wristband.

Beyond VIP tickets include access to all Mint Experience VIP amenities PLUS a shaded viewing deck, air-conditioned lounge/tent with live audio/video streams of the Barrel and Oak Stages, allinclusive premium drinks at 2 private bars within the hang area, complimentary hors d’oeuvres during set lunch and dinner hours, dedicated air-conditioned, flushable bathrooms, massage station, complimentary lockers with cell-phone chargers, complimentary Wi-Fi access, Beyond VIP Concierge staff and a commemorative Beyond VIP laminate and wristband.

Bourbon & Beyond sponsors include Kentucky Department of Tourism, Louisville Tourism, Kroger, Lagunitas, Red Bull, Zyn, Fxck Cancer, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Angry Orchard, Bourbon Women Association, Kentucky Distillers’ Association (KDA), Glencairn Crystal, and Eagle Nest Outfitters.

The Highland Festival Grounds At KY Expo Center are located at 937 Phillips Lane in Louisville, Kentucky. Festival doors open at 11:00 AM daily.

Premier independent festival producer Danny Wimmer Presents continues to show its love for Louisville with a third addition to a massive fall festival series in the one-of-a-kind city. Hometown Rising, the first-ever Country Music & Bourbon Festival, will make its debut Saturday, September 14 and Sunday, September 15 at Highland Festival Grounds at KY Expo Center, combining two of Louisville’s cultural cornerstones—great music and incredible bourbon.

Hometown Rising’s incredible music lineup will be led by country heavyweights including Luke Bryan, Tim McGraw, Keith Urban, and Little Big Town, with additional appearances from Dwight Yoakam, Brett Young, Jake Owen, Bret Michaels, Frankie Ballard, and many more. In total, more than 30 artists will play on three stages, including two side-by-side main stages, over the course of the weekend.

Hometown Rising exclusive VIP packages, General Admission tickets, camping and hotelpackages, as well as special event tickets go on sale Friday, February 15 at 12:00 PM EDT. Visit www.HometownRising.com for more details.

With three back-to-back festival weekends in Louisville in 2019, Danny Wimmer Presentswants to ensure all fans have the chance to enjoy multiple events with an affordable and convenient ticketing option. New this year, fans can purchase a special “Trifesta” Pass for the discounted rate of only $229.00 plus fees. The pass allows General Admission weekend access to all three DWP fall festivals in Louisville—Hometown Rising (September 14 & 15), Bourbon & Beyond (September 20-22) and Louder Than Life (September 27-29). Check out https://trifestapass.com for more information.

“I am beyond thrilled to be playing the very first year of Hometown Rising, and to have the opportunity to be part of such a prestigious and eclectic lineup of modern country artists,” says performer Alice Wallace.

Adds festival producer Danny Wimmer, “Hometown Rising is a blend of the music and culture I grew up around, in a place I now consider a second home. While DWP is best known for our rock festivals, I was surrounded by country music growing up in Jacksonville, Florida, and I’m excited to be expanding our portfolio with a genre and a place that are both close to my heart. I can’t think of a better location to launch a country music festival than right here in bourbon country. Mayor Fischer and the Louisville community continue to be great partners as we take this next step in the marriage of great music, food and bourbon.”

Bourbon & Beyond – the incredible all-in-one bourbon, food, and entertainment that honors the rich history of bourbon that is so deeply rooted in the heart of Kentucky–is making its debut in Louisville’s Champions Park. The two-day extravaganza features musical performances, The Big Bourbon Bar, bourbon masters and celebrities, top national and local chefs, one-of-a-kind culinary creations, and a variety of other authentic experiences.

Official event parking will be available at the Eva Bandman, Water Tower and Cox’s Park parking lots. Prices range from $15-$20. Please click here for parking map. ADA parking will be available in the Water Tower Lot. Accessible parking lot transportation will be available to transport patrons with mobility disabilities to the main gate.

Rideshare Riders: Uber, Lyft, Taxi and Hotel Vans- Rideshare Drop-Off/Pick-Up will take place at the Water Tower Lot (3005 River Road, Louisville, KY 40207)

Rideshare Drivers: Take I-71 to Zorn Ave or Brownsboro Road to access Water Tower lot. Ensure your credentials are easily visible for entry to lot

Traffic Notes:
Please visit http://www.louisville-police.org/455/Street-Closures for special event traffic plans.

For pedestrian safety, River Road (between Edith & Zorn Ave) will be closed briefly at close of festival.

Location:
Champions Park (2050 River Road, Louisville, KY 40206)

Event Schedule:

  • Gates open at 11:00 am daily.
  • Saturday show start: 12:35 PM
  • Saturday show end: 10:50 PM
  • Sunday show start: 11:50 AM
  • Sunday Show end: 10:25 PM

Please click here for daily lineup and schedule

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